Village of Salado Visitors Center
Later in the drive, ~10 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 21m
Distance
504.3 mi
812 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$76
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Villa, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
La Villa, TX to Arlington, TX is 504.3 miles and takes about 9h 21m via I 69C, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with a fuel budget near $76 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though it's recommended for 2 days. This long-distance drive traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward journey for those needing to cover ground. Given its length, splitting this trip over two days is a practical choice, allowing for a more relaxed pace. You'll be spending a significant amount of time on major highways, so it's essential to be prepared for a consistent driving experience.
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
252.1 miles from La Villa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 53m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 69C | 141.7 mi | 2h 35m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 97.7 mi | 1h 39m |
| Pickle Parkway | 58.5 mi | 54m |
| I 35W | 45.1 mi | 47m |
| King David Drive | 31.8 mi | 39m |
| State Highway 80 North | 30.8 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 80 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Nueces Street | 11.1 mi | 14m |
Step-by-step road directions between La Villa, TX and Arlington, TX.
Start on East 6th Street
Turn left onto FM 491
Turn right onto TX 107
Continue on TX 107
Turn right onto FM 2128
Continue on FM 2128
Continue on FM 2128
Continue on FM 2128
Turn right onto North Expressway 281
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 69C; US 281
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
Turn right onto TX 72
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
Continue on FM 792
Turn straight onto TX 80
Continue on TX 80
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 35
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35; US 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
Take the exit
Continue on West Interstate 20
Turn left onto FM 157
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
Turn right onto Spur 303
Turn left onto South Center Street
Continue on South Mesquite Street
Turn left onto East Abram Street
Arrive at destination
For this 504.3-mile drive, consider breaking it into two days to avoid fatigue; a good stopping point would be around the halfway mark. Aim to start your driving days early to maximize daylight and take advantage of the recommended 2-day pace. With 2 planned stops, ensure you're fueling up regularly, especially during the 141.7-mile stretch on I 69C, as services can be spread out. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as $76 is an estimate and actual costs can vary, particularly with the highway-heavy nature of this trip.
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.
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 111 miles or 2h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 252.1 miles or 4h 53m 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 252.1 miles or 4h 53m
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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving La Villa, 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 Villa, TX
Aim for roughly 252 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Arlington, TX
Aim for roughly 252 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
166 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
333 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Round Rock, TXNight 1
252 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near New Braunfels, TX after about 252 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 111 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 252.1 miles from La Villa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 69C if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 141.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 252 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Later in the drive, ~10 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 337.6 and 498.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$76.20 one way
$152.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $83.41 | $166.82 |
| premium | $4.54 | $90.04 | $180.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $111.34 | $222.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 176.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 151.3 | 1 | $52.95 | $24.21 |
| Efficient EV | 126.1 | 1 | $44.13 | $20.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 201.7 | 2 | $70.60 | $32.28 |
Gas CO2
176 kg
EV CO2
59 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in La Villa on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 63% of the journey on major roads like I 69C. You'll encounter a longest continuous stretch of 141.7 miles on I 69C, which means extended periods of steady driving. While the highway share is high, the inclusion of the Purple Heart Trail and Pickle Parkway suggests some variation in the road's character might emerge, potentially offering a slightly different feel compared to a pure interstate experience. Expect a generally efficient but long haul across the Texas landscape.
At 9h 21m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 337.6 miles in.
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 24 significant decision points across 504.3 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 337.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 442.3 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 487.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from La Villa, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
Waco
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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