Arlington, TX to Dickinson, TX is 285.7 miles and takes about 5h 10m via Julius Schepps Freeway and Gulf Freeway, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, crossing the Great Plains region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major freeways, making it a practical choice for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained highways, so it's less about scenic overlooks and more about efficient travel.
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
142.8 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway
227.2 mi
3h 57m
Gulf Freeway
28.6 mi
33m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15.4 mi
16m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
5.9 mi
6m
South Collins Street
4.1 mi
7m
Pine Drive
1.5 mi
2m
South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
0.9 mi
1m
West Abram Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 227.2 mi, about 3h 57m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,315 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,925
Quietest
2 AM
~414 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 48 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 Dickinson, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
93 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
2
Continue on West Abram Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Abram Street
3
Turn right
153 ft·6 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Turn slight right onto South Collins Street
4.1 mi·7 min·South Collins Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
0.3 mi·28 sec·East Interstate 20
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 20 EastUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 20
5.9 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 20
15 mi·16 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 473CToward I 45 South: HoustonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 45
227 mi·3 hr 57 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 45
29 mi·33 min·Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 19Toward FM 517: Dickinson
13
Turn straight onto South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
0.9 mi·1 min·South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
14
Turn left onto FM 517
1.5 mi·2 min·Pine Drive
15
Continue on FM 517
0.4 mi·33 sec·Pine Street
16
Arrive at destination
FM 517
Trip Plan
For this 5h 10m drive, leaving Arlington in the morning allows ample time to reach Dickinson before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $42, this trip is manageable in a single day. Keep an eye on traffic, especially as you approach the Houston metropolitan area, as congestion can significantly impact your travel time. Since it's a relatively short drive, you have flexibility in your departure time, but aim to start early to avoid the worst of any potential delays.
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 142.8 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 227.2 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 63 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.8 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dickinson, 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 285.7 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 227.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 26.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.8 mi into trip|~9m in|East Interstate 20
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
5.1 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 20 East
5
5.3 mi into trip|~10m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.13 one way
$78.26 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$43.71
$87.42
premium
$4.23
$47.52
$95.05
diesel
$4.80
$53.95
$107.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.7
1
$30.00
$13.71
Efficient EV
71.4
0
$25.00
$11.43
EV Truck/SUV
114.3
1
$40.00
$18.28
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:53PM CDT until July 21 at 3:54AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:52PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Destination
Dickinson, TX
Late night
in Dickinson on Sunday
Local time
4:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:53PM CDT until July 21 at 3:54AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:52PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi 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
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
5h 10m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to be on highways for 95% of this 285.7-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a main road, the Julius Schepps Freeway, is 227.2 miles. This means you'll experience primarily high-speed cruising with frequent exits and merges as you navigate the urban and suburban environments around Dallas and Houston. The transition to surface roads will occur near your destination.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 227.2 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Gulf Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 285.7 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 5h 10m. Total distance: 285.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 227.2 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dickinson, TX before the return drive.
