Traveling from Clifton to Arlington covers 101.2 miles across the Texas Great Plains. You should anticipate a drive time of roughly 1 hour and 50 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you can expect a fuel budget of about $15. This journey is straightforward and efficient, serving as a direct connection between the two points. Since both cities are located within the same region, the landscape remains consistent throughout the trip. It is a practical choice if you are looking for a manageable excursion without the complexity of long-distance planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.2 miles from Clifton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
7th Street
27 mi
34m
I 35W
14.1 mi
15m
North Avenue G
11.1 mi
12m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10.3 mi
11m
South State Highway 174
6.1 mi
9m
FM 2280
3.8 mi
5m
South Cooper Street
2.7 mi
4m
East Henderson Street
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
7th Street
— 27 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on FM 219
79 ft·5 sec·West 5th Street
2
Turn right onto TX 6
11 mi·12 min·North Avenue G
3
Turn right onto TX 22
0.6 mi·53 sec·State Highway 22
4
Continue on TX 22
0.7 mi·1 min·Morgan Street
5
Turn left onto TX 174
27 mi·34 min·7th Street
6
Continue on TX 174
6.1 mi·9 min·South State Highway 174
7
Continue on TX 174
1.3 mi·1 min·TX 174
8
Continue on TX 174
2.2 mi·3 min·South Main Street
9
Continue on TX 171; TX 174
0.7 mi·1 min·South Caddo Street
10
Turn right onto US 67 Bus
0.1 mi·11 sec·East Chambers Street
11
Continue on US 67 Bus
0.1 mi·10 sec·East Chambers Street
12
Turn straight onto US 67 Bus
2.6 mi·4 min·East Henderson Street
13
Continue on US 67 Bus
0.6 mi·53 sec·East US Highway 67
14
Turn left onto FM 2280
0.5 mi·46 sec·FM 2280
15
Continue on FM 2280
2.0 mi·3 min·South Old Betsy Road
16
Continue on FM 2280
3.3 mi·4 min·FM 2280
17
Continue on FM 917
2.2 mi·2 min·Conveyor Drive
18
Continue on FM 917
0.2 mi·19 sec·East FM 917
19
Turn left onto South Burleson Boulevard
0.2 mi·33 sec·South Burleson Boulevard
20
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 35W North
21
Merge onto I 35W
14 mi·15 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
24
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
28
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
30
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
31
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
32
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
33
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
34
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 50 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. Since the entire trip is a single, uninterrupted stretch with zero planned stops, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Clifton to stay within your $15 budget. Keep a close eye on your navigation, as the reliance on local roads like Morgan Street and Highway 22 means you will encounter frequent turns rather than long, straight highway miles. Planning your departure to avoid peak local traffic can make the transition into Arlington much smoother. Pack your own snacks and water ahead of time, as this route is designed for continuous movement.
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 46.2 miles from Clifton, TX, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.2 miles or 59m 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 38m
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 Clifton, 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 Clifton, TX
This is one driving day of about 92.5 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Clifton, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 7th Street for about 27 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 61.2 and 88.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|South Burleson Boulevard
Turn left onto South Burleson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
7
75.7 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
76 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
86.7 mi into trip|~1h 50m 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
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 53m 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
$13.98 one way
$27.95 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$15.30
$30.60
premium
$4.54
$16.52
$33.03
diesel
$5.61
$20.42
$40.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.71
$4.44
Efficient EV
23.1
0
$8.09
$3.70
EV Truck/SUV
37
0
$12.95
$5.92
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clifton, TX
Morning
in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
6:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
6:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph4% chanceLive forecast
59°F
Keene, TX
46 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
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 1m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will navigate primarily via North Avenue G, Highway 22, and Morgan Street, as the route contains zero percent highway travel. Because the road is composed entirely of local thoroughfares, there are no long, monotonous interstate stretches to contend with. Instead, the character of the drive is defined by the constant transitions of a local route. You should be prepared for a steady, hands-on experience that requires your full attention on these specific surface roads.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27 mi on 7th Street.
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 61.2 miles in near South Burleson Boulevard.
Driving Effort9/10
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 92.5 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 61.2 miles (South Burleson Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 75.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 76 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Clifton, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Fm 157 South: Ut Arlington and Mansfield.
Clifton is in the heart of Texas located approximately 90 miles southwest of Dallas/Ft Worth or 35 miles northwest of Waco or approximately 10 miles from President George W Bush's Crawford ranch, that is, as the crow flies. Clifton was designated by the state legislature as the Norwegian Capital of Texas and is extremely proud of its Norwegian heritage. Annually on the first weekend of December, the community hosts Norwegian Country Christmas, which is packed with many events and activities, the showcase of which is the open house of several of the historic and other community homes and historic churches. Lutefisk supper served at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in the Norse community is always a sold out event. Norwegian luncheon served at the Clifton Civic Center is also usually sold out. So, if possible, plan ahead to ensure exposure to the entire Nordic experience.
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 1m. Total distance: 92.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27 miles on 7th Street. 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 61.2 miles (South Burleson Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 75.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 76 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Arlington, TX before heading back.
