Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 55m
Distance
347.8 mi
560 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Port O'Connor, TX
Nate Biddle
Planning a trip from Arlington, TX to Port O'Connor, TX? This 347.8-mile journey takes approximately 6 hours and 55 minutes and is entirely within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region. With a fuel cost estimated at $53, it's an accessible drive that can comfortably be completed in a single day. The route primarily utilizes US 77, making it a straightforward highway-focused experience. This drive is best suited for those looking for a direct and efficient path to their coastal destination, allowing for flexibility in timing your departure and stops.
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
173.9 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 16m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 77 | 120.2 mi | 2h 20m |
| South Freeway | 78 mi | 1h 20m |
| United States Highway 77 | 44.5 mi | 53m |
| Robinson Drive | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| Port Lavaca Drive | 21.3 mi | 25m |
| FM 1289 | 11.2 mi | 19m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| State Highway 185 East | 6.9 mi | 12m |
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Port O'Connor, TX.
Start on West Abram Street
Continue on West Abram Street
Turn right onto South Center Street
Turn right onto Spur 303
Turn left onto FM 157
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 35W
Continue on I 35; US 77
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Turn left onto Loop 396
Enter roundabout onto Robinson Drive
Continue on Robinson Drive
Continue on US 77
Turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
Continue on US 77; US 190; TX 36
Continue on US 77; US 190; TX 36
Take the exit onto US 77
Turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt
Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt
Turn left onto US 77
Turn left onto US 87
Continue on US 87
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87
Turn right onto FM 1090
Turn right onto TX 238
Continue on TX 238
Turn left onto FM 1289
At end of road, turn left onto TX 185
Continue on TX 185
Turn right onto TX 185
Arrive at destination
Given the 6-hour, 55-minute duration, departing from Arlington, TX, early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight hours and allow ample time for a relaxed pace. While only one stop is indicated, consider breaking up the 120.2-mile stretch on US 77 with a brief rest to stay refreshed. With a fuel cost of around $53, ensure your tank is full before leaving Arlington. Keep an eye on the road signs for US 77 as it's your primary artery for this 347.8-mile journey to Port O'Connor.
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 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 77 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.9 miles or 3h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port O'Connor, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 347.8 miles and 6h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
174 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.
A short stop after about 77 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 173.9 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 298 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto South Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35W South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 87 / East Goodwin Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$52.55 one way
$105.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $57.52 | $115.05 |
| premium | $4.54 | $62.10 | $124.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $76.79 | $153.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.3 | 1 | $36.52 | $16.69 |
| Efficient EV | 87 | 0 | $30.43 | $13.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 139.1 | 1 | $48.69 | $22.26 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Port O'Connor on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the route utilizing major roadways like US 77 and the South Freeway. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 120.2 miles on US 77, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While primarily highway, the road will likely transition and offer a steady pace for most of the 347.8 miles. Expect a consistent driving environment for the majority of this 6-hour, 55-minute trip across the Texas landscape.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 77 and South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Center Street.
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 25 significant decision points across 347.8 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 0.1 miles (South Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Arlington, TX to Port O'Connor, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 396 along the way.
Loop 396
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 55m. Total distance: 347.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 55m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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