Medina County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Gardendale, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 35m
Distance
368.9 mi
594 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 24m
★
6 AM
6h 36m
8 AM
7h 0m
10 AM
6h 44m
12 PM
6h 42m
3 PM
6h 45m
5 PM
6h 59m
8 PM
6h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gardendale, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 368.9-mile journey from Gardendale, TX, to Arlington, TX, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 6 hours and 35 minutes. You'll primarily travel on the Purple Heart Trail, I-35W, and the South Pan Am Expressway. With a projected fuel cost of around $56, this route offers a straightforward drive through the Great Plains region of Texas. While it's a manageable day trip, the drive's turn-heavy nature means you'll want to plan for ample time. One stop is recommended to break up the drive and ensure you arrive in Arlington refreshed.
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
184.4 miles from Gardendale, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 268.7 mi | 4h 39m |
| I 35W | 45.1 mi | 47m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 21.5 mi | 26m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Cooper Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 268.7 mi, about 4h 39m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 124 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,080 veh/hr typical · worst 3,594
Quietest
2 AM
~519 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Gardendale, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on I 35
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
2
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 35 Business South: Cotulla
3
Turn slight left onto North Interstate 35
488 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Interstate 35
4
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Main Street
5
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
146 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Interstate 35
6
Continue on I 35 Bus
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Interstate 35
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
8
Merge onto I 35
76 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
10 mi
·
13 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35: Austin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the slight left lane.
22
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Interstate 20
26
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
29
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the left lane.
30
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
31
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
32
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Consider departing Gardendale in the morning to maximize daylight hours for this 6-hour and 35-minute drive. With a recommended one-day travel time, you have flexibility, but plan for the "turn-heavy" nature of the route by keeping an eye on your GPS. The longest stretch is 268.7 miles, so it's wise to refuel before embarking on this segment. The estimated fuel cost is $56, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full. Breaking up the drive with a single planned stop will help maintain focus and make the 368.9 miles more 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 184.4 miles from Gardendale, TX, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 268.7 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 81 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.4 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 27m
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 Gardendale, 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 Gardendale, TX
This is one driving day of about 368.9 miles and 6h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Gardendale, 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 268.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
184 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 184.4 miles from Gardendale, 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 268.7 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.
Medina County Southbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
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
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Stripes
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
TA
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 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
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.3 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2.4 mi from route
Morgan's Wonderland
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–3 pm
+12104955888
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteBicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 92.2 and 363.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
92.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christ...
7
102.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
|
North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Austin
7
306.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 25m 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
352 mi into trip
|
~6h 12m 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
8
363.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 24m 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
$50.53 one way
$101.06 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
129 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $56.44 | $112.88 |
| premium | $4.23 | $61.36 | $122.72 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $69.66 | $139.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.7 | 1 | $38.73 | $17.71 |
| Efficient EV | 92.2 | 1 | $32.28 | $14.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 147.6 | 1 | $51.65 | $23.61 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 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
Gardendale, TX
Evening in Gardendale on Monday
Local time
6:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 14 mph
12% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:05AM CDT until July 17 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:58AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Evening in Arlington on Monday
Local time
6:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:05AM CDT until July 17 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:58AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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
2 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
6h 35m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 279.8
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 89
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 "turn-heavy local drive" profile for this 368.9-mile route, with a highway share of 23%. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 268.7 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a significant period of consistent travel before transitions. While not a pure interstate experience, the mix of roads means you'll navigate through various road types, requiring your attention to be adaptable as the route progresses. This drive offers a varied driving experience rather than a monotonous highway cruise.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 268.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 92.2 miles in near I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway.
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 19 significant decision points across 368.9 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 92.2 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.7 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 306.9 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
904 ft
483 ft
Total Climb
822 ft
Total Descent
812 ft
Highest Point
904 ft
~210.8 mi in
Elevation Range
421 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 Gardendale, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi and Johnson City.
Corpus Christi
92.2 mi in
|
~1h 35m
|
via I 35
Johnson City
92.2 mi in
|
~1h 35m
|
via I 35
About the Cities
Starting in Gardendale, 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 6h 35m. Total distance: 368.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 268.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 38 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 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 92.2 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.7 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 306.9 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 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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