If you are planning a trip from Arlington to Ore City, expect a straightforward journey covering approximately 164.1 miles. You should budget about 3 hours and 1 minute of driving time, making this a very manageable one-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, the drive is quite economical for those looking to reach East Texas. Since the entire route remains within the Great Plains region of Texas, the geography stays relatively consistent throughout your transit. Because the trip is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Whether you are heading out for a quick getaway or visiting family, this drive offers a practical and efficient path between the two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.1 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
68.1 mi
1h 8m
US 80
19.2 mi
20m
Tom Landry Freeway
16.5 mi
18m
State Highway 155
15.6 mi
17m
North Tyler Street
14.9 mi
17m
State Highway 155 North
9.5 mi
10m
East R L Thornton Freeway
7.5 mi
9m
Spur 557
4.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 68.1 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Ore City, TX.
1
Start on West Abram Street
93 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
2
Continue on West Abram Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·West Abram Street
3
Turn left onto South Mesquite Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Mesquite Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn straight onto North Center Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Center Street
5
Turn slight right
218 ft·9 sec
Use the right lane.
6
Turn straight onto East Interstate 30
0.2 mi·45 sec·East Interstate 30
7
Continue on East Copeland Road
0.5 mi·55 sec·East Copeland Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 30 EastUse the straight / left lanes.
9
Merge onto I 30
16 mi·18 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80
19 mi·20 min·US 80
Exit 53BToward US 80 East: TerrellUse the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on Spur 557
4.5 mi·4 min·Spur 557
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 20
68 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward TX 155: UT Health Center, Winona
15
Turn left onto TX 155
2.8 mi·3 min·State Highway 155 North
16
Continue on TX 155
1.1 mi·1 min·South Main Street
17
Continue on TX 155
6.7 mi·7 min·State Highway 155 North
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
19
Turn left onto TX 155
15 mi·17 min·North Tyler Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto TX 155
16 mi·17 min·State Highway 155
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
22
Merge onto US 259
2.7 mi·3 min·US 259
23
Arrive at destination
US 259
Trip Plan
For the best experience, aim to time your departure to avoid peak traffic congestion near Arlington, which can add unnecessary stress to the start of your 3-hour journey. Since the route is short, you only need to plan for one intentional stop to stretch your legs or grab a quick refreshment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving the metroplex, as the $25 estimate assumes consistent highway speeds. Because the drive is essentially a straight shot, you have the flexibility to adjust your schedule based on your personal pace. My top tip for this route is to utilize the longest 68.1-mile stretch on I-20 to get the bulk of your travel done early, allowing for a more relaxed pace once you transition onto the secondary highways closer to Ore City.
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 82.1 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.1 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 36 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.1 miles or 1h 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 2h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ore City, 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 164.1 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 68.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 50.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|South Mesquite Street
Turn left onto South Mesquite Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 30 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 30 East
5
3 mi into trip|~7m 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.
8
27 mi into trip|~35m in|US 80
Keep slight right at fork onto US 80 toward US 80 East: Terrell
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 53B
Toward US 80 East: Terrell
5
50.7 mi into trip|~1h in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.80 one way
$49.59 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$27.14
$54.28
premium
$4.54
$29.30
$58.60
diesel
$5.61
$36.23
$72.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.2
0
$17.23
$7.88
Efficient EV
41
0
$14.36
$6.56
EV Truck/SUV
65.6
0
$22.97
$10.50
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Morning
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
10:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 12 at 3:19PM CDT until April 12 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 2:59PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Destination
Ore City, TX
Morning
in Ore City on Tuesday
Local time
10:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 10 mph57% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 12 at 3:19PM CDT until April 12 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 2:59PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston 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
2 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
3h 1m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with about 85% of your time spent on major thoroughfares including I-20, US-80, and the Tom Landry Freeway. You will spend a significant portion of your behind-the-wheel time navigating these high-speed lanes, including one notable stretch of 68.1 miles on I-20. Expect a fairly consistent pace as you transition from the urban infrastructure near Arlington onto the broader regional highway network. While the drive is efficient, it lacks the technical curves of backroads, favoring direct, steady progress instead. You can anticipate a predictable experience on the road that allows you to cover the distance quickly.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 80. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Mesquite Street.
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 164.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (South Mesquite Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Ore City, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Winona along the way.
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 3h 1m. Total distance: 164.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68.1 miles on I 20. 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 Ore City, 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 0.2 miles (South Mesquite Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 30 / Tom Landry Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Ore City, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
