Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Fair Oaks Ranch, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 20m
Distance
282.5 mi
455 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 7m
★
6 AM
5h 20m
8 AM
5h 47m
10 AM
5h 30m
12 PM
5h 27m
3 PM
5h 31m
5 PM
5h 46m
8 PM
5h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Robert So
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fair Oaks Ranch to Arlington is 282.5 miles and takes about 5h 20m via Purple Heart Trail, I 35W, and East US Highway 290, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the same region, offering a mix of highway cruising and surface roads. It's a feasible one-day trip, but consider the time of year for daylight hours. The route is straightforward, connecting two points within the state without major geographical shifts.
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
141.3 miles from Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m 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 | 30.9 mi | 38m |
| FM 3351 | 16.5 mi | 21m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Express 1 Toll | 10.2 mi | 10m |
| South US Highway 281 | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Ranch Road 473 | 7.5 mi | 9m |
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
~2,865 veh/hr typical · worst 3,633
Quietest
2 AM
~446 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 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 Fair Oaks Ranch, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Cibolo Valley
479 ft
·
26 sec
·
Cibolo Valley
2
Turn left onto Battle Intense
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
·
Battle Intense
3
Turn right onto Keeneland Drive
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Keeneland Drive
4
At end of road, turn left onto FM 3351
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Ralph Fair Road
5
Continue on FM 3351
17 mi
·
21 min
·
FM 3351
6
At end of road, turn right onto RM 473
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Ranch Road 473
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 281; RM 473
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
South US Highway 281
8
Continue on US 281
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
9
Continue on US 281
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
North US Highway 281
10
Turn right onto US 290
31 mi
·
38 min
·
East US Highway 290
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 290
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
West US Highway 290
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
13
Continue on West US Highway 290
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West US Highway 290
14
Continue on US 290; TX 71
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward Loop 1 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto Loop 1
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
South Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Express 1 Toll
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Merge onto Loop 1
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Mopac Expressway
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 45 Toll East
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 35 North, Toll 45 East
21
Merge onto TX 45 Toll
0.6 mi
·
35 sec
·
State Highway 45 North
22
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto I 35
80 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the right lane.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the slight left lane.
29
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Interstate 20
33
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
35
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
36
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the left lane.
37
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
38
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
39
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 20m estimated drive time, leaving Fair Oaks Ranch in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. While this is a single-day trip, breaking it up with a stop around the halfway point can make the drive more comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 113-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent. The $41 fuel cost is an estimate, so confirm current prices. The mixed highway and surface road profile means you'll need to adjust your driving style accordingly.
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 141.3 miles from Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, or about 2h 47m 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 62 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.3 miles or 2h 47m 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 21m
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 Fair Oaks Ranch, 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 Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
This is one driving day of about 282.5 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Fair Oaks Ranch, 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
141 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 141.3 miles from Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
2.4 mi from route
Rest Area
2.4 mi from route
Rest Area
2.5 mi from route
Barton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websiteCascade Caverns
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Boerne, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+18307558080
Visit websiteBicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, ~9 min detour
Early stretch
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Final third
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 265 decision points cluster between mile 98.4 and 276.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
98.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m 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
7
220.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m 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
7
265.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 56m 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
266 mi into trip
|
~4h 57m 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
276.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m 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
$42.41 one way
$84.82 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $46.92 | $93.85 |
| premium | $4.57 | $50.77 | $101.54 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $69.80 | $139.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.8 | 1 | $29.66 | $13.56 |
| Efficient EV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.72 | $11.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 113 | 1 | $39.55 | $18.08 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Origin
Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Late night in Fair Oaks Ranch on Friday
Local time
5:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
E 0 to 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night in Arlington on Friday
Local time
5:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
25 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 20m 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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 185.1
View on nps.gov
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
15 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 39
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 45% of this 282.5-mile drive is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch being 113 miles on Purple Heart Trail. You'll transition between highway speeds and surface road conditions as you progress. Expect to encounter numerous exits and merges, particularly as you approach and navigate through more populated areas. This routing means you'll experience varied traffic patterns and speed limits.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
39 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 98.4 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 26 significant decision points across 282.5 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 98.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 220.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 265.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,465 ft
502 ft
Total Climb
670 ft
Total Descent
1,339 ft
Highest Point
1,465 ft
~40.4 mi in
Elevation Range
963 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fair Oaks Ranch, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1 North and Toll 45 East.
Loop 1 North
78.6 mi in
|
~1h 39m
Toll 45 East
98.9 mi in
|
~2h 2m
About the Cities
Starting in Fair Oaks Ranch, 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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 20m. Total distance: 282.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 20m 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 98.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 220.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 265.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 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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