Trip from Brackettville, TX to Arlington, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 21m

Distance

398.6 mi

641 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$55

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

7h 11m ★

6 AM

7h 22m

8 AM

7h 43m

10 AM

7h 29m

12 PM

7h 27m

3 PM

7h 30m

5 PM

7h 42m

8 PM

7h 16m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Brackettville, TX

Jeff Stapleton

suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Brackettville, TX to Arlington, TX is 398.6 miles and takes about 7h 21m via Purple Heart Trail, East US Highway 90, and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across the expansive Great Plains region of Texas, offering a classic American road trip experience. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll find a mix of highway speeds and potentially some slower sections, so be prepared for varying conditions. It's a straightforward journey that gets you from point A to point B efficiently, with a manageable duration for a single day's travel.

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

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

199.3 miles from Brackettville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	188.3 mi	3h 18m
East US Highway 90	75.2 mi	1h 25m
I 35W	45.1 mi	47m
US Highway 90 East	25.4 mi	29m
Connally Loop	19.8 mi	22m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway	10.3 mi	11m
North Pan Am Expressway	6.8 mi	7m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 188.3 mi, about 3h 18m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 100 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,421 veh/hr typical · worst 4,049

Quietest

2 AM

~584 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.9×

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 Brackettville, TX and Arlington, TX.

Start on Loop 166

22 ft · 2 sec · West Spring Street

Turn right onto RM 334

498 ft · 17 sec · South Ann Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 90

0.5 mi · 36 sec · East Military Highway

Continue on US 90

37 mi · 42 min · East US Highway 90

Continue on US 90

4.9 mi · 5 min · West Main Street

Continue on US 90

38 mi · 43 min · East US Highway 90

Continue on US 90

2.1 mi · 3 min · 19th Street

Continue on US 90

25 mi · 29 min · US Highway 90 East

Continue on US 90

3.3 mi · 3 min · Cleto Rodriguez Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.3 mi · 2 min

Toward I 410 North, TX 16 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 410; TX 16

20 mi · 22 min · Connally Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward I 35 North: Austin

Merge onto I 35

6.8 mi · 7 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

1.9 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

48 mi · 52 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290

96 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

45 mi · 47 min · I 35W

Toward I 35W: Fort Worth Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Exit 45B Toward I 20 East: Dallas Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 58 sec

Toward I 20 East: Dallas Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 20

5.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 20

4.6 mi · 4 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

Toward I 20 East: Dallas

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Exit 449A Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on West Interstate 20

0.3 mi · 24 sec · West Interstate 20

Turn left onto FM 157

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Cooper Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Cooper Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Spur 303

0.5 mi · 50 sec · West Pioneer Parkway

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto South Center Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Center Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on South Mesquite Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Mesquite Street

Turn left onto East Abram Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · East Abram Street

Arrive at destination

West Abram Street

Trip Plan

For this 398.6-mile drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure you have ample daylight for the 7h 21m journey. You'll want to plan for at least two stops to break up the drive, especially considering the longest stretch is nearly 190 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $60, and refueling opportunities might be more spaced out on the Purple Heart Trail. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility, but aim to hit I-35W with enough time to navigate any potential traffic as you approach Arlington.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

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

The halfway point lands around 199.3 miles from Brackettville, TX, or about 3h 47m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 88 miles or 1h 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 199.3 miles or 3h 47m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 13m

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 Brackettville, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Brackettville, TX

This is one driving day of about 398.6 miles and 7h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Brackettville, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

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

The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 188.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Austin, TX

199 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Natalia, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 199.3 miles from Brackettville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

0.4 mi from route

Children's Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

San Marcos, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+15123938400

Visit website

Austin Bat Tours

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

Visit website

Calaboose African American History Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Marcos, Texas

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+15123938421

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 111.5 and 392.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

111.5 mi into trip | ~2h 9m in

Take the exit toward I 410 North, TX 16 North

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. Toward I 410 North, TX 16 North

336.6 mi into trip | ~6h 11m 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

381.8 mi into trip | ~6h 58m 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

382.1 mi into trip | ~6h 59m 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

392.8 mi into trip | ~7h 11m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$54.60 one way

$109.19 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 140 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$60.98	$121.97
premium	$4.23	$66.30	$132.61
diesel	$4.80	$75.26	$150.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$55

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$80–$105

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 139.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	119.6	1	$41.85	$19.13
Efficient EV	99.7	1	$34.88	$15.94
EV Truck/SUV	159.4	1	$55.80	$25.51

Gas CO2

139 kg

EV CO2

47 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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Brackettville, TX

Evening in Brackettville on Monday

Local time

7:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

ESE 10 mph 66% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Arlington, TX

Evening in Arlington on Monday

Local time

7:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

S 5 mph 17% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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

3 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

7h 21m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 302.4

View on nps.gov

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

15 mi from route ~38 min detour Free near mile 123.7

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route offers a mixed drive, with 41% of it on highways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 188.3 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which suggests a significant portion of your journey will be on this particular roadway. Expect varied driving conditions, moving from what might be more open highway stretches to potentially more local or varied road types as you progress. The profile indicates a blend, so you won't be on a single type of road for the entire 7h 21m trip.

41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

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

Longest single stretch: 188.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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 111.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 17 significant decision points across 398.6 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 111.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 336.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 381.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,105 ft 459 ft

Total Climb

554 ft

Total Descent

1,055 ft

Highest Point

1,105 ft

Elevation Range

646 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Brackettville, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1852

Brackettville is a city in the Hill Country River Region of Texas.

Top landmarks

• Fort Clark — former military base near Brackettville, Texas

Arriving 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?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 21m. Total distance: 398.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 188.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 26 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 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Arlington, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Brackettville, TX or browse trips ending in Arlington, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Brackettville, TX to Arlington, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Medina County Rest Area

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Buc-ee's

Flying J Travel Center

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

TA

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

Pilot Travel Center

TA

Service Plaza

Marlstone Retail Center

Children's Park

Austin Bat Tours

Calaboose African American History Museum

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Jim Hogg Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Brackettville, TX

Arlington, TX

Same local time

3 degrees warmer at arrival

7h 21m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Brackettville, TX

Arriving in Arlington, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Arlington, TX

More from Brackettville, TX

More trips to Arlington, TX