Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Arlington, TX to Cibolo, 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
4h 45m
Distance
260.4 mi
419 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 32m
★
6 AM
4h 45m
8 AM
5h 12m
10 AM
4h 55m
12 PM
4h 52m
3 PM
4h 56m
5 PM
5h 11m
8 PM
4h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Cibolo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Arlington, TX to Cibolo, TX is 260.4 miles and takes about 4h 45m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. You'll experience a mix of highway and surface road driving, making it a straightforward, single-day trip. Plan for about 55% of your travel on highways, with a significant stretch on the Purple Heart Trail. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B without needing an overnight stay.
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
130.2 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 96.5 mi | 1h 43m |
| South Freeway | 78 mi | 1h 20m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Cibolo Valley Drive | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| South Cooper Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| South Center Street | 2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 96.5 mi, about 1h 43m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 100 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,421 veh/hr typical · worst 4,049
Quietest
2 AM
~584 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Cibolo, 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
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
16
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 176
Toward Cibolo Valley Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto Interstate 35 North
360 ft
·
9 sec
·
Interstate 35 North
20
Turn left onto Cibolo Valley Drive
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Cibolo Valley Drive
21
Continue on North Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 45m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. Since it's a single-day trip covering 260.4 miles, you can afford to be flexible with your timing. The longest stretch on the Purple Heart Trail is 96.5 miles, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before entering that section. With a fuel cost estimated around $35, it's a budget-friendly option. Plan for one primary stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch and refuel.
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 130.2 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.5 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 57 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.2 miles or 2h 21m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cibolo, 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 260.4 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 96.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
130 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 130.2 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 96.5 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
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.4 mi from route
Cultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteVillage of Salado Visitors Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.6 mi from route
~2 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websiteTube Chute
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
+18302214000
Visit websiteThe Sophienburg Museum & Archives
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+18306291572
Visit websiteBicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~10 min detour
First break
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Early stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~11 min detour
Final third
4.2 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteChildren's Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
San Marcos, Texas
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+15123938400
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 255.7 — 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.
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
8
195.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 30m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
7
255.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward Cibolo Valley Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 176
Toward Cibolo Valley Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.67 one way
$71.33 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
91 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $39.84 | $79.68 |
| premium | $4.23 | $43.31 | $86.63 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $49.17 | $98.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.1 | 0 | $27.34 | $12.50 |
| Efficient EV | 65.1 | 0 | $22.79 | $10.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.2 | 1 | $36.46 | $16.67 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Monday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Rain Showers
SSW 5 to 10 mph
36% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 15 at 9:55AM CDT until July 15 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 15 at 9:35AM CDT until July 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Cibolo, TX
Late night in Cibolo on Monday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 5 to 10 mph
88% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 15 at 9:55AM CDT until July 15 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 15 at 9:35AM CDT until July 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
96°F
Troy, TX
130 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
8 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
4h 45m 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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 98.8
View on nps.gov
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 260.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect 55% of this 260.4-mile route to be on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 96.5 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. After that, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the drive. Given the mixed profile, you'll likely notice changes in speed limits and traffic density as you move between highway segments and local roads.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.5 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 260.4 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
793 ft
460 ft
Total Climb
620 ft
Total Descent
522 ft
Highest Point
793 ft
~186 mi in
Elevation Range
333 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 Cibolo, 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 Cibolo, 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 45m. Total distance: 260.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 Cibolo, 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 25 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 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.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 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 Cibolo, 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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