Traveling from Longview to Arlington covers approximately 149.5 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short trip within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via North Spur 63, I-20 West, and through the Dallas area. With an estimated fuel cost of $22, this is a budget-friendly route for those needing to move between these two East Texas hubs. Whether you are heading to Arlington for business or leisure, the straightforward nature of the drive makes it a practical choice for a morning or afternoon departure.
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
73.7 miles from Longview, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
89.7 mi
1h 29m
US 80
18.9 mi
20m
Tom Landry Freeway
16.9 mi
19m
East R L Thornton Freeway
7.6 mi
9m
North Spur 63
6.2 mi
7m
Spur 557
4.4 mi
4m
North Center Street
1.8 mi
4m
West Marshall Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 89.7 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longview, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on US 80
0.6 mi·1 min·West Marshall Avenue
2
Turn left onto TX 31; Spur 63
6.2 mi·7 min·North Spur 63
Use the left lane.
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 20 West: Dallas
4
Merge onto I 20
90 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 557
4.4 mi·4 min·Spur 557
Exit 499AToward DallasUse the slight right lane.
6
Continue on US 80
19 mi·20 min·US 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 30; US 67
7.6 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 30
17 mi·19 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 28BToward FM 157: Collins StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto Wet N Wild Way
0.5 mi·59 sec·Wet N Wild Way
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto North Center Street
1.8 mi·4 min·North Center Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 2-hour and 16-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic in the Dallas area is always a smart strategy. You will spend about $22 on gas, so consider fueling up in Longview before you head out to ensure you have a full tank for the trek. Because there are no scheduled stops required for this 149.5-mile distance, you can tailor the pace to suit your personal comfort. Keep a close watch on your GPS when navigating the transition onto I-20 West, as the route involves several turns. Making this a single-day trip allows you the freedom to reach Arlington without the stress of managing multiple travel segments.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.7 miles from Longview, TX, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.7 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 32 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.7 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
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 Longview, 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 Longview, TX
This is one driving day of about 147.4 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Longview, 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 I 20 for about 89.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 144.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|TX 31; Spur 63 / North Spur 63
Turn left onto TX 31; Spur 63 / North Spur 63
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
7.3 mi into trip|~9m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
96.9 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|Spur 557
Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 557 toward Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 499A
Toward Dallas
5
120.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Merge onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
144.8 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward FM 157: Collins Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28B
Toward FM 157: Collins Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.27 one way
$44.54 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$24.38
$48.76
premium
$4.54
$26.32
$52.63
diesel
$5.61
$32.54
$65.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.2
0
$15.48
$7.08
Efficient EV
36.9
0
$12.90
$5.90
EV Truck/SUV
59
0
$20.64
$9.43
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
Longview, TX
Late night
in Longview on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
19 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
2h 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you transition from Longview toward the Dallas-Arlington metro area. While you will utilize I-20 West for a significant portion of the mileage, the route maintains a local feel rather than a high-speed interstate grind. There is no specific long-distance stretch of highway, as the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on North Spur 63. You should anticipate a mix of navigation through local infrastructure and major thoroughfares. Staying alert is essential, as the route requires constant attention to changing road configurations as you move toward your destination.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.7 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 80. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near TX 31; Spur 63 / North Spur 63.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 147.4 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (TX 31; Spur 63 / North Spur 63): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.9 miles (Spur 557): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Longview, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas along the way.
Longview is a city in the Piney Woods region of Texas. At one time a major headquarters of the vast East Texas Oil Field, petroleum remains a large part of the city's economy. Founded in 1871, the city earned its name when surveyors for the Southern Pacific Railroad noted what a "long view" they could see from a hill near the center of the new town. Longview is now home to more than 75,000 residents and has grown to be an important center of commerce and industry for the Piney Woods region of Texas.
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 2h 39m. Total distance: 147.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.7 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.6 miles (TX 31; Spur 63 / North Spur 63): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.3 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.9 miles (Spur 557): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Arlington, TX before heading back.
