This 528.6-mile journey from La Paloma, TX to Arlington, TX will take approximately 8 hours and 20 minutes of pure driving time. Given the distance and duration, it's best to plan for at least two days to comfortably complete this trip, especially considering you'll be making two stops along the way. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $81. You'll primarily be on roads like Narlisco Martinez Highway, East Expressway 83, and Highway 77, traversing the Great Plains region of Texas for its entirety. This long-distance drive offers a practical way to travel between South Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
259.8 miles from La Paloma, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Highway 77
120.9 mi
2h 13m
Purple Heart Trail
97.7 mi
1h 39m
Pickle Parkway
58.5 mi
54m
I 35W
45.1 mi
47m
US Highway 181 South
40.2 mi
45m
State Highway 80 North
30.8 mi
35m
State Highway 80
23.6 mi
25m
I 37
19.7 mi
19m
Longest stretch:
U.S. Highway 77
— 120.9 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Paloma, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Old Military Highway
0.1 mi·34 sec·Old Military Highway
2
Turn left onto FM 732
5.8 mi·10 min·Narlisco Martinez Highway
3
Turn left onto East Expressway 83
0.2 mi·20 sec·East Expressway 83
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·17 sec
5
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83
96 mi·1 hr 47 min·U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·14 sec
7
Merge onto I 69E; US 77
1.2 mi·1 min·I 69E; US 77
8
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
12 mi·12 min·U.S. Highway 77
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
10
Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road
485 ft·17 sec·US Highway 77 Frontage Road
11
Turn right onto County Road 10
1.0 mi·4 min·County Road 10
12
Turn left onto County Road 79
4.0 mi·15 min·County Road 79
13
Turn left onto County Road 18
0.2 mi·43 sec·County Road 18
14
Turn sharp right
1.1 mi·2 min
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
16
Merge onto US 77
2.3 mi·2 min·Driscoll Bypass
17
Continue on US 77
13 mi·14 min·U.S. Highway 77
18
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
1.4 mi·1 min·I 37; US 77; I 69E
19
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi·1 min
20
Continue on I 37
18 mi·18 min·I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore
22
Turn right onto TX 359
12 mi·16 min·State Highway 359
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 181
0.8 mi·55 sec·South 8th Street
24
Continue on US 181
40 mi·45 min·US Highway 181 South
25
Continue on US 181
1.2 mi·1 min·South Sunset Strip Drive
26
Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
27
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
28
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi·10 min·Helena Road
29
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi·25 min·State Highway 80
30
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi·2 min·South Nixon Avenue
31
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi·35 min·State Highway 80 North
32
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
33
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·South Colorado Street
34
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·16 sec·United States Highway 183
35
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
36
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi·54 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 35 North: WacoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
38
Merge onto I 35
65 mi·1 hr 6 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi·47 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
42
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
43
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
44
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
46
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
48
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
49
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
50
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
51
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
52
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
53
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
54
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 8-hour and 20-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, especially since you'll be on non-highway roads for the entire 528.6 miles. Planning for two stops will help break up the journey and allow for rest and refueling, keeping your fuel budget around $81. Splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended; identify a mid-point town on Highway 77 or East Expressway 83 for an overnight stay. Pay attention to local traffic patterns and speed limits, as the lack of highway driving means you'll encounter more varied road conditions and community zones.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 259.8 miles from La Paloma, TX, or about 5h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 114 miles or 2h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 259.8 miles or 5h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 259.8 miles or 5h 13m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 41m
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 La Paloma, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from La Paloma, TX
Aim for roughly 260 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Arlington, TX
Aim for roughly 260 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 114 miles from La Paloma, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Highway 77 for about 120.9 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 33
5 decision points cluster between mile 352.9 and 513.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
352.9 mi into trip|~6h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
457.6 mi into trip|~8h 39m 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
502.7 mi into trip|~9h 26m 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
503 mi into trip|~9h 27m 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
513.8 mi into trip|~9h 39m 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
$78.50 one way
$157.00 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg182 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$85.92
$171.84
premium
$4.54
$92.75
$185.51
diesel
$5.61
$114.70
$229.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$209–$319
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 181.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
155.9
1
$54.55
$24.94
Efficient EV
129.9
1
$45.46
$20.78
EV Truck/SUV
207.8
2
$72.73
$33.25
Gas CO2
182 kg
EV CO2
61 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
La Paloma, TX
Late night
in La Paloma on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 16 at 4:14AM CDT until April 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 4:13AM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
4 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
9h 50m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 429.9
On May 8, 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Although the two countries have deve...
Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
$25
near mile 71.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The road character on this route is largely defined by its extensive use of non-highway roads, with a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating primarily on state and local routes, including Narlisco Martinez Highway, East Expressway 83, and Highway 77. While there's no specified longest uninterrupted stretch, expect a driving experience that involves more frequent intersections and potentially lower speed limits compared to interstate travel. This profile suggests a more local feel to the drive, with opportunities to experience Texas at a more relaxed pace as you travel northward through the Great Plains.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
54 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.9 mi on U.S. Highway 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 352.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 33 significant decision points across 519.5 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 352.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 457.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 502.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between La Paloma, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.
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
The longest stretch is about 120.9 miles on U.S. Highway 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 260 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 352.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 457.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 502.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.8 hours each way, a round trip means 19.7 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.
