Trip from Arlington, TX to Brownwood, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 12m

Distance

277.4 mi

446 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 59m ★

6 AM

5h 13m

8 AM

5h 40m

10 AM

5h 22m

12 PM

5h 20m

3 PM

5h 24m

5 PM

5h 38m

8 PM

5h 5m

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

Brownwood, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Arlington to Brownwood, prepare for a 277.4-mile journey that typically takes about 5 hours and 12 minutes to complete. Because this route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, it is best tackled as a manageable one-day trip. You should budget approximately $42 for fuel to cover the distance across the Great Plains. While the drive is straightforward enough to finish in a single day, the winding nature of the roads means you should stay alert behind the wheel. Given the duration, you will likely want to build in at least one stop to stretch your legs and break up the time spent navigating the local turns.

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

138.7 miles from Arlington, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway	203.2 mi	3h 28m
HTR	21.9 mi	25m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway	15.4 mi	16m
East Freeway	12.7 mi	15m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway	5.9 mi	6m
North Loop East	5.9 mi	7m
South Collins Street	4.1 mi	7m
Bayway Drive	1.4 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Julius Schepps Freeway — 203.2 mi, about 3h 28m

Traffic on I-45

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 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 Brownwood, TX.

Start on West Abram Street

93 ft · 8 sec · West Abram Street

Continue on West Abram Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Abram Street

Turn right

153 ft · 6 sec

Use the right lane.

Turn slight right onto South Collins Street

4.1 mi · 7 min · South Collins Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto East Interstate 20

0.3 mi · 28 sec · East Interstate 20

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 20 East Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 20

5.9 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 20

15 mi · 16 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Exit 473C Toward I 45 South: Houston Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 45

203 mi · 3 hr 28 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto HTR

22 mi · 25 min · HTR

Exit 72B Toward Hardy Toll Road South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward I 610 East

Merge onto I 610

5.9 mi · 7 min · North Loop East

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Exit 26A Toward I 10: Beaumont, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward I 10 East: Beaumont Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10

13 mi · 15 min · East Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 330

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Decker Drive

Toward Spur 330: Baytown

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Toward Bayway Drive Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Decker Drive

0.9 mi · 1 min · Decker Drive

Turn right onto Bayway Drive

1.4 mi · 2 min · Bayway Drive

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto West Schreck Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · West Schreck Street

Continue on West Schreck Street

0.4 mi · 2 min · West Schreck Street

Turn right onto Bayshore Drive

0.4 mi · 2 min · Bayshore Drive

Continue on Bayshore Drive

0.9 mi · 5 min · Bayshore Drive

At end of road, turn left onto Mapleton Avenue

0.2 mi · 1 min · Mapleton Avenue

Arrive at destination

Mapleton Avenue

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 5-hour and 12-minute transit, aim to head out early in the day to avoid peak traffic on the local streets departing Arlington. Since the route involves many turns, keep a close eye on your navigation to ensure you stay on track through the winding segments. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to manage fatigue, as the technical nature of these roads can be more draining than a simple interstate drive. Keep your fuel budget of $42 in mind when choosing your refill points, as local road driving can sometimes impact your vehicle's efficiency differently than highway speeds. A smart strategy is to identify your stop early in the trip so you can focus entirely on the road ahead.

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 138.7 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 28m 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 61 miles or 1h 8m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 138.7 miles or 2h 28m 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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brownwood, 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 277.4 miles and 5h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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

Seven Points, TX

139 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

Waxahachie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Seven Points, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 138.7 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

1.6 mi from route

Buc-ee's

2.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

2.4 mi from route

Candy Cane Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Conroe, Texas

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+19365223804

Visit website

Carl Barton Jr Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Conroe, Texas

Hours: 6 am–8:30 pm

+19365223000

Visit website

Bicentennial Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+12814206597

Visit website

ARs Entertainment Hub Baytown

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Baytown, Texas

Hours: 4–10 pm

+18889999440

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 259 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4.8 mi into trip | ~9m in | East Interstate 20

Turn left onto East Interstate 20

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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

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

258.8 mi into trip | ~4h 37m in

Take the exit toward I 10: Beaumont, Downtown

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 26A Toward I 10: Beaumont, Downtown

259 mi into trip | ~4h 37m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Beaumont

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 East: Beaumont

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.00 one way

$75.99 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$42.44	$84.88
premium	$4.23	$46.14	$92.28
diesel	$4.80	$52.38	$104.76

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: 97.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	83.2	1	$29.13	$13.32
Efficient EV	69.4	0	$24.27	$11.10
EV Truck/SUV	111	1	$38.84	$17.75

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

32 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.

Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Arlington, TX

Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

2:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Partly Cloudy

S 5 to 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Brownwood, TX

Afternoon in Brownwood on Sunday

Local time

2:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 5:00AM 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

5 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

5h 12m 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?

Expect a significantly different experience than a standard highway cruise, as this route prioritizes local roads over major interstates. You will begin your journey by navigating West Abram Street and South Collins Street before transitioning to Interstate 20, though the highway share remains at 0% for the duration of the trip. The road’s personality is defined by its technical, turn-heavy nature, requiring your full attention rather than allowing for the monotony of cruise control. Because the route relies on local infrastructure, you will find a more intimate, albeit slower, pace as you move through the Great Plains. Be prepared for a consistent driving rhythm that demands constant adjustment rather than long, uninterrupted stretches.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

26 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?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and HTR. 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 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 19 significant decision points across 277.4 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 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 230.2 miles (HTR): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

650 ft 5 ft

Total Climb

163 ft

Total Descent

761 ft

Highest Point

650 ft

~19.8 mi in

Elevation Range

645 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 Brownwood, TX, road signs point toward Hardy Toll Road South and Downtown.

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

Starbucks

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Conroe, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Huntsville, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Panera Bread

Fast_food

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.1 mi from route

Conroe, TX

Cuisine: sandwich;bakery

Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-21:30; Sa 07:00-21:30; Su 07...

Visit website

Museum

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Value Place

Motel

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Americas Best Value Inn

Motel

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

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 Brownwood, TX

Full guide →

Brownwood is a city in central Texas. Founded in 1857, it has some of the common origin stories of Texas towns with railroads and oil booms, and it was considered to be the biggest cotton center west of Fort Worth at the turn of the century. What really spurred its growth though was the establishment of a WWII training camp called Camp Bowie. Today, Brownwood is known for its Baptist college Howard Payne University and its reservoir with fishing and swimming nearby.

Top landmarks

• St. John's Episcopal Church — church building in Brownwood, Texas, United States of America

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 5h 12m. Total distance: 277.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). 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.

Yes — we found about 36 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 Brownwood, 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brownwood, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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