Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Arlington, TX to La Vernia, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 54m
Distance
281.9 mi
454 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 41m
★
6 AM
4h 55m
8 AM
5h 22m
10 AM
5h 4m
12 PM
5h 1m
3 PM
5h 6m
5 PM
5h 20m
8 PM
4h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
La Vernia, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Arlington, TX to La Vernia, TX is 281.9 miles and takes about 4h 54m via TX 130 Toll and South Freeway, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on major roadways, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. The total distance is manageable, and the estimated fuel cost offers a good baseline for budgeting your expenses on this stretch.
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
141 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 130 Toll | 86.1 mi | 1h 19m |
| South Freeway | 78 mi | 1h 20m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| I 35 | 26.5 mi | 26m |
| Farm to Market Road 775 | 15 mi | 20m |
| I 10 | 12.6 mi | 12m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
TX 130 Toll
— 86.1 mi, about 1h 19m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,461 veh/hr typical · worst 3,169
Quietest
2 AM
~387 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 La Vernia, 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
26 mi
·
26 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on TX 130 Toll
86 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10; US 90; TX 130
20
Take the exit
444 ft
·
11 sec
Exit 601
Toward FM 775: New Berlin, La Vernia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto West Interstate 10
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Interstate 10
22
Turn left onto FM 775
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Farm to Market Road 775
23
Continue on FM 775
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Seguin Road
24
At end of road, turn right onto Loop 321; FM 775
360 ft
·
9 sec
·
Chihuahua East
25
Turn right onto Dry Hollow
142 ft
·
6 sec
·
Dry Hollow
26
Arrive at destination
Dry Hollow
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 54-minute drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and avoid potential evening traffic. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $41, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 86.1-mile stretch on TX 130 Toll, as services can be spaced out on toll roads. Consider using the TX 130 Toll for its efficiency, but be aware of potential toll fees beyond the initial fuel budget.
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 141 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 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 62 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141 miles or 2h 32m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Vernia, 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 281.9 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 TX 130 Toll for about 86.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 141 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before TX 130 Toll if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.1 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.
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
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
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Circle K
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
Jud's 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
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.5 mi from route
Bicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Early stretch
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 266 — 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
7
166 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
7
252.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
266 mi into trip
|
~4h 32m in
Take the exit toward FM 775: New Berlin, La Vernia
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 601
Toward FM 775: New Berlin, La Vernia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.80 one way
$85.59 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $47.17 | $94.34 |
| premium | $4.58 | $50.83 | $101.66 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $59.38 | $118.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.6 | 1 | $29.60 | $13.53 |
| Efficient EV | 70.5 | 0 | $24.67 | $11.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.8 | 1 | $39.47 | $18.04 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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
Afternoon in Arlington on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SSE 5 mph
68% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 22 at 7:52PM CDT until May 22 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 22 at 7:51PM CDT until May 22 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
La Vernia, TX
Afternoon in La Vernia on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 to 10 mph
24% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 22 at 7:52PM CDT until May 22 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 22 at 7:51PM CDT until May 22 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
73°F
Troy, TX
141 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
5 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 54m 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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 97.2
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 281.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 75% of this 281.9-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 86.1 miles on the TX 130 Toll, indicating a significant portion of open highway cruising. After this, expect a transition to other major roads like the South Freeway and Purple Heart Trail, which may involve more varied traffic and exit patterns. The profile is mostly highway, suggesting fewer complex intersections outside of urban areas.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.1 mi on TX 130 Toll.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 130 Toll and South Freeway. 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
9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 281.9 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 166 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
906 ft
442 ft
Total Climb
761 ft
Total Descent
875 ft
Highest Point
906 ft
~161.1 mi in
Elevation Range
464 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 La Vernia, TX, road signs point toward Denton and Fm 775: New Berlin.
Denton
15.9 mi in
|
~21m
Fm 775: New Berlin
266 mi in
|
~4h 32m
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 La Vernia, 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 4h 54m. Total distance: 281.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.1 miles on TX 130 Toll. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 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 La Vernia, 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 29 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 166 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at La Vernia, 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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