Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from McQueeney, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 16, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 31m
Distance
263 mi
423 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 18m
★
6 AM
4h 32m
8 AM
4h 59m
10 AM
4h 41m
12 PM
4h 38m
3 PM
4h 42m
5 PM
4h 57m
8 PM
4h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McQueeney, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
McQueeney, TX to Arlington, TX is 263 miles and takes about 4h 31m via Purple Heart Trail, Pickle Parkway, and I 35W, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip spans the Great Plains region, moving from one part of Texas to another. You'll experience a mix of highway speeds and surface roads, making it a fairly straightforward drive. With just one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
131.5 miles from McQueeney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 97.7 mi | 1h 39m |
| Pickle Parkway | 86 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 35W | 45.1 mi | 47m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| I 10 | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Seguin Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| South Cooper Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 97.7 mi, about 1h 39m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,504 veh/hr typical · worst 3,276
Quietest
2 AM
~399 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 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 McQueeney, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Cypress Ridge Road
7 ft
·
7 sec
·
Cypress Ridge Road
2
Turn left onto FM 78
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Seguin Road
3
Turn left onto Huber Road
459 ft
·
12 sec
·
Huber Road
4
Turn right onto West Interstate 10
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Interstate 10
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 10 East, TX 130 North
6
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 614
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on TX 130 Toll
86 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Interstate 20
20
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
25
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
26
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 31-minute drive, it's best to get an early start to maximize your daylight. Since the total distance is 263 miles and only one stop is recommended, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the $38 estimated cost. The longest stretch without a significant break is nearly 98 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, so plan your break before or after this segment. Breaking up the drive with a short stop around the halfway point can help keep you alert.
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 131.5 miles from McQueeney, TX, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 58 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.5 miles or 2h 9m 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 36m
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 McQueeney, 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 McQueeney, TX
This is one driving day of about 263 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from McQueeney, 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 97.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
132 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 131.5 miles from McQueeney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.7 miles.
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.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Circle K
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Jud's Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Road Ranger
1.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
2.1 mi from route
Cultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteVillage of Salado Visitors Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websiteBicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.8 mi from route
~9 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 9.4 and 257.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
9.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
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 614
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
7
96.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
201.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 21m 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
246.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 8m 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
257.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 21m 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
$40.27 one way
$80.54 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
92 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.29 | $44.44 | $88.88 |
| premium | $4.64 | $48.02 | $96.05 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $63.98 | $127.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.9 | 0 | $27.62 | $12.62 |
| Efficient EV | 65.8 | 0 | $23.01 | $10.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 105.2 | 1 | $36.82 | $16.83 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
McQueeney, TX
Morning in McQueeney on Friday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 to 10 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued October 15 at 6:07AM CDT until October 15 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued October 15 at 5:07AM CDT until October 15 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning in Arlington on Friday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph
15% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued October 15 at 6:07AM CDT until October 15 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued October 15 at 5:07AM CDT until October 15 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
63°F
Troy, TX
132 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
2 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
4h 31m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 172.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This 263-mile drive is 55% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 97.7 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between the highway and surface roads. You’ll notice the change in pace as exits become more frequent after leaving the main highway stretches.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 263 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 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 201.1 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
741 ft
448 ft
Total Climb
597 ft
Total Descent
538 ft
Highest Point
741 ft
~244.2 mi in
Elevation Range
294 ft
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 4h 31m. Total distance: 263 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 28 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 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. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 201.1 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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