Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Arlington, TX to Dripping Springs, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 3m
Distance
220.5 mi
355 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 51m
★
6 AM
4h 4m
8 AM
4h 30m
10 AM
4h 13m
12 PM
4h 10m
3 PM
4h 14m
5 PM
4h 28m
8 PM
3h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Dripping Springs, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Arlington, TX to Dripping Springs, TX is 220.5 miles and takes about 4h 3m via South Freeway and I-35, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of the trip. With just one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination 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
110.2 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Freeway | 78 mi | 1h 20m |
| I 35 | 42.1 mi | 43m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| West US Highway 290 | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| Express 1 Toll | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| North Mopac Expressway | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
South Freeway
— 78 mi, about 1h 20m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,865 veh/hr typical · worst 3,633
Quietest
2 AM
~446 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 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 Dripping Springs, 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
42 mi
·
43 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 250
Toward TX 45 Toll, TX 1 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 45 Toll West, TX 1 Toll South: Round Rock, Austin
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto TX 45 Toll
0.5 mi
·
30 sec
·
State Highway 45 North
18
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward Loop 1 Toll South
Use the slight right lane.
19
Continue on Loop 1 Toll
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Express 1 Toll
Use the slight left lane.
21
Merge onto Loop 1
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
319 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
24
Merge onto US 290; TX 71
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
447 ft
·
6 sec
·
West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
26
Continue on West US 290 Frontage Rd
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
West US 290 Frontage Rd
27
Turn straight onto West US 290 Bypass Lanes
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
West US 290 Bypass Lanes
28
Continue on US 290
378 ft
·
4 sec
·
West US Highway 290
29
Continue on US 290
12 mi
·
15 min
·
West US Highway 290
Use the left lane.
30
Turn left onto RM 12
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Ranch Road 12
Use the left lane.
31
Turn left
104 ft
·
13 sec
32
Turn left
332 ft
·
24 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 3m estimated drive time, leaving Arlington, TX in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. You'll want to plan for one stop, and since the longest highway stretch is 78 miles, consider timing your break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $32. This route is manageable in a single day, so you have the flexibility to depart when convenient. Pay attention to the transition from I-35 to other roads as you get closer to Dripping Springs to ensure you stay on track.
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 110.2 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 1m 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.2 miles or 2h 1m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dripping Springs, 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 220.5 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
110 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 110.2 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78 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
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
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
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
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
Rest Area
2.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.5 mi from route
Barton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Halfway reset
3.8 mi from route
~9 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, ~12 min detour
First break
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteToybrary Austin
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+15124343927
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 203.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
181.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward TX 45 Toll, TX 1 Toll
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 250
Toward TX 45 Toll, TX 1 Toll
8
182.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward TX 45 Toll West, TX 1 Toll South: Round Rock, Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward TX 45 Toll West, TX 1 Toll South: Round...
7
203.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano
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.
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, L...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.76 one way
$67.52 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.29 | $37.26 | $74.52 |
| premium | $4.64 | $40.26 | $80.53 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $53.64 | $107.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.2 | 0 | $23.15 | $10.58 |
| Efficient EV | 55.1 | 0 | $19.29 | $8.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.2 | 1 | $30.87 | $14.11 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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
Morning in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Dripping Springs, TX
Morning in Dripping Springs on Tuesday
Local time
7:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
E 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
86°F
Troy, TX
110 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
1 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
4h 3m 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
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 91.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 69% of this 220.5-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 78 miles, which occurs on the South Freeway. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach your destination, with the highway portion concluding well before Dripping Springs. The prevalence of highway driving means you'll likely encounter periods of steady cruising punctuated by denser exit traffic as you pass through populated areas.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Freeway and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.9 miles in.
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 23 significant decision points across 220.5 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 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; at 181.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,154 ft
450 ft
Total Climb
1,357 ft
Total Descent
808 ft
Highest Point
1,154 ft
~220.5 mi in
Elevation Range
703 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.
Between Arlington, TX and Dripping Springs, TX, road signs point toward Denton, Austin, Loop 1 Toll South and Llano.
Denton
15.9 mi in
|
~21m
Austin
182.1 mi in
|
~3h 15m
Loop 1 Toll South
183.3 mi in
|
~3h 17m
Llano
203.2 mi in
|
~3h 39m
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 Dripping Springs, TX
Full guide →Dripping Springs is in the Hill Country region of Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Dr. Joseph M. and Sarah Pound Farmstead — building in Dripping Springs, Hays County, Texas
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 3m. Total distance: 220.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Dripping Springs, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 181.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Dripping Springs, 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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