This 287.1-mile drive from Arlington, TX to Rosharon, TX is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 5 hours and 13 minutes on the road, primarily on the Julius Schepps Freeway and TX 288 Toll. With 95% of the trip on highways, it’s an efficient route designed for covering distance. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $43, making it an economical option. This drive primarily traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a consistent landscape throughout. It's a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B without significant detours.
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
143.6 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway
227.2 mi
3h 57m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15.4 mi
16m
TX 288 Toll
14.4 mi
16m
Nolan Ryan Expressway
11.1 mi
12m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
5.9 mi
6m
South Collins Street
4.1 mi
7m
Gulf Freeway
2.6 mi
3m
FM 1462
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 227.2 mi, about 3h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Rosharon, 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
227 mi·3 hr 57 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 45
2.6 mi·3 min·Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 46BToward US 59 South, TX 288 South, I 69 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport, VictoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward TX 288 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport
14
Continue on TX 288
0.6 mi·46 sec·South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 288 Toll
14 mi·16 min·TX 288 Toll
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Merge onto TX 288
0.2 mi·17 sec·South Freeway
17
Continue on TX 288
11 mi·12 min·Nolan Ryan Expressway
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward FM 1462
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
20
Continue on FM 1462
2.0 mi·3 min·FM 1462
21
Turn left onto CR 269C
0.1 mi·30 sec·1st Street
22
Arrive at destination
CR 269C
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 13-minute drive, starting early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic, especially as you navigate the initial freeway segments. Since this is a highway-focused trip with only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Plan your fuel fill-up before you depart or at a major junction, keeping the $43 fuel cost in mind. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 200 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with extended driving periods or plan a brief break before embarking on that segment. This route is designed for speed, so focus on efficient 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 143.6 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 227.2 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 63 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.6 miles or 2h 35m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rosharon, 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 287.1 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 227.2 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 4.8 and 257.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
256.7 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward US 59 South, TX 288 South, I 69 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport, Victoria
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 46B
Toward US 59 South, TX 288 South, I 69 South: L...
6
257.5 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 288 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 288 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.38 one way
$86.76 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$47.48
$94.97
premium
$4.54
$51.26
$102.52
diesel
$5.61
$63.39
$126.78
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: 100.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.1
1
$30.15
$13.78
Efficient EV
71.8
0
$25.12
$11.48
EV Truck/SUV
114.8
1
$40.19
$18.37
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Night
in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
S 10 to 15 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rosharon, TX
Night
in Rosharon on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Palestine, TX
144 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
13 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 13m 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?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey utilizing major roadways like the Julius Schepps Freeway and TX 288 Toll. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a significant 227.2-mile segment on the Julius Schepps Freeway. Given its highway-centric profile, anticipate a relatively predictable driving experience without many sharp turns or rapid changes in road type. The focus here is on efficient travel, so expect a steady pace for the majority of the 5-hour-plus duration.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 227.2 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near East Interstate 20.
Driving Effort9/10
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 14 significant decision points across 287.1 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 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Arlington, TX and Rosharon, TX, road signs point toward Freeport and Victoria.
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 13m. Total distance: 287.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 13m 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 227.2 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 Rosharon, 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 4.8 miles (East Interstate 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rosharon, TX before the return drive.
