Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Arlington, TX to Barrett, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 52m
Distance
269.7 mi
434 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 39m
★
6 AM
4h 52m
8 AM
5h 19m
10 AM
5h 2m
12 PM
4h 59m
3 PM
5h 3m
5 PM
5h 18m
8 PM
4h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Barrett, TX
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Arlington to Barrett, Texas, expect a straightforward journey covering 269.7 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 4 hours and 52 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your path will primarily take you along the Julius Schepps Freeway, the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, and HTR. Budgeting approximately $41 for fuel is a smart move for this Great Plains excursion. Because you are traveling within the same region, you will experience a consistent environment throughout the entire drive. It is a practical, no-nonsense route for those looking to reach their destination efficiently.
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
134.9 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 203.2 mi | 3h 28m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| HTR | 13 mi | 15m |
| North Sam Houston Tollway East | 10.1 mi | 11m |
| Crosby Freeway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| North Sam Houston Parkway East | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| South Collins Street | 4.1 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 203.2 mi, about 3h 28m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,496 veh/hr typical · worst 2,185
Quietest
1 AM
~238 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 45 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Barrett, 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 East
Use 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 473C
Toward I 45 South: Houston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 45
203 mi
·
3 hr 28 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto HTR
13 mi
·
15 min
·
HTR
Exit 72B
Toward Hardy Toll Road South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
494 ft
·
12 sec
Toward BW 8
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto East Hardy Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
East Hardy Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn left onto North Sam Houston Parkway East
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Sam Houston Parkway East
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward BW 8 East
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Merge onto BW 8
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North Sam Houston Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on SHT
10 mi
·
11 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto BW 8
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Sam Houston Parkway North
20
Keep slight left at fork onto BW 8
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Sam Houston Parkway North
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Crosby Freeway Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Crosby Freeway Frontage Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
22
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 90 East
23
Merge onto US 90
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Crosby Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward FM 2100, FM 1942: Crosby
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn sharp right onto FM 2100
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Crosby Lynchburg Road
26
Turn left onto FM 1942
74 ft
·
1 sec
·
Farm to Market 1942
Use the left lane.
27
Arrive at destination
FM 1942
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the nearly five-hour journey. Leaving early in the morning can help you bypass potential congestion on the major freeways, especially as you navigate the transition between the Julius Schepps and Lyndon B. Johnson segments. Since the vast majority of your time is spent on high-speed highways, ensure your vehicle is prepped for sustained speeds before you depart. Keep your $41 fuel budget in mind, and consider fueling up before hitting the longest 203.2-mile freeway stretch to avoid paying premium prices at isolated stops. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't hesitate to pull over if you need a quick reset during the long middle portion of the trip.
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 134.9 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 203.2 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 59 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.9 miles or 2h 24m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barrett, 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 269.7 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 203.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
135 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 134.9 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 203.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.7 mi from route
Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.6 mi from route
Dennis Johnston Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Spring, Texas
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+17132740930
Visit websiteCandy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~9 min detour
Final third
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
Visit websiteThe Woodlands Waterway
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.5 mi from route
~11 min detour
The Woodlands, Texas
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 269.2 — 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
7
230.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 2m in
|
HTR
Take the exit onto HTR toward Hardy Toll Road South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72B
Toward Hardy Toll Road South
7
269.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 50m in
Take the exit toward FM 2100, FM 1942: Crosby
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FM 2100, FM 1942: Crosby
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.94 one way
$73.88 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $41.26 | $82.52 |
| premium | $4.23 | $44.86 | $89.72 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $50.92 | $101.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.81
Sam Houston Tollway
(10.1 mi)
$0.81
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.9 | 0 | $28.32 | $12.95 |
| Efficient EV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.60 | $10.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.9 | 1 | $37.76 | $17.26 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Arlington, TX
Night in Arlington on Monday
Local time
9:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Barrett, TX
Night in Barrett on Monday
Local time
9:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:45PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
100°F
Italy, TX
135 mi in
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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 52m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 87% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a significant stretch early on, as the Julius Schepps Freeway accounts for 203.2 miles of the total distance. Expect a steady, interstate-heavy experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours. While the road personality is largely defined by this long, uninterrupted freeway segment, the transition between these major arteries keeps the drive moving at a consistent clip. Be prepared for a focused, high-speed travel experience that demands your attention on the road rather than the scenery.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 203.2 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near East Interstate 20.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 269.7 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
670 ft
43 ft
Total Climb
377 ft
Total Descent
938 ft
Highest Point
670 ft
~19.3 mi in
Elevation Range
627 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Arlington, TX and Barrett, TX, road signs point toward Hardy Toll Road South, Bw 8 and Bw 8 East.
Hardy Toll Road South
230.2 mi in
|
~4h 2m
|
via HTR
Bw 8
243.2 mi in
|
~4h 17m
Bw 8 East
244.6 mi in
|
~4h 20m
About the Cities
Starting in Arlington, TX
Full guide →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
- • Six Flags Over Texas — amusement park
- • Mini Mine Train — Steel roller coaster
- • Arlington Museum of Art — art museum in Texas, United States
Arriving in Barrett, TX
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 269.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 203.2 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.81 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 29 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Barrett, 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. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Barrett, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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