Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Katy, 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
4h 51m
Distance
263 mi
423 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 38m
★
6 AM
4h 51m
8 AM
5h 18m
10 AM
5h 1m
12 PM
4h 58m
3 PM
5h 2m
5 PM
5h 17m
8 PM
4h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Katy, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Katy, TX to Arlington, TX is 263 miles and takes about 4h 51m via TX 6 and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. With 77% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly direct trip. This is a straightforward drive, suitable for a single day of travel, so you likely won't need an overnight stop. Consider this an easy hop between two points in Texas.
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
131.5 miles from Katy, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 6 | 69 mi | 1h 15m |
| I 35W | 45.1 mi | 47m |
| North State Highway 6 | 43.3 mi | 43m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 31.5 mi | 31m |
| Northwest Freeway | 19.4 mi | 22m |
| West Grand Parkway North | 13.9 mi | 16m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| East State Highway 6 | 9.1 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
TX 6
— 69 mi, about 1h 15m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,924 veh/hr typical · worst 2,733
Quietest
2 AM
~303 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
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 Katy, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on US 90
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Boulevard
2
Turn left onto US 90
227 ft
·
4 sec
·
Katy Freeway Frontage Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp onto US 90
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 90
Toward I 10 East
4
Merge onto I 10; US 90
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Katy Freeway
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 743B
Toward TX 99 Toll North, TX 99 South: Grand Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 99 Toll North: Grand Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward TX 99 Toll North
8
Merge onto TX 99 Toll
14 mi
·
16 min
·
West Grand Parkway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 290 West, US 290 East: Austin, Houston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 290 West: Austin
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto US 290; TX 6
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Northwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto TX 6
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
TX 6
Toward College Station, Bryan
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on TX 6
11 mi
·
12 min
·
TX 6
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto TX 6
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
TX 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North State Highway 6
18
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
19
Continue on TX 6
37 mi
·
37 min
·
North State Highway 6
20
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Memorial Street
21
Continue on TX 6
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
East State Highway 6
22
Take the exit onto TX 6
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
TX 6
23
Turn right onto Loop 340
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
East Loop 340
24
Take the exit
354 ft
·
10 sec
25
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 35 North
26
Merge onto I 35; US 77
31 mi
·
31 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the right lane.
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the slight left lane.
30
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Interstate 20
34
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
35
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
36
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
37
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the left lane.
38
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
39
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
40
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
This is a manageable 1-day drive, so leaving in the morning gives you plenty of time to arrive before dark. You'll want to budget around $38 for fuel, so ensure your tank is full before you depart. Given the 4h 51m estimated drive time, you'll likely only need one planned stop for gas or a quick break. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 69 miles on TX 6, so plan your break before or after this segment. Keep an eye on traffic as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
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 131.5 miles from Katy, TX, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69 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 58 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.5 miles or 2h 27m 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 55m
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 Katy, 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 Katy, TX
This is one driving day of about 263 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Katy, 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 TX 6 for about 69 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 131.5 miles from Katy, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before TX 6 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69 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
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Buc-ee's
1.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.5 mi from route
Katy Heritage Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Katy, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+12813914840
Visit websiteZube Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.4 mi from route
~6 min detour
Hockley, Texas
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+12813538100
Visit websiteHouston Area Live Steamers
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Hockley, Texas
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAndretti Indoor Karting & Games Katy
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Katy, Texas
Hours: 11 am–11 pm
+18329742201
Visit websitePlay Street Museum - Katy
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~9 min detour
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Katy, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–6 pm
+12816664217
Visit websiteBicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.8 mi from route
~9 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 305 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 257.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward TX 99 Toll North, TX 99 South: Grand Parkway
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 743B
Toward TX 99 Toll North, TX 99 South: Grand Par...
7
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 99 Toll North: Grand Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward TX 99 Toll North: Grand Parkway
7
17.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward US 290 West, US 290 East: Austin, Houston
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.
Toward US 290 West, US 290 East: Austin, Housto...
7
17.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 290 West: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 290 West: Austin
8
257.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m 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
$36.02 one way
$72.05 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $40.24 | $80.47 |
| premium | $4.23 | $43.75 | $87.49 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $49.66 | $99.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.9 | 0 | $27.62 | $12.62 |
| Efficient EV | 65.8 | 0 | $23.01 | $10.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105.2 | 1 | $36.82 | $16.83 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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.
Origin
Katy, TX
Late night in Katy on Monday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:32AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:32AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night in Arlington on Monday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
S 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:32AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 2:32AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
96°F
Groesbeck, TX
132 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
1 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
4h 51m 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
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 172.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 77% of the 263 miles covered on major routes like TX 6 and I-35W. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 69 miles on TX 6. Expect to transition from highway driving to surface roads after the highway portion concludes. The high percentage of highway driving suggests a generally consistent pace, with fewer turns but potentially more dense exits as you approach your destination.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69 mi on TX 6.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 6 and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 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 30 significant decision points across 263 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 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
742 ft
138 ft
Total Climb
704 ft
Total Descent
238 ft
Highest Point
742 ft
~244.2 mi in
Elevation Range
604 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 Katy, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Houston, College Station and Bryan.
Houston
17.4 mi in
|
~21m
College Station
38.1 mi in
|
~46m
|
via TX 6
Bryan
38.1 mi in
|
~46m
|
via TX 6
About the Cities
Starting in Katy, TX
Full guide →Founded 1945
Katy is a town in Southeastern Texas, just west of Houston, with rich history and a little bit of small town charm. It used to be a railroad town along the Missouri–Kansas–Texas railroad. In the 1960s, Houston started growing, eventually making Katy part of its surrounding area. Katy is a place to see for its heritage and historical sights, as well as other attractions to visit, with many being more popular than historical locations.
Top landmarks
- • B. Ray and Charlotte Woods House — building in Katy, Fort Bend 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 51m. Total distance: 263 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69 miles on TX 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 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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