Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Arlington, TX to Fairchilds, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 24m
Distance
294.7 mi
474 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 11m
★
6 AM
5h 24m
8 AM
5h 51m
10 AM
5h 34m
12 PM
5h 31m
3 PM
5h 35m
5 PM
5h 50m
8 PM
5h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Fairchilds, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Arlington, TX to Fairchilds, TX is 294.7 miles and takes about 5h 24m via Julius Schepps Freeway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another area of the Great Plains. The route is predominantly highway, making for a straightforward trip. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive time, this is a convenient option for a single-day excursion. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points with minimal fuss.
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
147.3 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 214.3 mi | 3h 41m |
| North Sam Houston Tollway West | 20.1 mi | 23m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| Southwest Freeway | 14.9 mi | 16m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| West Sam Houston Tollway South | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| South Collins Street | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| Pleak Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 214.3 mi, about 3h 41m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Fairchilds, 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 East
Use 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 473C
Toward I 45 South: Houston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 45
214 mi
·
3 hr 41 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 60B
Toward BW 8 East, SHT West: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto BW 8
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Sam Houston Parkway West
14
Continue on SHT
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto SHT
18 mi
·
20 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto SHT
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on BW 8
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Sam Houston Parkway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Downtown, Victoria
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 69 South, US 59 South: Victoria
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Merge onto I 69; US 59
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Southwest Freeway
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 99
Toward FM 2218
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
23
Turn left onto FM 2218
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
B F Terry Boulevard
24
Continue on FM 2218
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Pleak Road
25
At end of road, turn left onto TX 36
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
TX 36
26
Turn left onto FM 361
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Fairchilds-Long Point Road
27
Turn right onto Needville Fairchilds Road
17 ft
·
0 sec
·
Needville Fairchilds Road
28
Arrive at destination
Needville Fairchilds Road
Trip Plan
For this 5h 24m drive, leaving Arlington, TX in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Fairchilds, TX. The route has a recommended single stop, which is ideal for a break during the 294.7-mile trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $43, be sure to fill up before you leave or at a convenient point along the way. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 200 miles, so plan your refreshments accordingly before embarking on that segment. This is a manageable one-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time.
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 147.3 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 214.3 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 65 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.3 miles or 2h 38m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairchilds, 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 294.7 miles and 5h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 214.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
147 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 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 147.3 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 214.3 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.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Dennis Johnston Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Spring, Texas
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+17132740930
Visit websiteFort Bend Children's Discovery Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Sugar Land, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+18327422800
Visit websiteEscape Again Rooms
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Sugar Land, Texas
Hours: 4–10 pm
+18329994572
Visit websiteJumping World
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 1–9 pm
+17139967811
Visit websiteCullinan Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Sugar Land, Texas
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+12812752825
Visit websiteBrazos River Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
Sugar Land, Texas
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+12812752825
Visit websiteCandy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~12 min detour
Final third
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
Visit websiteThe Woodlands Waterway
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, ~12 min detour
Final third
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
The Woodlands, Texas
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 26.7 and 269.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
241.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 15m in
Take the exit toward BW 8 East, SHT West: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sam Houston Tollway West
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 60B
Toward BW 8 East, SHT West: Bush Intercontinent...
7
241.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
7
268.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 48m in
Take the exit toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Downtown, Victoria
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 59 North, US 59 South: Downtown, Vict...
8
269.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69 South, US 59 South: Victoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 69 South, US 59 South: Victoria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.74 one way
$89.48 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
103 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $49.31 | $98.62 |
| premium | $4.58 | $53.14 | $106.28 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $62.07 | $124.15 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.05
Sam Houston Tollway
(25.6 mi)
$2.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.4 | 1 | $30.94 | $14.15 |
| Efficient EV | 73.7 | 0 | $25.79 | $11.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.9 | 1 | $41.26 | $18.86 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Origin
Arlington, TX
Evening in Arlington on Wednesday
Local time
8:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Fairchilds, TX
Evening in Fairchilds on Wednesday
Local time
8:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Partly Sunny
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
73°F
Little Elm, TX
147 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
5h 24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 84% of the 294.7 miles spent on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 214.3 miles on the Julius Schepps Freeway, which means extended periods of highway cruising. The route transitions from highway to surface roads later in the trip, indicated by the change from the highway share percentage. Expect the urban merging and dense exits typical of major freeway systems in the initial parts of your drive.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 214.3 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and North Sam Houston Tollway West. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.7 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 19 significant decision points across 294.7 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 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 241.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
644 ft
81 ft
Total Climb
396 ft
Total Descent
918 ft
Highest Point
644 ft
~21 mi in
Elevation Range
562 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 Fairchilds, TX, road signs point toward Bw 8 East, Sht West: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sam Houston Tollway West, Sht West: Sam Houston Tollway and Victoria.
Bw 8 East
241.3 mi in
|
~4h 15m
Sht West: Bush Intercontinental Airport
241.3 mi in
|
~4h 15m
Sam Houston Tollway West
241.3 mi in
|
~4h 15m
Sht West: Sam Houston Tollway
241.9 mi in
|
~4h 16m
Victoria
268.9 mi in
|
~4h 48m
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 Fairchilds, 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 5h 24m. Total distance: 294.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 24m 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 214.3 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.05 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 37 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 Fairchilds, 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 37 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 241.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fairchilds, TX before the return drive.
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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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