Trip from Doolittle, TX to Arlington, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 2m

Distance

488.7 mi

787 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$67

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

8h 54m ★

6 AM

9h 2m

8 AM

9h 18m

10 AM

9h 8m

12 PM

9h 6m

3 PM

9h 9m

5 PM

9h 18m

8 PM

8h 57m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Doolittle, TX

Jeff Stapleton

suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 488.7-mile journey from Doolittle, TX to Arlington, TX will take approximately 9 hours and 2 minutes of driving time, making it a substantial trip best split over two days. The route is largely highway-focused, with 64% of it utilizing major roadways. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region for both your origin and destination. With an estimated fuel cost of $74 and requiring two planned stops, this drive offers a straightforward path. Consider this a practical option for covering significant distance across Texas.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

244.4 miles from Doolittle, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 43m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 69C	135.9 mi	2h 29m
Purple Heart Trail	97.7 mi	1h 39m
Pickle Parkway	58.5 mi	54m
I 35W	45.1 mi	47m
King David Drive	31.8 mi	39m
State Highway 80 North	30.8 mi	35m
State Highway 80	23.6 mi	25m
Nueces Street	11.1 mi	14m

Longest stretch: I 69C — 135.9 mi, about 2h 29m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,461 veh/hr typical · worst 3,169

Quietest

2 AM

~387 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.4×

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 Doolittle, TX and Arlington, TX.

Start on 19 1/2 North

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Davis Road

Turn right onto Doolittle Road

1.9 mi · 4 min · Doolittle Road

Turn left onto FM 2812

1.7 mi · 2 min · FM 2812

Turn right onto North Expressway 281

0.3 mi · 32 sec · North Expressway 281

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Toward I 69C North, US 281 North

Merge onto I 69C; US 281

66 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281

70 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

11 mi · 14 min · Nueces Street

Turn right onto TX 72

32 mi · 39 min · King David Drive

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 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

Given the 9-hour duration and 488.7-mile distance, planning for two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to start early to maximize daylight and allow ample time for your two planned stops. The longest stretch of 135.9 miles on I 69C means you'll want to ensure you have sufficient fuel before entering that segment. Keep your estimated fuel cost of $74 in mind as you budget for the trip. Splitting the drive will make the journey much more manageable and enjoyable.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

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

The halfway point lands around 244.4 miles from Doolittle, TX, or about 4h 43m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.9 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 108 miles or 2h 1m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 244.4 miles or 4h 43m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 244.4 miles or 4h 43m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 53m

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 Doolittle, 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.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Doolittle, TX

Aim for roughly 244 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Arlington, TX

Aim for roughly 244 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from Doolittle, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

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

The longest stretch is on I 69C for about 135.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

244 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in San Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

244 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 244 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

San Diego, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 244.4 miles from Doolittle, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 69C if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 135.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+19563819922

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 23

5 decision points cluster between mile 322.1 and 483 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

322.1 mi into trip | ~6h 3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35 North: Waco

426.8 mi into trip | ~7h 51m 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

471.9 mi into trip | ~8h 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

472.2 mi into trip | ~8h 39m 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

483 mi into trip | ~8h 51m 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

$66.94 one way

$133.87 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 171 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$74.77	$149.53
premium	$4.23	$81.29	$162.58
diesel	$4.80	$92.28	$184.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$67

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$197–$307

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 171 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	146.6	1	$51.31	$23.46
Efficient EV	122.2	1	$42.76	$19.55
EV Truck/SUV	195.5	2	$68.42	$31.28

Gas CO2

171 kg

EV CO2

57 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 Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Doolittle, TX

Evening in Doolittle on Sunday

Local time

7:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

97°F

Partly Sunny

SE 18 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Destination

Arlington, TX

Evening in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

7:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 10 mph 37% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

8 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

9h 2m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour Free near mile 387.6

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for 64% of this 488.7-mile route, primarily utilizing I 69C, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 135.9 miles on I 69C. While much of the drive is on these main arteries, the character can shift as you transition between them, offering a mix of faster travel and potentially more varied road conditions. It's a route designed for covering ground efficiently.

64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 135.9 mi on I 69C.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69C and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 322.1 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 23 significant decision points across 488.7 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 322.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 426.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 471.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

799 ft 80 ft

Total Climb

1,008 ft

Total Descent

488 ft

Highest Point

799 ft

~314.2 mi in

Elevation Range

719 ft

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 Doolittle, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.

Waco

263.1 mi in | ~5h 7m

About the Cities

Starting in Doolittle, TX

Full guide →

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 135.9 miles on I 69C. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 244 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 31 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.0 hours each way, a round trip means 18.1 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.

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Doolittle, 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

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Quality Services Towing & Tires

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Rest Area

Brooks County Rest Area

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Circle K

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Flying J Travel Center

South Texas Motorcycle Museum

Museum of South Texas History

Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Doolittle, TX

Arlington, TX

Same local time

8 degrees cooler at arrival

9h 2m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Doolittle, TX

Arriving in Arlington, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

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

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