This straightforward 149.5-mile drive from Arlington, TX to Calvert, TX takes about 2 hours and 42 minutes, making it an ideal one-day trip. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with no highway driving, covering a total of 2.7 hours behind the wheel. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is $23. Since both locations are within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can expect a consistent landscape. This route is perfect for a leisurely day trip, allowing you to depart at your convenience and arrive without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.7 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Freeway
78 mi
1h 20m
East State Highway 6
46.6 mi
46m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10.3 mi
11m
Marlin Highway
2.7 mi
3m
South Cooper Street
2.4 mi
4m
North Memorial Street
2.1 mi
2m
South Center Street
2 mi
4m
North Main Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
South Freeway
— 78 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Calvert, 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 437Toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, DentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 35W South: WacoUse 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 337Toward US 77 Business: Elm AvenueUse 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
1.3 mi·2 min·North Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
TX 6; FM 1644
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 42-minute duration and 149.5-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim for a morning departure to maximize your time at your destination. With only one planned stop and a fuel cost of around $23, you won't need to worry about extensive breaks or budgeting for multiple fill-ups. Pay close attention to local speed limits and traffic signals, especially as you transition through different stretches of West Abram Street and South Center Street, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests frequent changes in road conditions and potential for slower traffic.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.7 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 1h 23m 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.7 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Calvert, 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 149.5 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 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
$22.59 one way
$45.18 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$24.73
$49.45
premium
$4.54
$26.69
$53.38
diesel
$5.61
$33.01
$66.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.70
$7.18
Efficient EV
37.4
0
$13.08
$5.98
EV Truck/SUV
59.8
0
$20.93
$9.57
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Morning
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Calvert, TX
Morning
in Calvert on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Italy, TX
75 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
2h 42m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 149.5-mile journey, as indicated by the 0% highway share. You'll be on roads like West Abram Street, South Center Street, and West Pioneer Parkway for the majority of your travel. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the profile suggests a route with frequent turns and intersections rather than long, open highway segments. This means you'll be actively navigating through towns and local areas for the entire 2-hour and 42-minute duration.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 149.5 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.
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 Calvert, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Denton along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 149.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). 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.
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 Calvert, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Calvert, TX before heading back.
