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Trip from Lost Creek, TX to Arlington, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 44m

Distance

202 mi

325 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 32m ★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 53m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 37m

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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Downtown Lost Creek, TX, TX

Lost Creek, TX

Emilio Sánchez Hernández

suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 202-mile journey from Lost Creek, TX, to Arlington, TX, will take approximately 3 hours and 44 minutes of driving time. Operating primarily on the Purple Heart Trail, I-35W, and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel. With a projected fuel cost of around $31, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The route predominantly stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape. Expect a driving experience that requires frequent turns, making it a more engaging, turn-heavy local drive rather than a simple interstate cruise.

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

101 miles from Lost Creek, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Purple Heart Trail 113 mi 1h 55m
I 35W 45.1 mi 47m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway 10.3 mi 11m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway 6.6 mi 7m
North Mopac Expressway 6.4 mi 6m
North Capital of Texas Highway 5.8 mi 8m
South Capital of Texas Highway 3.2 mi 4m
South Cooper Street 2.7 mi 4m
Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 113 mi, about 1h 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lost Creek, TX and Arlington, TX.

1

Start on Whippoorwill Trail

220 ft · 12 sec · Whippoorwill Trail
2

Turn right onto Guinevere Lane

347 ft · 15 sec · Guinevere Lane
3

Turn straight onto Canyon Rim Drive

0.6 mi · 2 min · Canyon Rim Drive
4

At end of road, turn right onto RM 2244

0.9 mi · 1 min · Bee Caves Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Turn left

302 ft · 8 sec
Toward Loop 360 North Use the left lane.
6

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 27 sec · this road
Toward North Loop 360
7

Merge onto Loop 360

3.2 mi · 4 min · South Capital of Texas Highway
8

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 32 sec · this road
9

Continue on Loop 360

5.8 mi · 8 min · North Capital of Texas Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

At end of road, turn left onto North Mopac Service Road

318 ft · 6 sec · North Mopac Service Road
Use the left lane.
11

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward Loop 1 North Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12

Merge onto Loop 1

6.4 mi · 6 min · North Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward TX 45 Toll East Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward I 35 North, Toll 45 East
15

Merge onto TX 45 Toll

0.6 mi · 35 sec · State Highway 45 North
16

Take the exit

1.3 mi · 2 min
Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight right lane.
17

Merge onto I 35

80 mi · 1 hr 22 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

45 mi · 47 min · I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth Use the slight left lane.
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 45B Toward I 20 East: Dallas Use the right lane.
22

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Toward I 20 East: Dallas Use the slight left lane.
23

Merge onto I 20

5.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Keep slight left at fork onto I 20

4.6 mi · 4 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
25

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 449A Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Continue on West Interstate 20

0.3 mi · 24 sec · West Interstate 20
27

Turn left onto FM 157

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
28

Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
29

Turn right onto Spur 303

0.5 mi · 50 sec · West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
30

Turn left onto South Center Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Center Street
Use the left lane.
31

Continue on South Mesquite Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Mesquite Street
32

Turn left onto East Abram Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · East Abram Street
33

Arrive at destination

West Abram Street

Trip Plan

For this 3-hour and 44-minute drive covering 202 miles, you can easily complete it in one day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your time at your destination in Arlington. With only one recommended stop and a manageable fuel cost of $31, flexibility is key. Pay close attention to the "turn-heavy" nature of this route, especially during the 113-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as navigation will be crucial. Ensure you have your preferred navigation app ready to guide you through the various road changes.

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 101 miles from Lost Creek, TX, or about 1h 53m 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 44 miles or 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 101 miles or 1h 53m 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

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 Lost Creek, 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 Lost Creek, TX

This is one driving day of about 202 miles and 3h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Lost Creek, 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.

Downtown Beverly Hills, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Beverly Hills, TX

101 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Jarrell, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Beverly Hills, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 101 miles from Lost Creek, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 72.2

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

Barton Creek Greenbelt

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+15129746700

Visit website

Doris D Miller Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 101

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Pioneer Farms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 14.4

Austin, Texas

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+15128371215

Visit website

Village of Salado Visitors Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 57.7

Salado, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12549478634

Visit website

Botanical Gates of Paradise

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 196.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
1.5 mi into trip | ~4m in

Turn left toward Loop 360 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward Loop 360 North
7
17.9 mi into trip | ~25m in

Keep slight right at fork toward TX 45 Toll East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward TX 45 Toll East
7
140.1 mi into trip | ~2h 33m 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
185.2 mi into trip | ~3h 21m 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
8
196.3 mi into trip | ~3h 33m 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

$30.52 one way

$61.05 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $33.41 $66.82
premium $4.54 $36.07 $72.13
diesel $5.61 $44.60 $89.20

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: 70.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.6 0 $21.21 $9.70
Efficient EV 50.5 0 $17.67 $8.08
EV Truck/SUV 80.8 1 $28.28 $12.93

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 kg (66% 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

Lost Creek, TX

Afternoon in Lost Creek on Sunday

Local time

4:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington, TX

Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

4:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

71°F

Beverly Hills, TX

101 mi in

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

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

3h 44m 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

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 104.5
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

You'll experience a "turn-heavy local drive" for much of this 202-mile route, with only 29% of it being on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 113 miles, primarily on the Purple Heart Trail, before transitioning to other major roads like I-35W and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. This suggests a drive that weaves through smaller towns and requires attention to navigation, rather than a monotonous highway sprint. The profile indicates a need to be engaged with your surroundings as you make your way across Texas.

Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 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?

10/10

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 1.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 22 significant decision points across 202 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.1 miles (I 35W): 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.

Between Lost Creek, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1 North and Toll 45 East.

Loop 1 North

11.3 mi in | ~18m

Toll 45 East

18.4 mi in | ~26m

About the Cities

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 202 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 44m 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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 17.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 140.1 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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