Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
39.3 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Aurora, TX
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick excursion within the Great Plains region of Texas, the 39.3-mile journey from Arlington to Aurora is a straightforward choice. Expect to spend about 49 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, the route is as economical as it is efficient. You will primarily utilize the Tom Landry Freeway, I-820, and US 81 to navigate between these two points. Because the drive is so short, you have the flexibility to head out whenever it suits your schedule without worrying about complex travel logistics.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 81 | 14.8 mi | 15m |
| I 820 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| I 820 TEXpress | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| I 35W TEXpress | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| South Cooper Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| East State Highway 114 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Abram Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Aurora, TX.
Start on West Abram Street
Turn right onto FM 157
Turn left onto West Lamar Boulevard
Turn left
Merge onto I 30
Take the exit
Merge onto I 820
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820
Take the exit
Merge onto I 820 TEXpress
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 35W TEXpress
Take the exit
Merge onto US 81; US 287
Continue on US 81; US 287
Take the exit onto TX 114
Turn left onto TX 114
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 21.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left toward I 30 West
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 820 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 toward I 820 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35W Express North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.94 one way
$11.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $6.50 | $13.00 |
| premium | $4.54 | $7.02 | $14.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.68 | $17.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.50 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Aurora on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 86% of your time spent on major roads. You will transition through a mix of freeway systems and regional highways, providing a consistent pace for the duration of your 49-minute commute. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 14.8 miles along US 81, which allows for steady driving once you clear the initial urban traffic. While the journey lacks the technical complexity of winding mountain roads, the high highway percentage ensures a reliable and predictable experience. Expect a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over scenic detours.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 81 and I 820. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 39.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.5 miles (I 820): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
443 ft
Total Descent
230 ft
Highest Point
906 ft
~36.5 mi in
Elevation Range
391 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Arlington, TX to Aurora, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Denton along the way.
Denton
Founded 1876
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 39.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Arlington, TX or browse trips ending in Aurora, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
