This 86.2-mile drive from Arlington, TX to Commerce, TX is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 40 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, it’s an economical option for a day trip. The route stays within the Great Plains region, meaning you’ll experience a consistent landscape throughout your journey. Given its relatively short duration and efficient highway travel, this route is perfect for a single-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.1 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East R L Thornton Freeway
55.6 mi
1h
Tom Landry Freeway
16.5 mi
18m
TX 24
10.2 mi
11m
South Mesquite Street
1.2 mi
2m
Live Oak Street
0.7 mi
1m
East Copeland Road
0.5 mi
<1m
North Center Street
0.5 mi
1m
East Interstate 30
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 55.6 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Commerce, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
93 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
2
Continue on West Abram Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Abram Street
3
Turn left onto South Mesquite Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Mesquite Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn straight onto North Center Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Center Street
5
Turn slight right
218 ft·9 sec
Use the right lane.
6
Turn straight onto East Interstate 30
0.2 mi·45 sec·East Interstate 30
7
Continue on East Copeland Road
0.5 mi·55 sec·East Copeland Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 30 EastUse the straight / left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 30
16 mi·18 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
48 mi·51 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Toward I 30 East: TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Exit 101Toward TX 24, FM 1737: Commerce, Paris
13
Continue on TX 24
10 mi·11 min·TX 24
Toward TX 24: Commerce, Paris
14
Turn right onto TX 224 Bus
0.7 mi·1 min·Live Oak Street
15
Arrive at destination
Live Oak Street
Trip Plan
For this efficient 86.2-mile journey, consider an early morning departure to maximize your day, especially if you plan any activities upon arrival in Commerce. With a duration of just under 2 hours and minimal stops suggested, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits you best. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $13 estimated cost covers the entire route, and finding services during the 55.6-mile stretch on East R L Thornton Freeway might require planning. A practical tip: since this is a highway-centric drive, ensure your vehicle is in good condition before setting off to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted trip.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.1 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.6 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.1 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Commerce, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arlington, TX
This is one driving day of about 86.2 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Arlington, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East R L Thornton Freeway for about 55.6 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 75.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South Mesquite Street
Turn left onto South Mesquite Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 30 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 30 East
5
3 mi into trip|~7m in|I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge onto I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
27 mi into trip|~35m in|I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
6
75.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward TX 24, FM 1737: Commerce, Paris
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 101
Toward TX 24, FM 1737: Commerce, Paris
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.03 one way
$26.05 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$14.26
$28.51
premium
$4.54
$15.39
$30.78
diesel
$5.61
$19.03
$38.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.9
0
$9.05
$4.14
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.54
$3.45
EV Truck/SUV
34.5
0
$12.07
$5.52
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 14, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Commerce, TX
Late night
in Commerce on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
1h 40m 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 highly efficient drive, as 96% of this route is on highways. You'll primarily be navigating via East R L Thornton Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway before transitioning to TX 24. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 55.6 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway, offering a good period of consistent speed. This highway-focused profile suggests a drive characterized by steady progress rather than winding, scenic byways, making it ideal for covering ground quickly and efficiently.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.6 mi on East R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Mesquite Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Mesquite Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Commerce, TX, road signs point toward Fm 1737: Commerce and Paris.
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
The longest stretch is about 55.6 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Mesquite Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Commerce, TX before heading back.
