If you are planning a trip from Arlington to Kermit, expect a 380.6-mile journey that typically takes about 6 hours and 49 minutes. This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, utilizing I-20 as your main artery before transitioning onto State Highway 302. Because the total travel time is under seven hours, you can comfortably complete this as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stop. Budgeting around $58 for fuel will cover your transit across the Great Plains. It is a straightforward, functional drive that gets you from the DFW area to West Texas efficiently, making it well-suited for travelers who prefer consistency over complex navigation.
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
190.3 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
299.7 mi
5h 4m
State Highway 302
40.4 mi
51m
West Freeway
15.5 mi
17m
Tom Landry Freeway
12 mi
15m
East 42nd Street
5.6 mi
6m
South Cooper Street
1.7 mi
3m
Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway
1.6 mi
2m
South Poplar Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 299.7 mi, about 5h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Kermit, 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
300 mi·5 hr 4 min·I 20
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward Loop 338: Odessa
9
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
235 ft·4 sec·East Interstate 20
10
Turn right onto Loop 338
0.7 mi·53 sec·Southeast Loop 338
11
Continue on Loop 338
1.6 mi·2 min·Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto State Highway 191 East
0.5 mi·43 sec·State Highway 191 East
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on TX 191
5.6 mi·6 min·East 42nd Street
Use the straight lane.
14
At end of road, turn right onto Spur 450
0.4 mi·34 sec·Kermit Highway
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on TX 302
40 mi·51 min·State Highway 302
16
Continue on TX 302
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Jim Sharp Boulevard
17
Turn right onto TX 18
0.8 mi·1 min·South Poplar Street
18
Turn right onto TX 115
167 ft·5 sec·East Austin Street
19
Turn right
111 ft·8 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the nearly seven hours of travel time. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Kermit before the day is over. Since you will be covering such a long stretch on I-20, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial leg of the trip to avoid unnecessary stress in more remote sections. Because this route is highly efficient, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic patterns around Arlington. A pro tip for this specific drive is to prioritize your rest break during the transition from the interstate to State Highway 302 to reset your focus for the final leg.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 190.3 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 299.7 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 84 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190.3 miles or 3h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kermit, 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 380.6 miles and 6h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 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 I 20 for about 299.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 338.5 — 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
5
2.6 mi into trip|~6m in|I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge onto I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
30.1 mi into trip|~39m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
338.5 mi into trip|~5h 54m in|Spur 450 / Kermit Highway
At end of road, turn right onto Spur 450 / Kermit Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.51 one way
$115.02 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$62.95
$125.90
premium
$4.54
$67.95
$135.91
diesel
$5.61
$84.03
$168.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114.2
1
$39.96
$18.27
Efficient EV
95.2
1
$33.30
$15.22
EV Truck/SUV
152.2
1
$53.28
$24.36
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (66% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Night
in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kermit, TX
Night
in Kermit on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 49m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 a high-speed experience, as 97% of this journey is spent on major highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-20, which accounts for a substantial 299.7-mile stretch of the trip. The road feels like a classic interstate grind, characterized by wide-open lanes that prioritize speed and efficiency over technical maneuvering. As you transition from the interstate onto State Highway 302, the atmosphere shifts slightly, but the focus remains on steady, uninterrupted progress. Be prepared for a long, consistent pace that demands focus but offers few surprises behind the wheel.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 299.7 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and State Highway 302. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near FM 157 / South Cooper Street.
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 380.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.4 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Kermit, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 338: Odessa 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 6h 49m. Total distance: 380.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 299.7 miles on I 20. 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kermit, 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 0.4 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kermit, TX before the return drive.
