Spanning 206.5 miles, this journey from Lakeway to Arlington takes you across the Texas Great Plains in roughly 3 hours and 50 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $32 on fuel for the trek. The route utilizes a combination of Ranch Road 620 South, the Purple Heart Trail, and I-35W to navigate between these two points. It is a straightforward drive that works well for travelers looking to reach the Arlington area efficiently. Since both the origin and destination sit within the Great Plains, you will remain in a consistent regional landscape throughout the journey.
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
103.3 miles from Lakeway, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeway, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on this road
112 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Lohmans Crossing Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Lohmans Crossing Road
3
Turn left onto Lakeway Boulevard
1.2 mi·3 min·Lakeway Boulevard
4
Turn left onto RM 620
15 mi·21 min·Ranch Road 620 South
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward TX 45 Toll East
6
Continue on TX 45 Toll
7.1 mi·7 min·State Highway 45 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.3 mi·2 min
Toward I 35 North: WacoUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 35
80 mi·1 hr 22 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
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly four-hour duration. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, check traffic conditions before departing to ensure your 3-hour and 50-minute estimate holds steady. Flexibility is your best asset here, as the moderate length allows you to adjust your departure time to avoid the heaviest regional congestion. Since you are budgeting $32 for fuel, consider filling up before you leave Lakeway to avoid fluctuating prices along the way. Keep a close watch on your navigation when transitioning onto the Purple Heart Trail, as this 113-mile stretch is the core of your trip and requires steady focus.
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 103.3 miles from Lakeway, TX, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113 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 45 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.3 miles or 1h 57m 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 6m
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 Lakeway, 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 Lakeway, TX
This is one driving day of about 206.5 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Lakeway, 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 113 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 23.6 and 200.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
23.6 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Waco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
144.6 mi into trip|~2h 40m 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
189.7 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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
190 mi into trip|~3h 28m 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
200.7 mi into trip|~3h 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
$31.20 one way
$62.41 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$34.15
$68.31
premium
$4.54
$36.87
$73.74
diesel
$5.61
$45.59
$91.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.9
0
$21.68
$9.91
Efficient EV
51.6
0
$18.07
$8.26
EV Truck/SUV
82.6
1
$28.91
$13.22
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Lakeway, TX
Late night
in Lakeway on Tuesday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
26 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
3h 50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 113.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its turn-heavy local nature, requiring you to stay alert as you navigate various road types. Only 29% of the route consists of highway travel, meaning you will spend a significant portion of your time on local roads rather than high-speed interstates. You will face your longest uninterrupted stretch along the 113-mile segment of the Purple Heart Trail. While the drive shifts from local maneuvering to more direct highway driving, the road's personality remains technical rather than monotonous. Be prepared for a change in pace as you transition from the local segments onto the larger thoroughfares.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.6 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 206.5 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 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 189.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 3h 50m. Total distance: 206.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 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 23.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.6 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 189.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
