Origin
Ennis, TX
Morning in Ennis on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ennis, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
51.7 mi
83 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ennis, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward drive from Ennis, TX to Arlington, TX covers 51.7 miles and takes about 1 hour to complete. As both locations are within the Great Plains region of Texas, you'll experience a consistent landscape. The route primarily utilizes major highways, including I-45 and the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, making it an easy day trip. With a projected fuel cost of around $8 and no recommended stops, this is a quick and efficient journey. Plan for a highway-focused drive that's ideal for a single outing, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 23.6 mi | 24m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.1 mi | 16m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| South Collins Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| East Ennis Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Abram Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Interstate 45 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Interstate 20 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 45
— 23.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ennis, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on this road
179 ft
·
18 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 287 Bus
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Ennis Avenue
3
Turn left onto North Interstate 45
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Interstate 45
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 45 North
5
Merge onto I 45
24 mi
·
24 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 276A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 20
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 20
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 451
Toward Collins Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Interstate 20
11
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Ennis, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 46.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 287 Bus / East Ennis Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 287 Bus / East Ennis Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 45
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
24.7 mi into trip
|
~26m 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
5
25.7 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
46.8 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
$7.81 one way
$15.62 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.55 | $17.10 |
| premium | $4.54 | $9.23 | $18.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.41 | $22.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 51.7-mile trip. Approximately 75% of the journey will be on major roadways like I-45 and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 23.6 miles on I-45, offering a consistent pace. While the drive is predominantly on interstates, it's not necessarily monotonous; the focus is on efficient travel rather than scenic detours. The character of the road remains largely consistent, facilitating a smooth and predictable driving experience.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.6 mi on I 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 287 Bus / East Ennis Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.7 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 287 Bus / East Ennis Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Ennis, TX
Full guide →Founded 1872
Ennis is in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Ennis High School — building in Ennis, Ellis 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 1h. Total distance: 51.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.6 miles on I 45. 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 287 Bus / East Ennis Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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