Trip from Dripping Springs, 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

4h 3m

Distance

220.5 mi

355 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 50m ★

6 AM

4h 3m

8 AM

4h 29m

10 AM

4h 12m

12 PM

4h 10m

3 PM

4h 14m

5 PM

4h 28m

8 PM

3h 55m

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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city in Hays County, Texas, United States

Dripping Springs, TX

Wikimedia Commons

suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Dripping Springs to Arlington is 220.5 miles and takes about 4 hours 3 minutes via Purple Heart Trail and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route begins in the Great Plains region of Texas and ends in the same region, offering a straightforward trip across the state. You'll spend about 35% of your time on highways, with the rest on surface roads, making for a mixed driving experience. It's a manageable distance for a single day, suitable for those looking for a direct connection between these two Texas locales.

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

110.3 miles from Dripping Springs, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	113 mi	1h 55m
I 35W	45.1 mi	47m
East US Highway 290	12.2 mi	16m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway	10.3 mi	11m
Express 1 Toll	10.2 mi	10m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
South Mopac Expressway	4.6 mi	5m
North Mopac Expressway	4.3 mi	4m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 113 mi, about 1h 55m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,878 veh/hr typical · worst 3,569

Quietest

2 AM

~440 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.5×

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 Dripping Springs, TX and Arlington, TX.

Start on this road

332 ft · 26 sec · this road

At end of road, turn right

104 ft · 8 sec

Turn right onto RM 12

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Ranch Road 12

Turn right onto US 290

12 mi · 16 min · East US Highway 290

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 290

0.3 mi · 18 sec · West US Highway 290

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Continue on West US Highway 290

2.0 mi · 2 min · West US Highway 290

Continue on US 290; TX 71

1.6 mi · 1 min · US 290; TX 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward Loop 1 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto Loop 1

4.6 mi · 5 min · South Mopac Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll

10 mi · 10 min · Express 1 Toll

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto Loop 1

4.3 mi · 4 min · North Mopac Expressway

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward TX 45 Toll East Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Toward I 35 North, Toll 45 East

Merge onto TX 45 Toll

0.6 mi · 35 sec · State Highway 45 North

Take the exit

1.3 mi · 2 min

Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 35

80 mi · 1 hr 22 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 4-hour drive time, departing in the morning is ideal to give you plenty of daylight for the entire trip. You'll only need one stop, so you can be flexible with timing based on your personal pace. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach Arlington, as prices can vary. The longest stretch on Purple Heart Trail is over 100 miles, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment to avoid needing an unscheduled stop. This is a trip that can easily be completed in one day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.

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 110.3 miles from Dripping Springs, TX, or about 2h 2m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113 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 49 miles or 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 110.3 miles or 2h 2m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 15m

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 Dripping Springs, 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 Dripping Springs, TX

This is one driving day of about 220.5 miles and 4h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Dripping Springs, 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 113 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Troy, TX

110 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

Cedar Park, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 110.3 miles from Dripping Springs, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.5 mi from route

Barton Creek Greenbelt

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+15129746700

Visit website

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

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 36.3 and 214.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

36.3 mi into trip | ~44m in

Keep slight right at fork toward TX 45 Toll East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward TX 45 Toll East

158.6 mi into trip | ~2h 52m 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

203.7 mi into trip | ~3h 39m 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

204 mi into trip | ~3h 40m 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

214.7 mi into trip | ~3h 52m 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

$30.20 one way

$60.40 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$33.73	$67.47
premium	$4.23	$36.68	$73.36
diesel	$4.80	$41.63	$83.27

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	66.2	0	$23.15	$10.58
Efficient EV	55.1	0	$19.29	$8.82
EV Truck/SUV	88.2	1	$30.87	$14.11

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 18, 2026

Origin

Dripping Springs, TX

Evening in Dripping Springs on Monday

Local time

6:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Mostly Sunny

S 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:47PM CDT until July 18 at 6:30PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:39PM CDT until July 18 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Destination

Arlington, TX

Evening in Arlington on Monday

Local time

6:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

96°F

Mostly Sunny

SSW 10 to 15 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:47PM CDT until July 18 at 6:30PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:39PM CDT until July 18 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

96°F

Troy, TX

110 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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 3m 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.

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...

5 mi from route ~13 min detour Free near mile 129.3

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This drive involves 35% highway travel, meaning you'll encounter a mix of faster-paced driving and surface streets. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 113 miles on Purple Heart Trail. Expect to transition between the efficiency of highways and the more varied pace of surface roads, with the highway portion likely concluding around the time you reach I-35W. The density of exits and potential for merging traffic will increase as you approach urban areas.

35% 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: 113 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 36.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 220.5 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 36.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 158.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,154 ft 447 ft

Total Climb

804 ft

Total Descent

1,354 ft

Highest Point

1,154 ft

Elevation Range

706 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Dripping Springs, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1 North and Toll 45 East.

Loop 1 North

16.6 mi in | ~22m

Toll 45 East

36.9 mi in | ~45m

About the Cities

Starting in Dripping Springs, TX

Full guide →

Dripping Springs is in the Hill Country region of Texas.

Top landmarks

• Dr. Joseph M. and Sarah Pound Farmstead — building in Dripping Springs, Hays County, 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 4h 3m. Total distance: 220.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 113 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 23 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 23 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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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 Dripping Springs, TX or browse trips ending in Arlington, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Dripping Springs, 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

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Ascent Travel Center

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

TA

Service Plaza

Rest Area

Rest Area

Rest Area

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Doris D Miller Park

Cultural Activities Center

Pioneer Farms

Forest Park Miniature Railroad

Toybrary Austin

Botanical Gates of Paradise

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Dripping Springs, TX

Arlington, TX

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 3m 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 Dripping Springs, 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

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