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Trip from Mercedes, 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 29m
Distance
515.7 mi
830 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 21m
★
6 AM
9h 29m
8 AM
9h 47m
10 AM
9h 35m
12 PM
9h 34m
3 PM
9h 36m
5 PM
9h 46m
8 PM
9h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mercedes, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Mercedes to Arlington, prepare for a substantial 539.4-mile journey across the Texas Great Plains. You should anticipate approximately 7 hours and 46 minutes of drive time, making this a long haul that is best tackled in a single, focused day. Budget roughly $80 for fuel to cover the distance between these two points. While the trip is feasible as a one-day marathon, it is a significant commitment that requires endurance behind the wheel. Both your origin and destination sit within the Great Plains, ensuring a consistent regional feel throughout your transit. Ultimately, this drive is a straightforward transit route designed for efficiency rather than leisure.
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
257.8 miles from Mercedes, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 97.7 mi | 1h 39m |
| I 69C | 92 mi | 1h 43m |
| Pickle Parkway | 58.5 mi | 54m |
| US 281 | 57.1 mi | 1h |
| I 35W | 45.1 mi | 47m |
| King David Drive | 31.8 mi | 39m |
| State Highway 80 North | 30.8 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 80 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 97.7 mi, about 1h 39m
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
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 Mercedes, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on South Texas Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Texas Avenue
2
Turn left onto East Expressway 83
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Expressway 83
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
4
Merge onto I 2; US 83
16 mi
·
18 min
·
I 2; US 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 146A
Toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 69C
22 mi
·
23 min
·
I 69C
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 281
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
US 281
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281
70 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 69C; US 281
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Nueces Street
10
Turn right onto TX 72
32 mi
·
39 min
·
King David Drive
11
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
12
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
13
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Helena Road
14
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 80
15
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Nixon Avenue
16
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 80 North
17
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
18
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Colorado Street
19
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
United States Highway 183
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
21
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi
·
54 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 35
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the right lane.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the slight left lane.
29
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Interstate 20
33
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
35
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
36
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the left lane.
37
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
38
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
39
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
To manage this 539.4-mile trek effectively, aim for an early morning departure to avoid peak traffic congestion as you approach your destination. Planning for at least two designated stops will help you maintain focus throughout the 7 hours and 46 minutes of travel. Since you are budgeting $80 for fuel, keep an eye on your gauge during the middle portion of the trip to ensure you don't run low between major intervals. Given that this is a long-distance drive, pacing yourself is essential for safety and comfort. A helpful strategy for this specific route is to coordinate your two planned stops to coincide with the transitions between your main roads to break up the monotony of the drive.
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 257.8 miles from Mercedes, TX, or about 4h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 113 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 257.8 miles or 4h 55m 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 257.8 miles or 4h 55m
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 20m
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 Mercedes, 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 Mercedes, TX
Aim for roughly 258 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Arlington, TX
Aim for roughly 258 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 113 miles from Mercedes, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 97.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
170 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
258 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 258 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 113 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 257.8 miles from Mercedes, 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.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 258 miles or 4.7 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
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Brooks County Rest Area
0 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
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
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
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
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
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
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Village of Salado Visitors Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websiteEstero Llano Grande State Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Weslaco, Texas
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+19565653919
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 17.3 and 509.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
17.3 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
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 146A
Toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
7
349 mi into trip
|
~6h 30m 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
453.7 mi into trip
|
~8h 18m 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
498.9 mi into trip
|
~9h 5m 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
509.9 mi into trip
|
~9h 18m 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
$70.63 one way
$141.27 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
180 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $78.90 | $157.80 |
| premium | $4.23 | $85.78 | $171.56 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $97.37 | $194.75 |
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: 180.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 154.7 | 1 | $54.15 | $24.75 |
| Efficient EV | 128.9 | 1 | $45.12 | $20.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 206.3 | 2 | $72.20 | $33.00 |
Gas CO2
180 kg
EV CO2
60 kg (67% 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
Mercedes, TX
Evening in Mercedes on Saturday
Local time
7:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 18 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:05PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Arlington, TX
Evening in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
7:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 10 mph
37% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:05PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:00PM 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
7 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 29m 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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 426.8
View on nps.gov
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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Your route relies on a specific sequence of roads, beginning on East Expressway 83 before transitioning onto I-69C North and Nueces Street. Because the highway share is 0 percent according to your specific data, you will navigate a mix of thoroughfares that demand your constant attention. The drive lacks a singular long, uninterrupted stretch, meaning you will need to stay alert as the road configuration shifts. Expect the personality of the road to evolve as you move away from the border region toward North Texas. Navigating these varied road types requires a steady pace to manage the nearly 8-hour duration comfortably.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 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?
10/10
At 9h 29m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.3 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 515.7 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 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 349 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 453.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
721 ft
67 ft
Total Climb
809 ft
Total Descent
272 ft
Highest Point
721 ft
~331.5 mi in
Elevation Range
654 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.
On the drive from Mercedes, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
Waco
290.1 mi in
|
~5h 35m
About the Cities
Starting in Mercedes, TX
Full guide →Founded 1907
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
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 — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 258 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 35 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 349 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 453.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.0 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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