This 310.3-mile drive from Brazoria, TX to Arlington, TX will take you about 5 hours and 45 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily be on highways, with 94% of the journey on these main roads, and the estimated fuel cost is around $47. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent driving experience. With only one recommended stop, you can expect a fairly direct journey. It's a straightforward drive that's easy to plan 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
155.1 miles from Brazoria, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Freeway
226.9 mi
3h 57m
Nolan Ryan Expressway
24.5 mi
28m
Brazoria County Expressway
16.1 mi
19m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15.1 mi
16m
FM 521
7.1 mi
12m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
6.1 mi
6m
South Collins Street
3.9 mi
7m
Jimmy Phillips Boulevard
3.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 226.9 mi, about 3h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brazoria, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on South Main Street
45 ft·3 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn right onto East Texas Street
241 ft·14 sec·East Texas Street
3
Turn left onto South Market Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·South Market Street
4
Turn right onto TX 332; FM 521
0.9 mi·1 min·TX 332; FM 521
5
Turn slight right onto FM 521
7.1 mi·12 min·FM 521
6
Turn straight onto FM 521
260 ft·6 sec·FM 521
7
Turn right onto TX 35
3.9 mi·5 min·Jimmy Phillips Boulevard
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto TX 288
25 mi·28 min·Nolan Ryan Expressway
10
Continue on TX 288
0.1 mi·7 sec·South Freeway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 288 Toll
16 mi·19 min·Brazoria County Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 45 North: DallasUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 45
2.4 mi·3 min·Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 45
227 mi·3 hr 57 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 276AToward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 20
15 mi·16 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 20
6.1 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 451Toward Collins StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi·17 sec·East Interstate 20
20
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi·7 min·South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 45-minute duration, starting your journey from Brazoria in the morning will allow you to reach Arlington with ample time. Plan for one stop to break up the 310.3 miles, perhaps around the midpoint. With a 94% highway share, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is important, especially before the longest stretch of 226.9 miles on North Freeway. The estimated fuel cost of $47 is a good budget to keep in mind for this Texas to Texas drive.
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 155.1 miles from Brazoria, TX, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.9 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 68 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.1 miles or 2h 56m 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 40m
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 Brazoria, 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 Brazoria, TX
This is one driving day of about 310.3 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Brazoria, 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 North Freeway for about 226.9 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 12.2 and 305.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
12.2 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
37.4 mi into trip|~50m in|TX 288 Toll / Brazoria County Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 288 Toll / Brazoria County Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
53.5 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 45 North: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
7
283.2 mi into trip|~5h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 276A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
7
305.4 mi into trip|~5h 35m in
Take the exit toward Collins Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451
Toward Collins Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.89 one way
$93.77 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$51.32
$102.64
premium
$4.54
$55.40
$110.80
diesel
$5.61
$68.51
$137.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.1
1
$32.58
$14.89
Efficient EV
77.6
0
$27.15
$12.41
EV Truck/SUV
124.1
1
$43.44
$19.86
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Brazoria, TX
Late night
in Brazoria on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued April 17 at 12:05AM CDT until April 17 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued April 17 at 12:05AM CDT until April 17 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
S 10 to 15 mph5% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued April 17 at 12:05AM CDT until April 17 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued April 17 at 12:05AM CDT until April 17 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
80°F
Palestine, TX
155 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
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 45m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this trip, with 94% of the 310.3 miles on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the North Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 226.9 miles. While largely a highway experience, you will transition from roads like the Brazoria County Expressway and Nolan Ryan Expressway onto the main freeway. The profile suggests a consistent, high-speed journey for most of the drive.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 226.9 mi on North Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North 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 12.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
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 310.3 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 12.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles (TX 288 Toll / Brazoria County Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.5 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 5h 45m. Total distance: 310.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 226.9 miles on North 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 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 12.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 37.4 miles (TX 288 Toll / Brazoria County Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 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.
