Arlington, TX to Sweeny, TX is 319.3 miles and takes about 5h 57m via Julius Schepps Freeway, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Texas, starting in the Great Plains region and ending in the same area. It's a mostly highway trip, so expect a straightforward cruise for the majority of the distance. With a single recommended day, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex down towards the Gulf Coast region 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
159.7 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway
227.2 mi
3h 57m
Nolan Ryan Expressway
24.6 mi
28m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15.4 mi
16m
TX 288 Toll
14.4 mi
16m
Jimmy Phillips Boulevard
11.3 mi
16m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
5.9 mi
6m
South Collins Street
4.1 mi
7m
FM 1459
3.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 227.2 mi, about 3h 57m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,315 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,925
Quietest
2 AM
~414 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Sweeny, 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
25 mi·28 min·Nolan Ryan Expressway
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward TX 35
19
Turn right onto TX 35
11 mi·16 min·Jimmy Phillips Boulevard
20
Continue on TX 35
0.9 mi·1 min·East Brazos Avenue
21
Turn left onto TX 35 Business
2.0 mi·3 min·South 17th Street
22
At end of road, turn left onto TX 35
2.2 mi·3 min·TX 35
23
Turn left onto FM 1459
3.5 mi·6 min·FM 1459
24
Keep slight left at fork onto FM 1459
0.3 mi·31 sec·North McKinney Street
25
Turn straight onto FM 1459
0.8 mi·1 min·East 2nd Street
26
Turn left onto FM 524
78 ft·2 sec·North Main Street
27
Arrive at destination
FM 524
Trip Plan
For this 5h 57m drive, leaving Arlington, TX in the morning should allow you to arrive in Sweeny, TX with plenty of daylight to spare. Since it's a single-day trip and the fuel cost is estimated at $46, you can plan for one or two fuel stops without much financial impact. The route is predominantly highway, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 227.2 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway, as services can sometimes be further apart on these extended highway segments. Aim to complete about two-thirds of your drive before taking a longer break to ensure you have enough energy for the final leg.
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 159.7 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 2h 52m 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 70 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.7 miles or 2h 52m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sweeny, 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 319.3 miles and 5h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 18
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
$43.73 one way
$87.47 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$48.85
$97.70
premium
$4.23
$53.11
$106.22
diesel
$4.80
$60.29
$120.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.8
1
$33.53
$15.33
Efficient EV
79.8
0
$27.94
$12.77
EV Truck/SUV
127.7
1
$44.70
$20.44
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Night
in Arlington on Monday
Local time
9:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Partly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 11:51AM CDT until July 17 at 12:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Sweeny, TX
Night
in Sweeny on Monday
Local time
9:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 11:51AM CDT until July 17 at 12:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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
1 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 57m 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?
You'll be on highways for 91% of this 319.3-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 227.2 miles along Julius Schepps Freeway. Expect a significant amount of highway driving, with the transition to surface roads happening later in the trip. Given the high percentage of highway travel, be prepared for consistent speeds and potentially dense exit patterns as you approach and leave urban areas.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 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 Nolan Ryan Expressway. 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 18 significant decision points across 319.3 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
604 ft31 ft
Total Climb
113 ft
Total Descent
685 ft
Highest Point
604 ft
Elevation Range
572 ft
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 Sweeny, 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 57m. Total distance: 319.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). 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 Sweeny, 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 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sweeny, TX before the return drive.
