Trip from Marfa, 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 14m

Distance

510.6 mi

822 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$70

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

9h 6m ★

6 AM

9h 15m

8 AM

9h 31m

10 AM

9h 21m

12 PM

9h 19m

3 PM

9h 21m

5 PM

9h 31m

8 PM

9h 10m

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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Marfa, TX

Thomas balabaud

suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Marfa, TX to Arlington, TX is 510.6 miles and takes about 9h 14m via I 20 and TX 17, with a fuel budget near $74 and an overnight recommendation. This long-haul drive traverses across Texas, beginning in the vast landscapes of the Great Plains and ending in a similar region. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward trip if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. Given the distance, breaking this drive into two days is highly recommended for a more relaxed 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

255.3 miles from Marfa, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	398.3 mi	6h 38m
TX 17	35.4 mi	44m
FM 2903	22.1 mi	38m
North Dean Street	22.1 mi	29m
West Freeway	15.2 mi	17m
Tom Landry Freeway	12.3 mi	15m
Fort Worth Street	2 mi	3m
North Center Street	1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 398.3 mi, about 6h 38m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~1,511 veh/hr typical · worst 1,850

Quietest

2 AM

~212 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.1×

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 Marfa, TX and Arlington, TX.

Start on this road

190 ft · 19 sec · this road

Turn left onto TX 17

0.2 mi · 37 sec · South Highland Street

At end of road, turn right onto TX 17

483 ft · 21 sec · East Lincoln Street

Turn left onto TX 17

22 mi · 29 min · North Dean Street

Turn right onto TX 17

31 mi · 37 min · TX 17

At end of road, turn right onto TX 17

4.5 mi · 6 min · TX 17

Turn left onto I 10 Business

2.0 mi · 3 min · Fort Worth Street

Continue on FM 2903

22 mi · 38 min · FM 2903

Turn right

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Toward I 20 East: Odessa, Midland

Merge onto I 20

398 mi · 6 hr 38 min · I 20

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30

15 mi · 17 min · West Freeway

Exit 421 Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 30

12 mi · 15 min · Tom Landry Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Exit 27A Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto North Cooper Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Cooper Street

Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road

0.4 mi · 49 sec · West Randol Mill Road

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto North Center Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Center Street

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto West Abram Street

297 ft · 8 sec · West Abram Street

Arrive at destination

West Abram Street

Trip Plan

For this 510.6-mile drive, plan for an overnight stop to avoid a grueling 9-hour day. Leaving early in the morning from Marfa will give you ample time to reach a midway point. With two recommended stops, you can comfortably split the drive into two roughly equal segments. Keep an eye on fuel, especially before heading into longer stretches on I 20, as services can be spaced out. The $74 fuel estimate is based on typical costs, so check current prices before you depart.

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 255.3 miles from Marfa, TX, or about 4h 51m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 398.3 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 112 miles or 2h 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 255.3 miles or 4h 51m 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 255.3 miles or 4h 51m

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 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 Marfa, 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 Marfa, TX

Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Arlington, TX

Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from Marfa, 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 20 for about 398.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Midland, TX

168 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.

Popular next leg

Midland, TX to Arlington, TX

313.6 mi · 5h 27m

city in and county seat of Titus County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Mount Pleasant, TX

337 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Mount Pleasant, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Roscoe, TX

255 mi · about 4.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Roscoe, TX after about 255 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Wink, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Roscoe, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 255.3 miles from Marfa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 398.3 miles.

Overnight split

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14323683548

Jim Parker Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Odessa, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14323683548

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 509.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | TX 17 / East Lincoln Street

At end of road, turn right onto TX 17 / East Lincoln Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

480.6 mi into trip | ~8h 36m in | I 30 / West Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 421 Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth

508.2 mi into trip | ~9h 9m in

Take the exit toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street

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 27A Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street

509.1 mi into trip | ~9h 11m in | West Randol Mill Road

Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

509.5 mi into trip | ~9h 12m in | North Center Street

Turn right onto North Center Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$69.94 one way

$139.87 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 179 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$78.12	$156.24
premium	$4.23	$84.93	$169.86
diesel	$4.80	$96.41	$192.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$70

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$200–$310

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 178.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	153.2	1	$53.61	$24.51
Efficient EV	127.7	1	$44.68	$20.42
EV Truck/SUV	204.2	2	$71.48	$32.68

Gas CO2

179 kg

EV CO2

60 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

Marfa, TX

Afternoon in Marfa on Sunday

Local time

4:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

NE 5 to 10 mph 44% 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

Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday

Local time

4:55 PM

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

9 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

9h 14m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route features a 95% highway share, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the vast majority of the 510.6 miles. The longest continuous stretch on I 20 spans 398.3 miles, offering a consistent cruising experience. You'll transition from TX 17 and FM 2903 to I 20, anticipating a significant amount of rural cruising before potentially encountering more dense exits as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Expect minimal delays on the highway segments.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 398.3 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and TX 17. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near TX 17 / East Lincoln Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 510.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.3 miles (TX 17 / East Lincoln Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 480.6 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 508.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

4,693 ft 604 ft

Total Climb

602 ft

Total Descent

4,691 ft

Highest Point

4,693 ft

Elevation Range

4,089 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 Marfa, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Midland along the way.

Midland

82.2 mi in | ~1h 57m

About the Cities

Starting in Marfa, TX

Full guide →

Marfa is a town of 1,600 people (2019) in the Big Bend Country region of Texas. It's known for two things: innovative art and mysterious lights.

Top landmarks

• Chinati Foundation — contemporary art museum in Marfa, Texas
• El Paisano Hotel — historic place in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas
• Presidio County Courthouse — historic place in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas

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?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

9h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 398.3 miles on I 20. 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 255 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 55 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 55 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.5 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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