Trip from Arlington, TX to Benavides, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 37m

Distance

434.3 mi

699 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$66

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

7h 27m ★

6 AM

7h 37m

8 AM

7h 57m

10 AM

7h 44m

12 PM

7h 42m

3 PM

7h 45m

5 PM

7h 56m

8 PM

7h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Benavides, TX

Pixabay

Trip Overview

Arlington, TX to Benavides, TX is 434.3 miles and takes about 7h 37m via TX 130 Toll and I 37, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, mostly traversing Texas. Expect a straightforward drive that's primarily on major highways, making it a solid option for a single-day transit. The total duration is manageable, allowing for a relatively early start and arrival on the same day.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

217.2 miles from Arlington, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 45m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
TX 130 Toll	86.1 mi	1h 19m
South Freeway	78 mi	1h 20m
I 37	60.5 mi	1h 1m
South Nueces Street	40 mi	40m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
I 10	32.5 mi	33m
I 35	26.5 mi	26m
South Doctor E.E. Dunlap Highway	15.3 mi	22m

Longest stretch: TX 130 Toll — 86.1 mi, about 1h 19m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,461 veh/hr typical · worst 3,169

Quietest

2 AM

~387 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Benavides, TX.

Start on West Abram Street

93 ft · 8 sec · West Abram Street

Continue on West Abram Street

417 ft · 21 sec · West Abram Street

Turn right onto South Center Street

2.0 mi · 4 min · South Center Street

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto Spur 303

0.5 mi · 48 sec · West Pioneer Parkway

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto FM 157

1.5 mi · 2 min · South Cooper Street

Use the left lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Cooper Street

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth

Merge onto I 20

10 mi · 11 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 437 Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min

Toward I 35W South: Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35W

78 mi · 1 hr 20 min · South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec

Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

86 mi · 1 hr 19 min · TX 130 Toll

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 10 West: San Antonio Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; TX 130

11 mi · 11 min · I 10; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130

9.4 mi · 9 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

12 mi · 12 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 410

1.4 mi · 1 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 410; TX 130

6.7 mi · 7 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 37

60 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 37

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 281 South

15 mi · 19 min · US 281 South

Toward US 281 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

40 mi · 40 min · South Nueces Street

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 49 sec

Toward TX 44, TX 359: Alice, San Diego

Turn right onto TX 44; TX 359

7.9 mi · 8 min · TX 44; TX 359

Turn left onto TX 359

0.3 mi · 28 sec · South Doctor E.E. Dunlap Street

Continue on TX 359

15 mi · 22 min · South Doctor E.E. Dunlap Highway

Arrive at destination

TX 359; FM 2295

Trip Plan

Given the 7h 37m estimated drive time, leaving Arlington early in the morning is your best bet to make it to Benavides before dark. Plan for about 2 stops along the way to stretch your legs and refuel; the route data suggests this is a reasonable pace for the 434.3 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the $63 estimate is based on current prices and can fluctuate. The longest stretch on TX 130 Toll is over 86 miles, so ensure you're topped off before entering that segment if you prefer not to stop during it.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 217.2 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 3h 45m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 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 96 miles or 1h 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 217.2 miles or 3h 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benavides, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Arlington, TX

This is one driving day of about 434.3 miles and 7h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Arlington, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on TX 130 Toll for about 86.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Williamson County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jarrell, TX

217 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

Troy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 96 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mustang Ridge, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 217.2 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 25

5 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 294 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

15.9 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton

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. Exit 437 Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton

16.1 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35W South: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35W South: Waco

166 mi into trip | ~2h 58m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

252.8 mi into trip | ~4h 18m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 West: San Antonio

294 mi into trip | ~5h 1m in

Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi

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. Exit 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$65.93 one way

$131.86 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 152 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$72.67	$145.34
premium	$4.58	$78.31	$156.62
diesel	$5.35	$91.48	$182.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$66

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$91–$116

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 152 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	130.3	1	$45.60	$20.85
Efficient EV	108.6	1	$38.00	$17.37
EV Truck/SUV	173.7	2	$60.80	$27.80

Gas CO2

152 kg

EV CO2

51 kg (66% 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 May 28, 2026

Origin

Arlington, TX

Afternoon in Arlington on Wednesday

Local time

4:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

88°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

W 0 to 5 mph 31% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 28 at 2:44PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued May 28 at 8:36AM CDT until May 29 at 1:22AM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX

Destination

Benavides, TX

Afternoon in Benavides on Wednesday

Local time

4:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

88°F

Sunny

E 7 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 28 at 2:44PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued May 28 at 8:36AM CDT until May 29 at 1:22AM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

7h 37m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 299.5

View on nps.gov

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 89.9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

With 72% of the route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on major roads like TX 130 Toll and I 37. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. This means you'll encounter sections with dense exits and merging traffic, especially as you transition between these main arteries. Once you leave the primary highway system, expect a shift to more local roads.

72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 86.1 mi on TX 130 Toll.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 130 Toll and South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 434.3 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 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 166 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

856 ft 208 ft

Total Climb

486 ft

Total Descent

850 ft

Highest Point

856 ft

~155.1 mi in

Elevation Range

649 ft

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 Benavides, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi and San Diego.

Corpus Christi

294 mi in | ~5h 1m

San Diego

410.4 mi in | ~7h 4m

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-20:00; Fr 07:00-17:00

Visit website

iCafe

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: japanese

Hours: Su-Fr 11:00-15:00,16:00-21:00

Visit website

Inclusion Coffee

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00; Sa,Su 08:00-20:00

Kung Fu Tea

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: bubble_tea

Connection Cafe

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00; Sa,Su 11:00-13:30,17:...

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Waco, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Kintaro Ramen

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: noodle

Visit website

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: american

Visit website

Esports Stadium Arlington

Attraction

Near the start, short detour

Motel

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

San Antonio, TX

Visit website

Dallas / Arlington KOA

Camp_site

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Days Inn

Hotel

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour

Waco, TX

Visit website

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

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 Benavides, 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 7h 37m. Total distance: 434.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 37m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 41 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 Benavides, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Benavides, TX before the return drive.

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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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