Monahans, TX to Arlington, TX is 370.4 miles and takes about 6h 25m via I 20, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, primarily traversing Texas. Expect a mostly highway experience, making it a straightforward and efficient drive. With a recommended one-day drive time, it's a solid option for getting from West Texas to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex efficiently.
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
185.2 miles from Monahans, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
337 mi
5h 40m
West Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
Tom Landry Freeway
12.3 mi
15m
East Sealy Avenue
3 mi
5m
North Center Street
1 mi
2m
North Cooper Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi
<1m
West Abram Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 337 mi, about 5h 40m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Monahans, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on this road
104 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto TX 18
178 ft·6 sec·South Main Avenue
3
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
3.0 mi·5 min·East Sealy Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 20 East: Odessa
5
Merge onto I 20
337 mi·5 hr 40 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30
15 mi·17 min·West Freeway
Exit 421Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 30
12 mi·15 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 27AToward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Cooper Street
10
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi·49 sec·West Randol Mill Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto North Center Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Center Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 25m estimated drive time, leaving Monahans in the morning will allow you to reach Arlington with plenty of daylight remaining. The $54 fuel cost is a reasonable estimate, but it's always wise to top off your tank before leaving Monahans, as services can be more spread out in West Texas. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, so you have flexibility in scheduling your departure. Plan for one stop along the way to stretch your legs and grab a snack; the long stretch on I 20 means you might not see many service areas for a significant portion 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185.2 miles from Monahans, TX, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 337 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 81 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.2 miles or 3h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 16m
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 Monahans, 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 Monahans, TX
This is one driving day of about 370.4 miles and 6h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Monahans, 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 I 20 for about 337 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 369.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 18 / South Main Avenue
Turn right onto TX 18 / South Main Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
340.5 mi into trip|~5h 47m 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
8
368 mi into trip|~6h 19m 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
6
369 mi into trip|~6h 22m in|West Randol Mill Road
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
369.4 mi into trip|~6h 22m in|North Center Street
Turn right onto North Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.73 one way
$101.47 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$56.67
$113.34
premium
$4.23
$61.61
$123.22
diesel
$4.80
$69.94
$139.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.1
1
$38.89
$17.78
Efficient EV
92.6
1
$32.41
$14.82
EV Truck/SUV
148.2
1
$51.86
$23.71
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Monahans, TX
Late night
in Monahans on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:05AM CDT until July 17 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:58AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:05AM CDT until July 17 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:58AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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
6 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
6h 25m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with a 98% highway share. You'll cover 337 miles on I 20, which means extended stretches of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads, specifically West Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway, will likely occur as you approach the Arlington area. Be prepared for a high volume of exits and potential merging traffic as you near the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 337 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and West Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 18 / South Main Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 370.4 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (TX 18 / South Main Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 340.5 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 368 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 6h 25m. Total distance: 370.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 337 miles on I 20. 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 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 18 / South Main Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 340.5 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 368 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 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.
