Trip from Los Indios, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 46m
Distance
518.8 mi
835 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
20 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Indios, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 518.8-mile journey from Los Indios, TX, to Arlington, TX, will take approximately 9 hours and 46 minutes of driving time. Given its length, it's best split over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace and avoiding a marathon 10-hour day. You'll primarily travel on U.S. Highway 77, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with about 72% of the route being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $78. This drive is a long-distance trek across the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward path north.
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
259.4 miles from Los Indios, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 117 mi | 2h 9m |
| 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 |
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
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 Los Indios, TX and Arlington, TX.
Start on Robertson Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 281
Turn left onto FM 509
Turn left onto West Expressway 83
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 69E; US 77
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road
Turn right onto County Road 10
Turn left onto County Road 79
Turn left onto County Road 18
Turn sharp right
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 77
Continue on US 77
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 37
Take the exit
Turn right onto TX 359
At end of road, turn left onto US 181
Continue on US 181
Continue on US 181
Turn right onto 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
Trip Plan
For this nearly 10-hour drive, departing early in the morning is highly recommended, especially if you plan to split it over two days. Aim for two stops to break up the 518.8 miles; this will help you manage fatigue. The longest stretch without a significant change in road is 117 miles on U.S. Highway 77, so be sure to fuel up before you begin that segment. Considering the $78 fuel cost, keeping an eye on your gas gauge is always a good idea on longer Texas drives.
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 114 miles or 2h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 259.4 miles or 5h 10m 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 259.4 miles or 5h 10m
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 38m
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 Los Indios, 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 Los Indios, TX
Aim for roughly 259 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Arlington, TX
Aim for roughly 259 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
171 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
259 mi · about 4.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 259 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 114 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 259.4 miles from Los Indios, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 117 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 259 miles or 4.9 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
San Patricio County Southbound Rest Area
Love's Travel Stop
Flying J Travel Plaza
Pilot Travel Center
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
Kenedy County Rest Area
Texas Travel Information Center at Harlingen
San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area
Flying J Travel Center
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Road Ranger
Buc-ee's
Service Plaza
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
Circle K
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
Pilot Travel Center
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
QuikTrip
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
Road Ranger
Love's Travel Stop
QuikTrip
Buc-ee's
TA
Service Plaza
Village of Salado Visitors Center
Later in the drive, right off the route
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 345 decision points cluster between mile 352.1 and 513 — 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$71.06 one way
$142.12 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $79.37 | $158.74 |
| premium | $4.23 | $86.30 | $172.59 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $97.96 | $195.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 181.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
20 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Austin, TX - Spirit of Texas Drive - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
19 DCFC
Robstown, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Robstown, TX
16 DCFC
Luling, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Luling, TX
16 DCFC
Harlingen, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Harlingen, TX
12 DCFC
Kenedy, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Kenedy, TX
12 DCFC
Austin, TX - FM 969 - Tesla Supercharger
Austin, TX
12 DCFC
Bucees Luling MB.HPC
Luling, TX
10 DCFC
Kingsville, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Kingsville, TX
8 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 155.6 | 1 | $54.47 | $24.90 |
| Efficient EV | 129.7 | 1 | $45.40 | $20.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 207.5 | 2 | $72.63 | $33.20 |
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.
Origin
Los Indios, TX
Morning in Los Indios on Sunday
Local time
9:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Partly Cloudy
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 4:14AM CDT until July 19 at 6:30AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 3:32AM CDT until July 20 at 3:04AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
9:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 4:14AM CDT until July 19 at 6:30AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 3:32AM CDT until July 20 at 3:04AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi 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
1 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 46m 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...
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
Padre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a long-distance drive with a significant portion on highways, making up 72% of the total mileage. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 117 miles on U.S. Highway 77. While there are designated stops, the overall character is that of a steady, forward progression across the Texas landscape. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways, so be prepared for a consistent pace for much of the drive.
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 352.1 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 34 significant decision points across 518.8 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 352.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 456.9 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 502 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
806 ft
Total Descent
258 ft
Highest Point
695 ft
~333.5 mi in
Elevation Range
658 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Los Indios, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.
Skidmore
Waco
About the Cities
Starting in Los Indios, 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
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, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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