Harker Heights, TX to Arlington, TX is 152.2 miles and takes about 2h 46m via Purple Heart Trail and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a mixed drive that's generally straightforward. Most of the route is on major highways, making it a practical choice for a quick journey between these two Texas cities. Given the relatively short duration and distance, it's a perfect option for a same-day trip with plenty of flexibility.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.1 miles from Harker Heights, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Harker Heights, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Jorgette Drive
0.1 mi·31 sec·Jorgette Drive
2
Continue on Jorgette Drive
390 ft·22 sec·Jorgette Drive
3
Turn left onto Clore Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Clore Road
4
Turn right onto FM 3423
0.3 mi·54 sec·Indian Trail
5
Turn left onto East Central Texas Expressway
333 ft·6 sec·East Central Texas Expressway
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 14 East, US 190 East
7
Merge onto I 14; US 190
12 mi·12 min·Central Texas Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35; US 190
38 mi·38 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi·47 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
18
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
23
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
24
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
For this 152.2-mile drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour congestion as you approach Arlington. With a total duration of under 3 hours, you might only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. The fuel cost is estimated at $23, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart Harker Heights. Since this is a manageable drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.1 miles from Harker Heights, TX, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.8 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 33 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.1 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
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 Harker Heights, 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 Harker Heights, TX
This is one driving day of about 152.2 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Harker Heights, 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 70.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 90.3 and 147.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
90.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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
135.4 mi into trip|~2h 22m 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
135.7 mi into trip|~2h 23m 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
146.5 mi into trip|~2h 35m 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
6
147.9 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.00 one way
$46.00 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$25.17
$50.35
premium
$4.54
$27.17
$54.35
diesel
$5.61
$33.60
$67.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.7
0
$15.98
$7.31
Efficient EV
38.1
0
$13.32
$6.09
EV Truck/SUV
60.9
0
$21.31
$9.74
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Harker Heights, TX
Morning
in Harker Heights on Tuesday
Local time
6:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 mph85% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 20 at 7:44PM CDT until April 21 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 7:09PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
6:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 5 mph73% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 20 at 7:44PM CDT until April 21 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 7:09PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 57.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a significant highway share at 42%, meaning you'll experience some faster-paced travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 70.8 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which can feel like a solid segment of open road. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting you’ll transition between different types of roads, likely including some segments of the Central Texas Expressway alongside the main highways. Expect a generally efficient journey with periods of steady cruising.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.8 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 90.3 miles in near I 35W.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 152.2 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 90.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 135.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 135.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 152.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.8 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 90.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 135.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 135.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Arlington, TX before heading back.
