Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Arlington, TX to Olmos Park, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 1m
Distance
275.1 mi
443 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 48m
★
6 AM
5h 2m
8 AM
5h 29m
10 AM
5h 11m
12 PM
5h 9m
3 PM
5h 13m
5 PM
5h 28m
8 PM
4h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Olmos Park, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
Arlington, TX to Olmos Park, TX is 275.1 miles and takes about 5h 1m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way south. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is a straightforward option for getting from one point to another without extensive planning.
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
137.5 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 99.6 mi | 1h 46m |
| South Freeway | 78 mi | 1h 20m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Connally Loop | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| McCullough Avenue | 2.8 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 100 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,421 veh/hr typical · worst 4,049
Quietest
2 AM
~584 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Olmos Park, 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
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
16
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 166
Toward I 410 West, Loop 368 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 410 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 410
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 20B
Toward McCullough Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn straight onto Northeast Loop 410
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Northeast Loop 410
24
Turn left onto McCullough Avenue
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
McCullough Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn left onto East Mariposa Drive
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Mariposa Drive
26
Continue on East Wildwood Drive
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Wildwood Drive
27
Enter roundabout onto Alameda Circle
440 ft
·
19 sec
·
Alameda Circle
28
Arrive at destination
Alameda Circle
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider leaving Arlington in the morning to avoid peak traffic. The $43 fuel budget is based on the 275.1 miles, so ensure your tank is full before you depart. You'll only need one stop for fuel or a break, and the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is almost 100 miles, so plan your rest accordingly. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, be aware of the highway percentage and be ready for the shift to surface roads towards Olmos Park.
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 137.5 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 61 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.5 miles or 2h 29m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Olmos Park, 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 275.1 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 99.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
138 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 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 137.5 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 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.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
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
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot 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
Marlstone Retail Center
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
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.5 mi from route
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Early stretch
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteThe DoSeum
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12102124453
Visit websiteAustin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteSan Antonio Botanical Garden
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 8 am–6 pm
+12105361400
Visit websiteUS Army Medical Department Museum
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.6 mi from route
~7 min detour
Fort Sam Houston, Texas
+12102216358
Visit websiteSan Antonio Museum of Art
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
Moderately
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12109788100
Visit websiteBicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websiteRound1 Bowling & Arcade North Star Mall
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+12104482030
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 266.1 — 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
8
195.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 30m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
8
265.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 410 West, Loop 368 South
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 166
Toward I 410 West, Loop 368 South
7
266.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 410 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 410 West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.68 one way
$75.36 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $42.09 | $84.18 |
| premium | $4.23 | $45.76 | $91.52 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $51.94 | $103.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.5 | 1 | $28.89 | $13.20 |
| Efficient EV | 68.8 | 0 | $24.07 | $11.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110 | 1 | $38.51 | $17.61 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Monday
Local time
7:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
98°F
Sunny
S 5 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 6:44PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 6:35PM CDT until July 19 at 9:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Olmos Park, TX
Evening in Olmos Park on Monday
Local time
7:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 6:44PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 6:35PM CDT until July 19 at 9:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
96°F
Troy, TX
138 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
24 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 1m 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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 94.9
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 275.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 54% highway, with a significant 99.6-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads, so be prepared for varying speeds and traffic conditions. The significant highway share means you'll encounter periods of steady cruising, but also the potential for merging traffic and denser exit areas as you approach your destination.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 19 significant decision points across 275.1 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 195.3 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
880 ft
404 ft
Total Climb
1,166 ft
Total Descent
962 ft
Highest Point
880 ft
~157.2 mi in
Elevation Range
476 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.
On the drive from Arlington, TX to Olmos Park, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Denton along the way.
Denton
15.9 mi in
|
~21m
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 Olmos Park, TX
Full guide →Founded 1939
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 1m. Total distance: 275.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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 Olmos Park, 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 27 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 195.3 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 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 Olmos Park, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Olmos Park, TX
More trips to Olmos Park, TX
Explore more options from Arlington, TX or browse trips ending in Olmos Park, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.