Arlington, TX to Homestead Meadows South, TX is 617.8 miles and takes about 10h 25m via I 20 and I 10, with a fuel budget near $90 and recommended overnight stops. This long-haul drive traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a primarily highway experience. With a recommended two-day pace, you'll have ample time to break up the driving and rest. Consider this route if you prefer a straightforward path with minimal time spent on surface roads.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
308.9 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
421 mi
7h
I 10
151.7 mi
2h 24m
West Freeway
15.5 mi
17m
Tom Landry Freeway
12 mi
15m
Loop 375
6.2 mi
7m
Montana Avenue
6 mi
8m
South Cooper Street
1.7 mi
3m
Desert Meadows Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 421 mi, about 7h
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 96 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,504 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,862
Quietest
2 AM
~213 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Homestead Meadows South, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West Abram Street
2
Turn right onto FM 157
1.7 mi·3 min·South Cooper Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto West Lamar Boulevard
0.3 mi·41 sec·West Lamar Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 30 WestUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 30
12 mi·15 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 30; US 377
15 mi·17 min·West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 20
421 mi·7 hr·I 20
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 10
152 mi·2 hr 24 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 34Toward Loop 375Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward Loop 375 NorthUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto Loop 375
6.2 mi·7 min·Loop 375
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 35Toward US 62, US 180: Montana AvenueUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto Joe Battle Boulevard
0.2 mi·20 sec·Joe Battle Boulevard
14
Turn right onto US 62; US 180
6.0 mi·8 min·Montana Avenue
15
Turn right onto Desert Meadows Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Desert Meadows Drive
16
Turn left onto Marvin Lane
0.2 mi·28 sec·Marvin Lane
17
Turn right onto Gwendolyn Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·Gwendolyn Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Gwendolyn Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 10h 25m estimated duration, planning for two days is a sensible approach. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight hours for your first leg. With two recommended stops, you can comfortably cover about 300 miles each day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 421-mile stretch on I 20, as services can be spread out in some sections. The fuel cost is estimated at $90, so budget accordingly.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 308.9 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 5h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 421 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 136 miles or 2h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 308.9 miles or 5h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 308.9 miles or 5h 17m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Homestead Meadows South, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Arlington, TX
Aim for roughly 309 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Homestead Meadows South, TX
Aim for roughly 309 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 136 miles from Arlington, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 421 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 610.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Turn right onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward I 30 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 30 West
7
602.8 mi into trip|~10h 3m in
Take the exit toward Loop 375
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward Loop 375
7
603.4 mi into trip|~10h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Loop 375 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Loop 375 North
8
610.6 mi into trip|~10h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 62, US 180: Montana Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 35
Toward US 62, US 180: Montana Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$92.74 one way
$185.49 round trip
$3.81/gal25.4 MPG avg216 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$102.62
$205.24
premium
$4.57
$111.03
$222.07
diesel
$6.28
$152.65
$305.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$93
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$223–$333
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 216.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $65 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
185.3
2
$64.87
$29.65
Efficient EV
154.5
1
$54.06
$24.71
EV Truck/SUV
247.1
3
$86.49
$39.54
Gas CO2
216 kg
EV CO2
72 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Friday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Homestead Meadows South, TX
Late night
in Homestead Meadows South on Friday
Local time
2:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
SE 6 mph12% chanceLive 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
10h 25m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Chamizal National Memorial
National Memorial
Chamizal is more than just an urban park to recreate or enjoy a quiet afternoon. These grounds are a reminder of the harmonious settlement of a 100-year boundary dispute between the United States and...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 617.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 97% of this trip on major highways, including I 20 and I 10. Expect the longest continuous stretch on I 20, covering 421 miles. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the drive, likely near your destination. This route features long stretches of rural cruising punctuated by periods of urban merging as you pass through populated areas.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 421 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near FM 157 / South Cooper Street.
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 13 significant decision points across 617.8 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 0.4 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 602.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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
The longest stretch is about 421 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 309 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 75 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 Homestead Meadows South, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 75 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 602.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chamizal National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.4 hours each way, a round trip means 20.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Homestead Meadows South, TX before the return drive.
