Spanning 283.7 miles across the Texas Great Plains, this drive from Arlington to Old River-Winfree typically takes about 5 hours and 3 minutes. Because the route is straightforward and manageable, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stop. Budgeting around $43 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. You will primarily utilize major thoroughfares like the Julius Schepps Freeway, Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, and North Grand Parkway East to navigate between these two points. It is a practical, efficiency-focused connection that keeps you moving through the heart of the state.
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
141.8 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway
202.3 mi
3h 27m
North Grand Parkway East
48.6 mi
52m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15.4 mi
16m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
5.9 mi
6m
South Collins Street
4.1 mi
7m
Farm-to-Market Road 565
2.7 mi
3m
Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
2.1 mi
3m
West Abram Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 202.3 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Old River-Winfree, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
93 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
2
Continue on West Abram Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West Abram Street
3
Turn right
153 ft·6 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Turn slight right onto South Collins Street
4.1 mi·7 min·South Collins Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
0.3 mi·28 sec·East Interstate 20
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 20 EastUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 20
5.9 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 20
15 mi·16 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 473CToward I 45 South: HoustonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 45
202 mi·3 hr 27 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 72AToward Grand ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Turn left onto North Grand Parkway West
382 ft·8 sec·North Grand Parkway West
Use the left lane.
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward TX 99 Toll East
15
Merge onto TX 99 Toll
49 mi·52 min·North Grand Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward FM 595: Mont Belvieu
17
Turn left onto FM 565
2.7 mi·3 min·Farm-to-Market Road 565
18
Turn left onto FM 1409
525 ft·15 sec·Farm-to-Market Road 1409
19
Turn left
87 ft·6 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple since the entire trip is designed for a single day of travel. With only one recommended stop required to break up the 5-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions. Keep a close eye on the North Grand Parkway East portion of your route, as transitioning between major freeways can sometimes lead to unexpected congestion. Since fuel costs hover around $43, filling up before you leave Arlington ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station during the longest stretches of the drive. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to make the most of the high-speed freeway segments.
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 141.8 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 202.3 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 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.8 miles or 2h 31m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Old River-Winfree, 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 283.7 miles and 5h 3m.
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 Julius Schepps Freeway for about 202.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 229.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.8 mi into trip|~9m in|East Interstate 20
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
5.1 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 20 East
7
26.7 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward I 45 South: Houston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 473C
Toward I 45 South: Houston
7
229.3 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Take the exit toward Grand Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 72A
Toward Grand Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.87 one way
$85.74 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$46.92
$93.84
premium
$4.54
$50.65
$101.31
diesel
$5.61
$62.64
$125.27
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: 99.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.1
1
$29.79
$13.62
Efficient EV
70.9
0
$24.82
$11.35
EV Truck/SUV
113.5
1
$39.72
$18.16
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.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Afternoon
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
12:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 15 mph34% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:44AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:28AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Old River-Winfree, TX
Afternoon
in Old River-Winfree on Tuesday
Local time
12:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:44AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 12:28AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
80°F
Palestine, TX
142 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
3 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
5h 3m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a classic highway-focused experience, as 95% of this journey is spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, tackling a significant 202.3-mile stretch along the Julius Schepps Freeway. The character of the drive is consistent and functional, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads. While you will encounter a variety of freeway systems, the transition between these major arteries is designed for steady progress. Behind the wheel, you should prepare for a consistent interstate environment that demands focus but offers a predictable, direct path to your destination.
95% 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: 202.3 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and North Grand Parkway East. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 283.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 283.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 202.3 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. 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 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 Old River-Winfree, 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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Old River-Winfree, TX before the return drive.
