Love's Travel Stop
0 mi from route
Trip from Arlington, TX to Borger, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 49m
Distance
361.7 mi
582 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 38m
★
6 AM
6h 50m
8 AM
7h 13m
10 AM
6h 58m
12 PM
6h 55m
3 PM
6h 59m
5 PM
7h 12m
8 PM
6h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Borger, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Arlington, TX to Borger, TX is 361.7 miles and takes about 6h 49m via US 81 and US Highway 287, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Texas, moving from the edge of the Great Plains into the same region. Expect a fairly straightforward, predominantly highway experience. It’s a manageable one-day trip, but plan your stops wisely to break up the 6 hours and 49 minutes of driving time.
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
180.8 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 81 | 103.4 mi | 1h 49m |
| US Highway 287 | 55.8 mi | 57m |
| US Highway 287 East | 40.5 mi | 42m |
| East 11th Street | 28.7 mi | 32m |
| Boykin Drive | 26.2 mi | 28m |
| US Highway 287 West | 25.7 mi | 26m |
| Elsie Avenue | 22.9 mi | 34m |
| State Highway 207 | 15.2 mi | 22m |
Longest stretch:
US 81
— 103.4 mi, about 1h 49m
Traffic on I-30
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,470 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~418 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 50 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 Borger, 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 West
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 30
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 21B
Toward I 820 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 820
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 820
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 820
Toward I 820 West
Use the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 820 Express West
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 820 TEXpress
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 820 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 35W Express: Fort Worth, Denton
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 35W Express North: Denton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 35W TEXpress
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 35W TEXpress
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto US 81; US 287
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 81; US 287
102 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
Lloyd Ruby Overpass
18
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Freeway
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest Freeway
Exit 3A
Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on US 287
40 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
21
Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on US 287
26 mi
·
26 min
·
US Highway 287 West
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 287
29 mi
·
32 min
·
East 11th Street
24
Continue on US 287
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue F Northeast
25
Continue on US 287
14 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 287
26
Continue on US 287
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Burnett Street
27
Continue on US 287
14 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 287
28
Turn straight onto US 287
26 mi
·
28 min
·
Boykin Drive
29
Continue on US 287
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
30
Continue on US 287
28 mi
·
28 min
·
US Highway 287
31
Continue on US 287; FM 1151
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
32
Turn right onto TX 207
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Hurley Avenue
33
Continue on TX 207
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 207
34
Turn left onto TX 207; US 66 Hist
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Original U.S. Route 66
35
Turn straight onto TX 207
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 207
36
Continue on TX 207; FM 293
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Franklin Avenue
37
Turn left onto TX 207; FM 293
23 mi
·
34 min
·
Elsie Avenue
38
Turn slight right
300 ft
·
10 sec
39
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour, 49-minute drive, leaving Arlington in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Borger. With a fuel cost estimated around $54, keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the 103.4-mile segment on US 81 where services might be less frequent. While it's doable in one day, consider a mid-drive stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel, both yourself and your vehicle. This route is straightforward enough that you can afford to be a little flexible with your timing.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.8 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.4 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.8 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Borger, 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 361.7 miles and 6h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 US 81 for about 103.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
181 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 180.8 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.4 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.
Donley County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Texas Travel Information Center at Wichita Falls
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Donley County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Wise County Northbound
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Wichita County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Wichita County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Northbound
0.3 mi from route
Maniac’s Mansion (TAG’s)
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Early stretch
2.4 mi from route
~6 min detour
Wichita Falls, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+19402575543
Visit websiteMuseum of North Texas History
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Early stretch
2.4 mi from route
~6 min detour
Wichita Falls, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+19403227628
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 129.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
7.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 820 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21B
Toward I 820 North
7
12.5 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 820
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 toward I 820 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 820 West
7
18.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35W Express North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35W Express North: Denton
9
129.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
US 287 / Northwest Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 3A
Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.54 one way
$99.08 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
127 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $55.34 | $110.67 |
| premium | $4.23 | $60.16 | $120.33 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $68.30 | $136.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 108.5 | 1 | $37.98 | $17.36 |
| Efficient EV | 90.4 | 1 | $31.65 | $14.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 144.7 | 1 | $50.64 | $23.15 |
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Arlington, TX
Late night in Arlington on Monday
Local time
1:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
98°F
Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph
11% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 9:42AM CDT until July 19 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:33AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Borger, TX
Late night in Borger on Monday
Local time
1:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 to 10 mph
15% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 9:42AM CDT until July 19 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:33AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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
3 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
6h 49m 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.
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Set within the wide‑open Texas Plains, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of rugged grasslands. Over thousands of years, the Canadian River carved dramatic 2...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 361.7
View on nps.gov
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
National Monument
13,000 years ago, Alibates Flint was used by mammoth hunters as a source of flint for tools. Learn how important this site was to the survival, commerce, and culture of the people of the High Plains.
17 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 361.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 74% of this trip, with the longest continuous stretch covering 103.4 miles on US 81. This means you'll experience a good amount of rural cruising. The transition from US 81 to US Highway 287 will likely involve merging onto a more major artery. Expect relatively few exits for significant stretches as you move through the Great Plains landscape.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.4 mi on US 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 81 and US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 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 18 significant decision points across 361.7 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
3,460 ft
604 ft
Total Climb
2,980 ft
Total Descent
508 ft
Highest Point
3,460 ft
~335.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,857 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 Borger, TX, road signs point toward Denton and Amarillo.
Denton
18.5 mi in
|
~26m
Amarillo
129.2 mi in
|
~2h 24m
|
via US 287
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 Borger, TX
Full guide →Founded 1926
Borger is a city in the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle. It was a wild oil boom town through the 1920s, 30s, and 40s and is still very much an oil town to this day. Borger is also home to Franks Phillips College.
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 6h 49m. Total distance: 361.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.4 miles on US 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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 Borger, 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Borger, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Borger, TX
More trips to Borger, TX
Explore more options from Arlington, TX or browse trips ending in Borger, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.