Arlington, TX to Tyler, TX is 117.6 miles and takes about 2h 10m via I 20 and US 80, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Texas, transitioning from the Great Plains region. It's a straightforward highway-focused journey, making it an easy option if you're looking for a quick trip between these two points. You'll encounter a high percentage of highway driving, so expect a relatively fast pace for most of the 117.6 miles. Consider this route for a simple, efficient connection between North Texas and East Texas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.8 miles from Arlington, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
56.2 mi
56m
US 80
19.2 mi
20m
Tom Landry Freeway
16.5 mi
18m
East R L Thornton Freeway
7.5 mi
9m
US Highway 69 North
5.8 mi
6m
Spur 557
4.5 mi
4m
West Gentry Parkway
2.8 mi
4m
South Mesquite Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 56.2 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TX and Tyler, 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
56 mi·56 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 69: Lindale, Mineola, Tyler
15
Continue on Interstate 20 West
483 ft·13 sec·Interstate 20 West
16
Turn right onto US 69
5.8 mi·6 min·US Highway 69 North
17
Continue on US 69
1.1 mi·1 min·Mineola Highway
18
Continue on US 69
2.8 mi·4 min·West Gentry Parkway
19
Turn right onto North Broadway Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Broadway Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
North Broadway Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2h 10m duration, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for departure times. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon allows ample time to reach Tyler well before evening. With only 117.6 miles, you likely won't need to make many stops for fuel or rest, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye on the signage for I 20 and US 80 as you approach Tyler, as the route transitions seamlessly between them. The $18 fuel cost estimate suggests keeping your tank topped up is budget-friendly for this distance.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Arlington, TX, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.2 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tyler, 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 117.6 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Arlington, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 56.2 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 8
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
$17.77 one way
$35.54 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$19.45
$38.90
premium
$4.54
$21.00
$41.99
diesel
$5.61
$25.96
$51.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.35
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.29
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.46
$7.53
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tyler, TX
Late night
in Tyler on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
2h 10m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 92% of the route utilizing major roads like I 20 and US 80. You'll encounter stretches where the fastest pace is maintained, including a significant 56.2-mile segment on I 20 without needing to exit. The character of the drive is consistent, offering a predictable journey rather than a winding, scenic path. Expect to spend most of your time on well-maintained, high-speed roadways.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.2 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 8 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 117.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 Tyler, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Mineola 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
Tyler is the county seat of Smith County, in eastern Texas. It boasts the nation's largest municipal rose garden and hosts the Texas Rose Festival each October.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 117.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.2 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Tyler, 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. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tyler, TX before heading back.
