Trip from Arlington, TX to Tornillo, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 48m

Distance

584.9 mi

941 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$80

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

9h 40m ★

6 AM

9h 49m

8 AM

10h 6m

10 AM

9h 55m

12 PM

9h 53m

3 PM

9h 56m

5 PM

10h 5m

8 PM

9h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Tornillo, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

Embarking from Arlington, TX, to Tornillo, TX, this journey spans 584.9 miles and will take approximately 9 hours and 48 minutes. Given the distance and duration, it's best suited for a two-day trip to avoid an overly long day of driving. The route is primarily on major interstates, making it a straightforward, long-distance trek through the Great Plains region of Texas. Budget around $88 for fuel, and plan for at least two stops along the way. This drive is a solid option if you're looking to cover a significant distance efficiently within the state.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

292.5 miles from Arlington, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	421 mi	7h
I 10	130.8 mi	2h 3m
West Freeway	15.5 mi	17m
Tom Landry Freeway	12 mi	15m
O T Smith Road	2.8 mi	5m
South Cooper Street	1.7 mi	3m
West Abram Street	0.4 mi	1m
West Lamar Boulevard	0.3 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 421 mi, about 7h

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~1,511 veh/hr typical · worst 1,850

Quietest

2 AM

~212 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.1×

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 Tornillo, TX.

Start on West Abram Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Abram Street

Turn right onto FM 157

1.7 mi · 3 min · South Cooper Street

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto West Lamar Boulevard

0.3 mi · 41 sec · West Lamar Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Turn left

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward I 30 West Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 30

12 mi · 15 min · Tom Landry Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 30; US 377

15 mi · 17 min · West Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 20

421 mi · 7 hr · I 20

Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 10

131 mi · 2 hr 3 min · I 10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec

Toward Tornillo

Turn left onto FM 3380

1.0 mi · 1 min · O T Smith Road

Continue on O T Smith Road

1.8 mi · 4 min · O T Smith Road

Turn left onto TX 20

77 ft · 1 sec · Alameda Avenue

Arrive at destination

TX 20

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 584.9-mile drive, consider splitting it over two days. Leaving early in the morning will help you maximize daylight hours, especially if you opt for a single-day push. With a longest stretch of 421 miles on I-20, ensure you fuel up before embarking on longer segments. Plan your two stops strategically for breaks and meals to stay refreshed. The $88 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in potential price fluctuations.

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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 292.5 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 5h into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 421 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 129 miles or 2h 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 292.5 miles or 5h in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 292.5 miles or 5h

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tornillo, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Arlington, TX

Aim for roughly 292 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Tornillo, TX

Aim for roughly 292 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 129 miles from Arlington, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 421 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Titus County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Mount Pleasant, TX

193 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

city in Ector and Midland counties in Texas, United States, that is county seat of Ector County

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Odessa, TX

386 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Odessa, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Big Spring, TX

292 mi · about 4.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Big Spring, TX after about 292 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Brownwood, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 129 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Spring, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 292.5 miles from Arlington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 421 miles.

Overnight split

1.6 mi from route

McKinney Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14323683548

Visit website

Jack Rabbit

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18007804678

Visit website

Paramount Theatre

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Abilene, Texas

+13256769620

Visit website

Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Visit website

12th Armored Division Memorial

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13256776515

Visit website

Jim Parker Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14323683548

Discover Odessa

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14323337871

Visit website

The Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Hours: 1–5 pm

+13256735050

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 30.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | FM 157 / South Cooper Street

Turn right onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

2.1 mi into trip | ~5m in | West Lamar Boulevard

Turn left onto West Lamar Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

2.3 mi into trip | ~5m in

Turn left toward I 30 West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 30 West

2.6 mi into trip | ~6m 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.

30.1 mi into trip | ~39m in | I 20

Merge onto I 20

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$80.11 one way

$160.23 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 205 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$89.49	$178.97
premium	$4.23	$97.29	$194.58
diesel	$4.80	$110.44	$220.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$80

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$210–$320

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 204.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $61 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	175.5	2	$61.41	$28.08
Efficient EV	146.2	1	$51.18	$23.40
EV Truck/SUV	234	2	$81.89	$37.43

Gas CO2

205 kg

EV CO2

68 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 16, 2026

Origin

Arlington, TX

Morning in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

9:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 47% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:06PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:03PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Destination

Tornillo, TX

Morning in Tornillo on Sunday

Local time

8:45 AM

MDT

Current temp

95°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

ESE 8 mph 15% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:06PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:03PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

Time zone

1 hour earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

6 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

9h 48m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a predominantly interstate drive, with 99% of the route utilizing major highways like I-20 and I-10, including a stretch on West Freeway. Expect a long-distance, high-speed experience for most of the 9 hours and 48 minutes. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 421 miles on I-20, meaning you'll have long periods of consistent driving. While not overly varied, this highway-focused profile ensures steady progress across the Texas landscape.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 421 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 10. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near FM 157 / South Cooper Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 584.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles (FM 157 / South Cooper Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (West Lamar Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

4,282 ft 604 ft

Total Climb

3,954 ft

Total Descent

971 ft

Highest Point

4,282 ft

~501.4 mi in

Elevation Range

3,678 ft

Notable High Points

4,282 ft at ~501.4 miles +82 ft prominence

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

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

9h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 421 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 292 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 70 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tornillo, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 70 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.8 hours each way, a round trip means 19.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tornillo, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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