Spanning 139.5 miles across the Texas Great Plains, this route from Belton to Arlington typically takes about 2 hours and 32 minutes to complete. It is an ideal day trip, allowing you to easily manage the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $21 for fuel, making this a budget-friendly transit between the two cities. The drive utilizes a combination of the Purple Heart Trail, I-35W, and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. Because both the origin and destination sit within the Great Plains, you can expect a consistent regional landscape throughout your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.7 miles from Belton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Belton, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on TX 317
215 ft·10 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn right onto East Central Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·East Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto North I-35 Frontage Road
0.3 mi·32 sec·North I-35 Frontage Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 190 East
5
Merge onto I 35; US 190
37 mi·37 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi·47 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
15
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
20
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
21
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic. You are only required to make one stop to complete the journey comfortably, though you can adjust this based on your own pace. Keep a close eye on the transition between the Purple Heart Trail and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway to ensure you stay on the most efficient path. With a fuel cost of just $21, it is wise to fill up before you leave Belton to avoid fluctuating prices along the highway. Taking advantage of the single planned stop will help keep you refreshed for the final stretch into Arlington.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.7 miles from Belton, TX, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.7 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 31 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.7 miles or 1h 13m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belton, 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 Belton, TX
This is one driving day of about 139.5 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Belton, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 69.7 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 77.5 and 135.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
7
122.7 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
7
123 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
8
133.7 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
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 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
6
135.2 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.08 one way
$42.16 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$23.07
$46.14
premium
$4.54
$24.91
$49.81
diesel
$5.61
$30.80
$61.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.9
0
$14.65
$6.70
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.21
$5.58
EV Truck/SUV
55.8
0
$19.53
$8.93
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Belton, TX
Late night
in Belton on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Hillsboro, TX
70 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
5 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
2h 32m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 43.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions between major thoroughfares and arterial highways. While 38% of your journey is spent on designated highways, you will encounter varied road conditions as you navigate the transition from Belton to Arlington. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 69.7 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, providing a significant portion of the route where you can settle into a steady pace. The road personality shifts from regional corridors to more structured highway travel as you approach the destination. Overall, the drive offers a straightforward, functional transit rather than a technical or winding mountain pass.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 77.5 miles in near I 35W.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 139.5 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 77.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 123 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 2h 32m. Total distance: 139.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 Arlington, 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 77.5 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 123 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Arlington, TX before heading back.
