This 281.9-mile drive from Arlington, Texas to Alvin, Texas is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 12 minutes. With 95% of the route on major highways, it's an efficient trip, making it ideal as a single-day adventure. You can expect a fuel cost of around $43 for this drive. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so the landscape will remain consistent. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive. Given its manageable length, this route offers flexibility for departure times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
140.9 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway
227.2 mi
3h 57m
TX 35
17.7 mi
27m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15.4 mi
16m
Gulf Freeway
7.8 mi
9m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
5.9 mi
6m
South Collins Street
4.1 mi
7m
North Gordon Street
2.2 mi
4m
West Abram Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 227.2 mi, about 3h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Alvin, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
93 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
2
Continue on West Abram Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Abram Street
3
Turn right
153 ft·6 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Turn slight right onto South Collins Street
4.1 mi·7 min·South Collins Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
0.3 mi·28 sec·East Interstate 20
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 20 EastUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 20
5.9 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 20
15 mi·16 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 473CToward I 45 South: HoustonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 45
227 mi·3 hr 57 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 45
7.8 mi·9 min·Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Take the exit onto TX 35
0.3 mi·32 sec·TX 35
Exit 40CToward TX 35 South, I 610 West: Pearland, AlvinUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 35
17 mi·27 min·TX 35
Toward TX 35 South: AlvinUse the slight left lane.
14
Turn slight right onto TX 35 Bus
2.2 mi·4 min·North Gordon Street
15
Turn right onto West Sealy Street
8 ft·0 sec·West Sealy Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Sealy Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 12-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your day. Since the route is primarily highway and covers 281.9 miles, a single stop is recommended for fuel or a quick break. The estimated fuel cost is $43, so ensure your tank is full before you set off. Keep an eye on your chosen highways, including the Julius Schepps Freeway, TX 35, and the Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, as traffic can vary. Given the relatively short duration, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 140.9 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 227.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 62 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.9 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alvin, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arlington, TX
This is one driving day of about 281.9 miles and 5h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Arlington, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Julius Schepps Freeway for about 227.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 262.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.8 mi into trip|~9m in|East Interstate 20
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
5.1 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 20 East
7
26.7 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward I 45 South: Houston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 473C
Toward I 45 South: Houston
8
262 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|TX 35
Take the exit onto TX 35 toward TX 35 South, I 610 West: Pearland, Alvin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40C
Toward TX 35 South, I 610 West: Pearland, Alvin
7
262.2 mi into trip|~4h 41m in|TX 35
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 35 toward TX 35 South: Alvin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward TX 35 South: Alvin
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.60 one way
$85.19 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$46.62
$93.25
premium
$4.54
$50.33
$100.66
diesel
$5.61
$62.24
$124.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.6
1
$29.60
$13.53
Efficient EV
70.5
0
$24.67
$11.28
EV Truck/SUV
112.8
1
$39.47
$18.04
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Alvin, TX
Late night
in Alvin on Sunday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
11 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 12m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 281.9-mile trip. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways like the Julius Schepps Freeway, TX 35, and the Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, with 95% of the route being highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans an impressive 227.2 miles on the Julius Schepps Freeway, meaning you can settle in for a significant portion of the journey. This profile suggests a consistent pace, characterized by efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 227.2 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and TX 35. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near East Interstate 20.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 281.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Arlington is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex metropolitan area, in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. With a population of almost 400,000 (2019), it is Texas' seventh largest, and the third largest in the Metroplex. Arlington is south of the sprawling DFW International Airport.
Top landmarks
•Six Flags Over Texas — amusement park
•Mini Mine Train — Steel roller coaster
•Arlington Museum of Art — art museum in Texas, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 12m. Total distance: 281.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 227.2 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Alvin, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alvin, TX before the return drive.
