Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Nassau Bay, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 5m
Distance
280.3 mi
451 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
16 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 52m
★
6 AM
5h 6m
8 AM
5h 33m
10 AM
5h 15m
12 PM
5h 12m
3 PM
5h 16m
5 PM
5h 31m
8 PM
4h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nassau Bay, TX
John Robertson
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Nassau Bay to Arlington is 280.3 miles and takes about 5h 5m via North Freeway, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas and the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward path for a single day of driving. Given its mostly highway profile, it's a practical choice if you need to get from the Houston area to North Texas efficiently. You'll spend most of your time on major freeways, so plan for steady progress.
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
140.2 miles from Nassau Bay, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Freeway | 226.9 mi | 3h 57m |
| Gulf Freeway | 22.5 mi | 26m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.1 mi | 16m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| South Collins Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| East NASA Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| NASA Parkway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Abram Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 226.9 mi, about 3h 57m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,183 veh/hr typical · worst 3,862
Quietest
2 AM
~397 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 100 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 Nassau Bay, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on this road
14 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto San Sebastian Lane
476 ft
·
25 sec
·
San Sebastian Lane
3
Turn right onto Point Lookout Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Point Lookout Drive
4
Turn left onto NASA 1
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
East NASA Parkway
5
Continue on NASA 1
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
NASA Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward Sarah Deel Drive, NASA Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto East NASA Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East NASA Parkway
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on NASA Parkway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
NASA Parkway
9
Turn slight right
171 ft
·
6 sec
Use the right lane.
10
Turn slight right onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 45 North
12
Merge onto I 45
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 45
227 mi
·
3 hr 57 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 276A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 20
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 20
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 451
Toward Collins Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Interstate 20
19
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Nassau Bay to beat potential traffic, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a fuel cost estimated at $41, it's wise to fill up before leaving or at a convenient point along the North Freeway. Since this is a single-day trip, you won't need to plan for an overnight stay, offering flexibility. Keep an eye on the Lyndon B Johnson Freeway as you get closer to Arlington, as it can experience heavy congestion during peak hours.
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 140.2 miles from Nassau Bay, TX, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.9 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 62 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.2 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
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 Nassau Bay, 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 Nassau Bay, TX
This is one driving day of about 280.3 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Nassau Bay, 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 North Freeway for about 226.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
140 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 140.2 miles from Nassau Bay, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 226.9 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
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Space Center Houston
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12812442100
Visit websiteThe Orange Show Center for Visionary Art
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
First break
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+17139266368
Visit websiteBreak Free Escape Room
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Webster, Texas
Hours: 12–9 pm
+12812013556
Visit websiteLeague Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
League City, Texas
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+12815541180
Visit websiteCarl Barton Jr Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~9 min detour
Early stretch
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 6 am–8:30 pm
+19365223000
Visit websiteCidercade Houston
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~9 min detour
First break
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 10 am–12 pm
+13462417524
Visit websiteBounce N Play Seabrook
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~11 min detour
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
Seabrook, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+13466338320
Visit websiteUnion Station
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~10 min detour
First break
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Houston, Texas
+17132598070
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 275.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward Sarah Deel Drive, NASA Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Sarah Deel Drive, NASA Parkway
5
3.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 45 / Gulf Freeway
Merge onto I 45 / Gulf Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
253.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 276A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
5
254.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m in
|
I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
275.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 56m in
Take the exit toward Collins Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451
Toward Collins Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.08 one way
$84.16 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $46.56 | $93.12 |
| premium | $4.57 | $50.38 | $100.75 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $69.26 | $138.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
16 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Gigahub HOU Monroe Road, Houston, TX
Houston, TX
BP_PULSE
40 DCFC
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Houston, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Houston, TX - 3333 Telephone Road - Tesla Supercharger
Houston, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
Houston, TX - Telephone Road - Tesla Supercharger
Houston, TX
Tesla
15 DCFC
Webster, TX - Tesla Supercharger
Webster, TX
Tesla
12 DCFC
Webster Center
Webster, TX
eVgo Network
6 DCFC
Hobby Express Exxon Truck Stop
Houston, TX
GRAVITI_ENERGY
4 DCFC
Chase Bank - 1102 E Southmore Ave
Pasadena, TX
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
Tesla: 4
ChargePoint Network: 3
eVgo Network: 2
Electrify America: 1
EV Connect: 1
Non-Networked: 1
BP_PULSE: 1
GRAVITI_ENERGY: 1
NOODOE: 1
EVBOLT: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.1 | 1 | $29.43 | $13.45 |
| Efficient EV | 70.1 | 0 | $24.53 | $11.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.1 | 1 | $39.24 | $17.94 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Origin
Nassau Bay, TX
Late night in Nassau Bay on Friday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Clear
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night in Arlington on Friday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
58°F
Italy, TX
140 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with a 95% highway share. You'll encounter 226.9 miles on the North Freeway, which is the longest continuous stretch of any single road. After the main highway sections, you'll transition to surface roads for the final few miles into Arlington. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic typical of major urban freeway systems.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 226.9 mi on North Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and Gulf Freeway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 280.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles (I 45 / Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 253.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
631 ft
12 ft
Total Climb
675 ft
Total Descent
83 ft
Highest Point
631 ft
~260.3 mi in
Elevation Range
619 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Nassau Bay, TX
Full guide →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 5h 5m. Total distance: 280.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 226.9 miles on North Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles (I 45 / Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 253.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 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, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Arlington, TX
More trips to Arlington, TX
Explore more options from Nassau Bay, TX or browse trips ending in Arlington, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.