Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
11 mi
18 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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
Bedford, TX
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick transition between Arlington and Bedford, this 11-mile journey is an efficient way to cross the Great Plains region. Expect to spend about 20 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a modest fuel budget of just $2, the drive is highly economical for commuters or casual travelers alike. You will navigate primarily via North Collins Street, Airport Freeway, and South Mesquite Street. Since both cities are located within Texas, you will remain in a familiar environment throughout the entire transit. It is a straightforward, practical route that prioritizes speed and utility over long-distance exploration.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Collins Street | 3 mi | 5m |
| Airport Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| South Mesquite Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South Industrial Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Highway 157 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Center Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Bedford Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Lamar Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Bedford, TX.
Start on West Abram Street
Continue on West Abram Street
Turn left onto South Mesquite Street
Turn straight onto North Center Street
Continue on Lincoln Drive
Turn right onto East Lamar Boulevard
Turn left onto FM 157
Continue on FM 157
Continue on FM 157
Turn left onto Airport Freeway
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto TX 183
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Airport Freeway
Turn right onto Bedford Road
Turn right onto Forest Ridge Drive
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 10.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto East Lamar Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Airport Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward TX 183 West, TX 183 Express Toll West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 183 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward Bedford Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.66 one way
$3.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $1.82 | $3.64 |
| premium | $4.54 | $1.96 | $3.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.43 | $4.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.53 |
| Efficient EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.96 | $0.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.70 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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 Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. The route features a 28% highway share, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local surface streets. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is a 3-mile segment on North Collins Street, which sets the pace for the rest of the short trip. Because the drive is primarily local, the road character shifts frequently between neighborhood thoroughfares and arterial transit routes. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires constant attention to turns rather than long periods of highway autopilot.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near East Lamar Boulevard.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 11 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 20m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (East Lamar Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (Airport Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Bedford is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 20m. Total distance: 11 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. 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 Bedford, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
