Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Arlington, TX to Brookshire, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 44m
Distance
251.4 mi
405 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 31m
★
6 AM
4h 44m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 54m
12 PM
4h 51m
3 PM
4h 55m
5 PM
5h 10m
8 PM
4h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Brookshire, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Arlington, TX to Brookshire, TX is 251.4 miles and takes about 4h 44m via South Freeway and East State Highway 6, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, passing through the Great Plains region for its entirety. With 87% of the route on highways, expect a fairly direct trip. This is a good option if you're looking for a single-day drive with minimal fuss, getting you from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex towards the Houston area 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
125.7 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Freeway | 78 mi | 1h 20m |
| East State Highway 6 | 46.6 mi | 46m |
| North Earl Rudder Freeway | 30.1 mi | 31m |
| State Highway 6 | 22.4 mi | 25m |
| FM 359 | 18.6 mi | 27m |
| South State Highway 6 | 13.7 mi | 14m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| North State Highway 6 | 6.2 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
South Freeway
— 78 mi, about 1h 20m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,924 veh/hr typical · worst 2,757
Quietest
2 AM
~304 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 78 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 Brookshire, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
93 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Abram Street
2
Continue on West Abram Street
417 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Abram Street
3
Turn right onto South Center Street
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Center Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto FM 157
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
8
Merge onto I 20
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35W South: Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 35W
78 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35; US 77
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 337
Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
15
Turn left onto US 77 Bus
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Loop Drive
16
Continue on Loop 484
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Marlin Highway
17
Continue on TX 6
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
East State Highway 6
18
Continue on TX 6
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Memorial Street
19
Continue on TX 6
37 mi
·
37 min
·
East State Highway 6
20
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
21
Continue on TX 6
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North State Highway 6
22
Continue on US 79; TX 6
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Market Street
23
Continue on US 190; TX 6
14 mi
·
14 min
·
South State Highway 6
24
Continue on US 190; TX 6
30 mi
·
31 min
·
North Earl Rudder Freeway
25
Continue on TX 6
22 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 6
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on US 290 Business
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
US 290 Business
Toward US 290 East, TX 6 South
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn left onto US 290 Bus
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Austin Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 290 Bus
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 290 Business
29
Turn right onto FM 359
19 mi
·
27 min
·
FM 359
30
At end of road, turn left onto FM 359
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
2nd Street
31
Continue on FM 359
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Farm-to-Market Road 359
32
Continue on FM 359
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 359
33
Continue on FM 359
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Bains Street
34
Turn left onto US 90; FM 359
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
Highway Boulevard
35
Turn right onto FM 359
83 ft
·
1 sec
·
Waller Avenue
36
Arrive at destination
FM 359
Trip Plan
For this 4h 44m drive, leaving Arlington in the morning is your best bet, allowing ample daylight to reach Brookshire. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops, but consider one break to break up the 78-mile stretch on the South Freeway. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $37, and plan your fill-ups accordingly, especially before heading onto longer highway segments. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely occur closer to your destination.
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 125.7 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78 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 55 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.7 miles or 2h 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 3h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookshire, 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 251.4 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 South Freeway for about 78 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.7 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78 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.
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
1.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.5 mi from route
Bicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~11 min detour
First break
4.6 mi from route
~11 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 95.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Center Street
Turn right onto South Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
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
7
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
7
95.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 337
Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.74 one way
$75.48 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $41.76 | $83.52 |
| premium | $4.57 | $45.18 | $90.37 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $62.12 | $124.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.4 | 0 | $26.40 | $12.07 |
| Efficient EV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.00 | $10.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.6 | 1 | $35.20 | $16.09 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Origin
Arlington, TX
Late night in Arlington on Friday
Local time
12:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Brookshire, TX
Late night in Brookshire on Friday
Local time
12:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
55°F
Groesbeck, TX
126 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
3 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 44m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 95.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 87% of the 251.4 miles on freeways. You'll spend a significant amount of time cruising, with the longest stretch on the South Freeway measuring 78 miles. Expect to transition from highway driving to surface roads as you approach your destination in Brookshire.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78 mi on South Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Freeway and East State Highway 6. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Center Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 251.4 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 0.1 miles (South Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
726 ft
160 ft
Total Climb
186 ft
Total Descent
630 ft
Highest Point
726 ft
~18 mi in
Elevation Range
565 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.
On the drive from Arlington, TX to Brookshire, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Denton along the way.
Denton
15.9 mi in
|
~21m
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 Brookshire, 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 44m. Total distance: 251.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m 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 78 miles on South Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 Brookshire, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Brookshire, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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