Trip from La Villa, TX to Arlington, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 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

$69

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

9h 13m ★

6 AM

9h 21m

8 AM

9h 38m

10 AM

9h 27m

12 PM

9h 25m

3 PM

9h 28m

5 PM

9h 37m

8 PM

9h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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La Villa, TX

Jeff Stapleton

suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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

Longest stretch: I 69C — 141.7 mi, about 2h 35m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,461 veh/hr typical · worst 3,169

Quietest

2 AM

~387 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.4×

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 La Villa, TX and Arlington, TX.

Start on East 6th Street

67 ft · 8 sec · East 6th Street

Turn left onto FM 491

0.3 mi · 33 sec · North Chapa Road

Turn right onto TX 107

1.0 mi · 1 min · Mile 16½ North Road

Continue on TX 107

9.1 mi · 13 min · East Santa Rosa Avenue

Turn right onto FM 2128

0.9 mi · 1 min · Richardson Road

Continue on FM 2128

0.5 mi · 40 sec · East Schunior Street

Continue on FM 2128

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Richardson Street

Continue on FM 2128

1.2 mi · 1 min · East Richardson Road

Turn right onto North Expressway 281

181 ft · 3 sec · North Expressway 281

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward I 69C North, US 281 North

Merge onto I 69C; US 281

71 mi · 1 hr 15 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281

70 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

11 mi · 14 min · Nueces Street

Turn right onto TX 72

32 mi · 39 min · King David Drive

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

45 mi · 47 min · I 35W

Toward I 35W: Fort Worth Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Exit 45B Toward I 20 East: Dallas Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 58 sec

Toward I 20 East: Dallas Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 20

5.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 20

4.6 mi · 4 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

Toward I 20 East: Dallas

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Exit 449A Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on West Interstate 20

0.3 mi · 24 sec · West Interstate 20

Turn left onto FM 157

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Cooper Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Cooper Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Spur 303

0.5 mi · 50 sec · West Pioneer Parkway

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto South Center Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Center Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on South Mesquite Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Mesquite Street

Turn left onto East Abram Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · East Abram Street

Arrive at destination

West Abram Street

Trip Plan

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.

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 252.1 miles from La Villa, TX, or about 4h 53m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.7 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 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.

Before You Leave

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 111 miles from La Villa, 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 I 69C for about 141.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

San Antonio, TX

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.

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

252 mi · about 4.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 252 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

San Diego, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 111 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

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 check

Top up before I 69C if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 141.7 miles.

Overnight split

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.3 mi from route

Village of Salado Visitors Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

Final third 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 24

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.

337.6 mi into trip | ~6h 22m 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

442.3 mi into trip | ~8h 10m 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

487.5 mi into trip | ~8h 57m 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

487.8 mi into trip | ~8h 58m 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

498.5 mi into trip | ~9h 10m 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

$69.07 one way

$138.15 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 176 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$77.15	$154.31
premium	$4.23	$83.88	$167.77
diesel	$4.80	$95.22	$190.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$69

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$199–$309

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, 2026-07-13.

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026

Origin

La Villa, TX

Late night in La Villa on Sunday

Local time

3:51 AM

CDT

Current temp

95°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 18 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 5:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:19PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Destination

Arlington, TX

Late night in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

3:51 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 10 mph 37% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 5:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:19PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

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

6 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 21m 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...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour Free near mile 417.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 141.7 mi on I 69C.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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.

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 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

710 ft 56 ft

Total Climb

698 ft

Total Descent

150 ft

Highest Point

710 ft

~468.3 mi in

Elevation Range

654 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

278.6 mi in | ~5h 27m

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-20:00; Fr 07:00-17:00

Visit website

iCafe

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: japanese

Hours: Su-Fr 11:00-15:00,16:00-21:00

Visit website

Inclusion Coffee

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00; Sa,Su 08:00-20:00

Kung Fu Tea

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: bubble_tea

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-19:00; Fr 07:00-17:00

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: 07:00-02:00

Visit website

Wendy's

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: burger

Hours: Mo-Sa 06:30-22:00; Su 08:00-22:00

Visit website

Pie Five Pizza Co

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: pizza

Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00

Visit website

J. Gilligan's Bar & Grill

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Arlington, TX

Cuisine: american

Visit website

Esports Stadium Arlington

Attraction

Near the end, short detour

Camp_site

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in La Villa, 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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 141.7 miles on I 69C. 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 252 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 31 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.4 hours each way, a round trip means 18.7 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.

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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