Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Arlington, TX to Marfa, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 16m
Distance
524.3 mi
844 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$79
one way
EV Charging
Good
10 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 8m
★
6 AM
9h 16m
8 AM
9h 33m
10 AM
9h 22m
12 PM
9h 20m
3 PM
9h 23m
5 PM
9h 32m
8 PM
9h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Marfa, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
Arlington, TX to Marfa, TX is 524.3 miles and takes about 9h 16m via I 20 and TX 349, with a fuel budget near $75 and enough daylight to finish in a day, but it's recommended to split over 2 days. This long-haul drive takes you from the Great Plains in Texas to the western edge of the state, also within the Great Plains region. Expect a straightforward trip with minimal complexity, making it a solid option if you're looking for a direct route across the state. Consider this drive for its efficiency and the opportunity to cover significant ground.
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
262.1 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 33m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 284.4 mi | 4h 47m |
| East 3rd Street | 57 mi | 1h |
| TX 349 | 42.1 mi | 43m |
| South US Higway 67 | 25.7 mi | 29m |
| West US Highway 90 | 24.9 mi | 26m |
| South US Highway 67 | 21.6 mi | 24m |
| Trooper Sammy Long Memorial HIghway | 17.7 mi | 20m |
| West Freeway | 15.5 mi | 17m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 284.4 mi, about 4h 47m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,333 veh/hr typical · worst 1,751
Quietest
2 AM
~187 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Marfa, 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 West
Use 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
284 mi
·
4 hr 47 min
·
I 20
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Toward SH 349 Business, SH 349: Lamesa, Rankin
9
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
349 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Interstate 20
10
Turn left onto TX 349 Bus
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
Rankin Highway
11
Continue on TX 349
10 mi
·
10 min
·
South State Highway 349
12
Continue on TX 349
42 mi
·
43 min
·
TX 349
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 67; TX 349
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Trooper Sammy Long Memorial HIghway
14
Continue on US 67
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
East 3rd Street
15
Take the exit onto La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
Exit 246
Toward US 67 south, FM 1776: Alpine, Sul Ross State University
16
Continue on US 67
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
17
Turn left onto US 67
26 mi
·
29 min
·
South US Higway 67
18
Continue on US 67
22 mi
·
24 min
·
South US Highway 67
19
Continue on US 67; US 90
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
East US Highway 90
20
Continue on US 67; US 90
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Avenue E
21
Continue on US 67; US 90
25 mi
·
26 min
·
West US Highway 90
22
Continue on US 67; US 90
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East San Antonio Street
23
Turn right onto TX 17
183 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Highland Street
24
Turn left
190 ft
·
14 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 9h 16m estimated drive time, breaking this trip into two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart Arlington early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight hours. Plan for at least two stops to break up the driving and refuel. The longest stretch without services will be on I 20, so ensure your tank is full before you embark on that 284.4-mile section. Splitting the drive means you can enjoy a more relaxed pace and arrive in Marfa refreshed, rather than rushed.
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 262.1 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 4h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 284.4 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 115 miles or 2h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 262.1 miles or 4h 33m 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 262.1 miles or 4h 33m
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 8h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marfa, 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 262 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Marfa, TX
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 115 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 284.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
173 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
346 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Midland, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
262 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Roscoe, TX after about 262 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 115 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 262.1 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 284.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 262 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
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.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Mitchell County Westbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0 mi from route
I-20 Westbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Howard County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
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
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
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
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Westbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 442.2 — 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.
6
442.2 mi into trip
|
~7h 43m in
|
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
Take the exit onto La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor toward US 67 south, FM 1776: Alpine, Sul Ross State University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 246
Toward US 67 south, FM 1776: Alpine, Sul Ross S...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.71 one way
$157.41 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
183 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $87.09 | $174.17 |
| premium | $4.57 | $94.23 | $188.46 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $129.55 | $259.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$209–$319
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 183.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
10 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good
Fort Worth, TX - Eastchase Parkway - Tesla Supercharger
Fort Worth, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Fort Worth, TX - Whitmore Street - Tesla Supercharger
Fort Worth, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Haltom City, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Haltom City, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
WinCo Foods - Arlington 135
Arlington, TX
eVgo Network
10 DCFC
Arlington, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Arlington, TX
Tesla
10 DCFC
Grand Prairie, TX Rechargery Relay - N Hwy 360
Grand Prairie, TX
IONNA
10 DCFC
Arlington, TX - East Bardin Road - Tesla Supercharger
Arlington, TX
Tesla
8 DCFC
Steak 'n Shake - Tesla Supercharger
Arlington, TX
Tesla
8 DCFC
Tesla: 6
eVgo Network: 2
Electrify America: 1
IONNA: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 157.3 | 1 | $55.05 | $25.17 |
| Efficient EV | 131.1 | 1 | $45.88 | $20.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 209.7 | 2 | $73.40 | $33.56 |
Gas CO2
183 kg
EV CO2
61 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 Thursday
Local time
5:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
E 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Marfa, TX
Evening in Marfa on Thursday
Local time
5:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
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.
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
9h 16m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
About 80% of this route is on highways, which translates to 419.4 miles of highway cruising. The longest continuous stretch on I 20 covers 284.4 miles, offering a consistent pace. You'll transition to surface roads, like East 3rd Street and TX 349, for the remaining approximately 104.9 miles. Expect the highway portion to feel open, with fewer exits and more rural scenery as you move west.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 284.4 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and East 3rd Street. 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 Effort
5/10
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 524.3 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,693 ft
604 ft
Total Climb
4,671 ft
Total Descent
582 ft
Highest Point
4,693 ft
~524.3 mi in
Elevation Range
4,089 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 Marfa, TX, road signs point toward Sh 349 Business, Sh 349: Lamesa, Rankin, Fm 1776: Alpine and Sul Ross State University.
Sh 349 Business
314.5 mi in
|
~5h 26m
Sh 349: Lamesa
314.5 mi in
|
~5h 26m
Rankin
314.5 mi in
|
~5h 26m
Fm 1776: Alpine
442.2 mi in
|
~7h 43m
|
via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
Sul Ross State University
442.2 mi in
|
~7h 43m
|
via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
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 Marfa, TX
Full guide →Marfa is a town of 1,600 people (2019) in the Big Bend Country region of Texas. It's known for two things: innovative art and mysterious lights.
Top landmarks
- • Chinati Foundation — contemporary art museum in Marfa, Texas
- • Presidio County Courthouse — historic place in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas
- • El Paisano Hotel — historic place in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 284.4 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 262 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 38 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 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 Marfa, 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 38 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 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 9.3 hours each way, a round trip means 18.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Marfa, 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, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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