If you are planning a trip from Arlington to Ballinger, expect a straightforward journey covering 217.8 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 3 hours and 58 minutes, making it an efficient day trip that does not require an overnight stay. Your budget should account for approximately $33 in fuel costs to cover the distance. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region, the landscape remains consistent throughout the journey. This route is ideal for travelers looking for a direct, no-fuss connection between these two Texas points. It is a practical choice if you prefer spending more time at your destination rather than navigating complex detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
108.9 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
128.6 mi
2h 10m
US 83
50 mi
56m
West Freeway
15.5 mi
17m
Tom Landry Freeway
12 mi
15m
Jake Roberts Freeway
5.6 mi
5m
East Highway 80
1.9 mi
2m
South Cooper Street
1.7 mi
3m
West Abram Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 128.6 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Ballinger, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West Abram Street
2
Turn right onto FM 157
1.7 mi·3 min·South Cooper Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto West Lamar Boulevard
0.3 mi·41 sec·West Lamar Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 30 WestUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 30
12 mi·15 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 30; US 377
15 mi·17 min·West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 20
129 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 20
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 292AToward I 20 Business: Abilene
9
Turn straight onto I 20 Bus
1.9 mi·2 min·East Highway 80
10
Turn left
0.2 mi·26 sec
11
Merge onto Loop 322
5.6 mi·5 min·Jake Roberts Freeway
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward US 83 South, US 84 East: Ballinger, Coleman
13
Turn straight onto US 83 Bus
0.1 mi·9 sec·South Treadaway Boulevard
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 83 South, US 84 East: Ballinger, Coleman
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
16
Merge onto US 83; US 84
10 mi·11 min·US 83; US 84
17
Continue on US 83
39 mi·44 min·US 83
18
Arrive at destination
2 ft·US 67; US 83
Trip Plan
To keep your travel smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the nearly four-hour journey. Since the longest stretch is over 128 miles, make sure your fuel tank is topped off before you commit to the primary interstate portion. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid traffic congestion near the Arlington area before you hit the open road. Given the high highway percentage, keep a close eye on your speed and traffic patterns, especially when merging onto US-83. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time to suit your personal schedule without worrying about losing daylight on long, secondary roads.
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 108.9 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.6 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.9 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ballinger, 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 217.8 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 I 20 for about 128.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 166.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Turn right onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward I 30 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 30 West
5
2.6 mi into trip|~6m in|I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge onto I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
30.1 mi into trip|~39m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
166.8 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 83 South, US 84 East: Ballinger, Coleman
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 83 South, US 84 East: Ballinger, Cole...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.91 one way
$65.82 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$36.02
$72.05
premium
$4.54
$38.89
$77.77
diesel
$5.61
$48.09
$96.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.3
0
$22.87
$10.45
Efficient EV
54.5
0
$19.06
$8.71
EV Truck/SUV
87.1
1
$30.49
$13.94
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 13, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
S 15 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Ballinger, TX
Late night
in Ballinger on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°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
5 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
3h 58m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 98% of your time spent on major thoroughfares like I-20 and US-83. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on the interstate, including a significant 128.6-mile stretch on I-20 that serves as the backbone of the route. Expect a high-speed, efficient experience that prioritizes forward momentum over winding, technical roads. As you transition from the West Freeway onto the open highway, the pace remains steady and consistent. It is a predictable drive that allows you to settle into a rhythm, perfect for those who appreciate the reliability of well-maintained, high-capacity roads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.6 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 83. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near FM 157 / South Cooper Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 217.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,071 ft604 ft
Total Climb
1,721 ft
Total Descent
699 ft
Highest Point
2,071 ft
~186.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,468 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Arlington, TX to Ballinger, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Coleman along the way.
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 3h 58m. Total distance: 217.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 128.6 miles on I 20. 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 Ballinger, 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 0.4 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Ballinger, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
