Trip from Arlington, TX to Odessa, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 50m

Distance

335.6 mi

540 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 37m ★

6 AM

5h 50m

8 AM

6h 17m

10 AM

6h 0m

12 PM

5h 57m

3 PM

6h 1m

5 PM

6h 15m

8 PM

5h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Ector and Midland counties in Texas, United States, that is county seat of Ector County

Odessa, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 335.6-mile drive from Arlington, TX to Odessa, TX is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 50 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-20, with brief segments on West Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway at the start, this route keeps you on major roads for 99% of the trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $51, it's an economical option for traversing the Great Plains region of Texas. This is a classic West Texas road trip, ideal for those who prefer to cover distance efficiently rather than seeking out numerous roadside attractions.

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

167.8 miles from Arlington, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	303.8 mi	5h 8m
West Freeway	15.5 mi	17m
Tom Landry Freeway	12 mi	15m
South Cooper Street	1.7 mi	3m
South Grant Avenue	1.4 mi	2m
West Abram Street	0.4 mi	1m
West Lamar Boulevard	0.3 mi	<1m
East Pool Road	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 303.8 mi, about 5h 8m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 96 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~1,511 veh/hr typical · worst 1,850

Quietest

2 AM

~212 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.1×

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 Odessa, TX.

Start on West Abram Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Abram Street

Turn right onto FM 157

1.7 mi · 3 min · South Cooper Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto West Lamar Boulevard

0.3 mi · 41 sec · West Lamar Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Turn left

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward I 30 West Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 30

12 mi · 15 min · Tom Landry Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 30; US 377

15 mi · 17 min · West Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 20

304 mi · 5 hr 8 min · I 20

Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Toward US 385: Andrews, Crane

Turn straight onto East Pool Road

0.1 mi · 16 sec · East Pool Road

Turn right onto US 385

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Grant Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Arrive at destination

US 385

Trip Plan

For this 5-hour, 50-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Arlington to maximize your daylight hours and avoid any potential rush hour traffic on Tom Landry Freeway. With only one recommended stop and a long uninterrupted stretch on I-20, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. The estimated fuel cost of $51 makes this an affordable trip, but be sure to check current gas prices. A key tip for this route is to ensure your vehicle is in good condition before you leave, as services can become more spaced out the further west you travel.

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 167.8 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 58m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.8 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 74 miles or 1h 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 167.8 miles or 2h 58m 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 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Odessa, 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 335.6 miles and 5h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 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 303.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Abilene, TX

168 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

Mineral Wells, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tye, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 167.8 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14323683548

White Settlement Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

White Settlement, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+18172469719

Visit website

Centennial Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Midland, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14326878200

Visit website

Liberty City Rage Room

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Midland, Texas

Hours: Closed

+14324005911

Visit website

Ector County Coliseum

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14323663541

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 334 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.

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

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.

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.

334 mi into trip | ~5h 47m in

Take the exit toward US 385: Andrews, Crane

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 385: Andrews, Crane

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.97 one way

$91.93 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 117 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$51.34	$102.69
premium	$4.23	$55.82	$111.65
diesel	$4.80	$63.37	$126.74

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 117.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	100.7	1	$35.24	$16.11
Efficient EV	83.9	0	$29.37	$13.42
EV Truck/SUV	134.2	1	$46.98	$21.48

Gas CO2

117 kg

EV CO2

39 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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Arlington, TX

Late night in Arlington on Monday

Local time

4:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Mostly Sunny

S 5 to 10 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:25AM CDT until July 20 at 6:32PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:25AM CDT until July 18 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Odessa, TX

Late night in Odessa on Monday

Local time

4:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 to 15 mph 35% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:25AM CDT until July 20 at 6:32PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:25AM CDT until July 18 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 50m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for almost the entire 335.6 miles, with a significant 99% of the journey on major interstates. The bulk of your travel will be on I-20, including an uninterrupted stretch of 303.8 miles. This means you'll be in a consistent driving rhythm for the majority of the trip, with minimal deviations onto local roads. The character of the drive remains largely the same as you progress west across the Texas landscape, emphasizing forward momentum.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 303.8 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and West Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near FM 157 / South Cooper Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 50m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 2.6 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,898 ft 604 ft

Total Climb

2,793 ft

Total Descent

498 ft

Highest Point

2,898 ft

~335.6 mi in

Elevation Range

2,294 ft

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-20:00; Fr 07:00-17:00

Visit website

iCafe

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: japanese

Hours: Su-Fr 11:00-15:00,16:00-21:00

Visit website

Future Starbucks

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Odessa, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Boiling King Crab

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Cuisine: seafood

ABC Seafood

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Cuisine: seafood

Subway

Fast_food

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.1 mi from route

Clyde, TX

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: 08:00-21:00

Visit website

Subway

Fast_food

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: 07:00-02:00

Visit website

Wendy's

Fast_food

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: burger

Hours: Mo-Sa 06:30-22:00; Su 08:00-22:00

Visit website

Pie Five Pizza Co

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: pizza

Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00

Visit website

Panera Bread

Fast_food

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

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 Odessa, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1881

Odessa is a city of 120,000 people (2018) in West Texas, 20 mi (32 km) west of its sister city, Midland. Much of the major industry in the area is oil- and gas-related. As such, the Midland/Odessa area is colloquially known as the petroplex. Many of the attractions you will find in the area are in Midland, so if you're visiting Odessa, the Midland article deserves a look as well. It's also notable as the fountainhead for the Friday Night Lights media franchise, which began with a 1990 book that explored football at the city's Permian High School, later followed by a movie that was mostly faithful to the book, and then a TV series that was a looser adaptation.

Top landmarks

• White-Pool House — historic place in Odessa, Ector County, Texas

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 5h 50m. Total distance: 335.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 303.8 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 44 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.

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 44 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Odessa, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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