Spanning 57.9 miles, this straightforward drive from Melissa to Arlington typically takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes to complete. Because the trip is short and entirely contained within the Great Plains region of Texas, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the journey, making it a very affordable transit. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares like the Central Expressway and the President George Bush Turnpike to navigate the metro area efficiently. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of activities, this highway-focused drive offers a predictable experience without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Central Expressway
25.2 mi
27m
President George Bush Turnpike
12 mi
12m
I 635 TEXpress
3.5 mi
3m
Tom Landry Freeway
3.3 mi
4m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
3 mi
3m
Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
2.4 mi
2m
North Center Street
1.8 mi
4m
McKinney Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Central Expressway
— 25.2 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melissa, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on FM 545
375 ft·22 sec·West Cooper Street
2
Turn left onto TX 5
1.0 mi·1 min·McKinney Street
3
Turn right onto TX 121
1.0 mi·1 min·Sam Rayburn Highway
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto US 75; TX 121
25 mi·27 min·Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 21Toward I 635Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·55 sec
Toward I 635 WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 635
2.4 mi·2 min·Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 635
1.5 mi·1 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·32 sec
Toward I 635 TEXpress WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 635 TEXpress
3.5 mi·3 min·I 635 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 635
1.5 mi·1 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·39 sec
Exit 30Toward PGBT Toll South: President George Bush Turnpike, Las Colinas BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward PGBT South: President George Bush Turnpike SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto PGBT
12 mi·12 min·President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 30 West: Fort WorthUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 30
3.3 mi·4 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 28BToward FM 157: Collins StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto Wet N Wild Way
0.5 mi·59 sec·Wet N Wild Way
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto North Center Street
1.8 mi·4 min·North Center Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
22
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 28.9 miles from Melissa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 39 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.1 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
7
28.1 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward I 635
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 635
7
28.4 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 635 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 635 West
8
38.6 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward PGBT Toll South: President George Bush Turnpike, Las Colinas Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 30
Toward PGBT Toll South: President George Bush T...
7
39 mi into trip|~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PGBT South: President George Bush Turnpike South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward PGBT South: President George Bush Turnpi...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.75 one way
$17.50 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$9.58
$19.15
premium
$4.54
$10.34
$20.68
diesel
$5.61
$12.78
$25.57
Estimated Tolls: $2.98
Central Expressway
(25.2 mi)$2.02
President George Bush Turnpike
(12 mi)$0.96
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.4
0
$6.08
$2.78
Efficient EV
14.5
0
$5.07
$2.32
EV Truck/SUV
23.2
0
$8.11
$3.71
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Melissa, TX
Late night
in Melissa on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 15 mph72% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued April 17 at 9:08PM MDT until April 18 at 12:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 9:08PM MDT until April 18 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 15 mph64% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued April 17 at 9:08PM MDT until April 18 at 12:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 9:08PM MDT until April 18 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
79°F
Addison, TX
29 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 8m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 fast-paced, highway-focused experience, as 85% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the most significant portion of your time on the Central Expressway, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 25.2 miles. The personality of this drive is strictly functional, prioritizing speed and efficiency over scenic detours or winding backroads. Navigating the transition between the Central Expressway, I-635 TEXpress, and the President George Bush Turnpike requires staying alert for merging traffic. It is a classic Texas suburban drive that favors steady movement across the metro landscape rather than technical maneuvers.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.2 mi on Central Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central Expressway and President George Bush Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.9 miles you will encounter 19 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 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
680 ft437 ft
Total Climb
505 ft
Total Descent
582 ft
Highest Point
680 ft
Elevation Range
244 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Melissa, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Pgbt Toll South: President George Bush Turnpike and Pgbt South: President George Bush Turnpike South.
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 1h 8m. Total distance: 57.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.2 miles on Central Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.98 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.4 miles: 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.
