Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Needville, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 25m
Distance
295.9 mi
476 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 12m
★
6 AM
5h 25m
8 AM
5h 52m
10 AM
5h 35m
12 PM
5h 32m
3 PM
5h 36m
5 PM
5h 51m
8 PM
5h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Needville, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Needville, TX to Arlington, TX is 295.9 miles and takes about 5h 25m via North Freeway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another area of the Great Plains. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making for a straightforward trip. Given the relatively short duration, it's easily manageable as a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed start or a prompt arrival.
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
147.9 miles from Needville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Freeway | 213.7 mi | 3h 40m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.1 mi | 16m |
| Southwest Freeway | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| West Sam Houston Tollway South | 12.2 mi | 14m |
| West Sam Houston Tollway North | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| TX-36 | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| South Collins Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 213.7 mi, about 3h 40m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,315 veh/hr typical · worst 3,925
Quietest
2 AM
~414 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 48 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 Needville, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on FM 1236
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
School Street
2
Turn left onto TX 36
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
TX-36
3
Turn right onto FM 2218
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Pleak Road
4
Turn right onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 69 North, US 59 North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 69; US 59
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 115
Toward Sam Houston Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto BW 8
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Sam Houston Parkway South
10
Continue on SHT
12 mi
·
14 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto SHT
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto SHT
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto SHT
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on BW 8
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Sam Houston Parkway West
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
1.5 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 45
214 mi
·
3 hr 40 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 276A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 20
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 20
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 451
Toward Collins Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Interstate 20
23
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 295.9-mile drive, consider leaving Needville in the morning to avoid the heaviest traffic. With a driving duration of about 5 hours and 25 minutes, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. The $43 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting; be sure to fill up before leaving Needville, as it's the longest stretch to a major urban center. While there's only one recommended stop, you'll find plenty of services along the main highways, especially on the North Freeway and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway segments.
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 147.9 miles from Needville, TX, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 213.7 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 65 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.9 miles or 2h 46m 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 24m
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 Needville, 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 Needville, TX
This is one driving day of about 295.9 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Needville, 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 213.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 147.9 miles from Needville, 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 213.7 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
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
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
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
Service Plaza
0.3 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
1.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Escape Again Rooms
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Sugar Land, Texas
Hours: 4–10 pm
+18329994572
Visit websiteFort Bend Children's Discovery Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Sugar Land, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+18327422800
Visit websiteDennis Johnston Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Spring, Texas
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+17132740930
Visit websiteJumping World
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
First break
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 1–9 pm
+17139967811
Visit websiteBrazos River Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
3.4 mi from route
~8 min detour
Sugar Land, Texas
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+12812752825
Visit websiteCullinan Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~9 min detour
First break
3.4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Sugar Land, Texas
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+12812752825
Visit websiteCandy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~10 min detour
Early stretch
3.8 mi from route
~10 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
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 26.2 and 291 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
26.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward Sam Houston Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 115
Toward Sam Houston Tollway
7
53.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
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.
Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
7
53.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 45 North: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
7
268.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 51m 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
7
291 mi into trip
|
~5h 16m 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
$40.53 one way
$81.06 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $45.27 | $90.54 |
| premium | $4.23 | $49.22 | $98.44 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $55.87 | $111.74 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.00
Sam Houston Tollway
(25 mi)
$2.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.8 | 1 | $31.07 | $14.20 |
| Efficient EV | 74 | 0 | $25.89 | $11.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.4 | 1 | $41.43 | $18.94 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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
Needville, TX
Evening in Needville on Monday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 9:42AM CDT until July 19 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:33AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Evening in Arlington on Monday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
98°F
Sunny
S 5 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 9:42AM CDT until July 19 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:33AM 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
4 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
5h 25m 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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 85% of the miles on major roadways like the North Freeway, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, and Southwest Freeway. You'll experience a long stretch of 213.7 miles on the North Freeway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a high density of exits and merges as you navigate through urban and suburban areas for a significant portion of the drive.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 213.7 mi on North Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.2 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 18 significant decision points across 295.9 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 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
610 ft
76 ft
Total Climb
972 ft
Total Descent
460 ft
Highest Point
610 ft
~274.7 mi in
Elevation Range
534 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.
Between Needville, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Sam Houston Tollway and Downtown.
Sam Houston Tollway
26.2 mi in
|
~35m
Downtown
53.5 mi in
|
~1h 6m
About the Cities
Starting in Needville, 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 25m. Total distance: 295.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 213.7 miles on North Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.00 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. 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.
Yes — we found about 36 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 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.
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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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