This 316.2-mile drive from Arlington, TX to Freeport, TX is designed for a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 47 minutes. With a 95% highway share, it's a straightforward trip focused on efficient travel. Expect a fuel cost of around $48 for this journey. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so you won't be crossing major geographical divides. This route is best tackled in one go, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a direct path to Freeport.
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
158.1 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway
227.2 mi
3h 57m
Nolan Ryan Expressway
38.9 mi
46m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15.4 mi
16m
TX 288 Toll
14.4 mi
16m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
5.9 mi
6m
South Collins Street
4.1 mi
7m
Gulf Freeway
2.6 mi
3m
North Brazosport Boulevard
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 227.2 mi, about 3h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Freeport, 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
2.6 mi·3 min·Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 46BToward US 59 South, TX 288 South, I 69 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport, VictoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward TX 288 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport
14
Continue on TX 288
0.6 mi·46 sec·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 288 Toll
14 mi·16 min·TX 288 Toll
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Merge onto TX 288
0.2 mi·17 sec·South Freeway
17
Continue on TX 288
39 mi·46 min·Nolan Ryan Expressway
18
Continue on TX 288
1.3 mi·1 min·State Highway 288
19
Continue on TX 288
1.9 mi·2 min·North Brazosport Boulevard
20
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
0.9 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
21
Arrive at destination
West 2nd Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour, 47-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially as you navigate through the initial urban areas. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your breaks. Budgeting around $48 for fuel should cover your needs. A key tip for this route: be mindful of the extensive stretch on the Julius Schepps Freeway; ensure you have adequate fuel before you embark on that 227.2-mile segment to minimize any stops.
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 158.1 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 51m 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 70 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.1 miles or 2h 51m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Freeport, 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 316.2 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 257.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
256.7 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 59 South, TX 288 South, I 69 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport, 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.
Exit 46B
Toward US 59 South, TX 288 South, I 69 South: L...
6
257.5 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 288 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 288 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.78 one way
$95.56 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$52.30
$104.59
premium
$4.54
$56.46
$112.91
diesel
$5.61
$69.81
$139.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.9
1
$33.20
$15.18
Efficient EV
79.1
0
$27.67
$12.65
EV Truck/SUV
126.5
1
$44.27
$20.24
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
S 10 to 15 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Freeport, TX
Late night
in Freeport on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
13 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 47m 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?
This is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the route utilizing major roadways like the Julius Schepps Freeway, Nolan Ryan Expressway, and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 227.2 miles on the Julius Schepps Freeway, indicating a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. The road character remains largely consistent, offering a smooth, high-speed experience throughout most of the trip.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Nolan Ryan Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near East Interstate 20.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 316.2 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 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Arlington, TX to Freeport, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Victoria along the way.
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 47m. Total distance: 316.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 47m 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.
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 Freeport, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Freeport, TX before the return drive.
