Van Zandt County Westbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from New London, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 46m
Distance
150.7 mi
243 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 35m
★
6 AM
2h 46m
8 AM
3h 8m
10 AM
2h 54m
12 PM
2h 51m
3 PM
2h 55m
5 PM
3h 7m
8 PM
2h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New London, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
New London, TX to Arlington, TX is 150.7 miles and takes about 2h 46m via I 20, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward trip. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a relatively quick and efficient way to get between these two points. Plan for this to be a single-day excursion, as the distance and duration are quite manageable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.3 miles from New London, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 83.8 mi | 1h 23m |
| US 80 | 18.9 mi | 20m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 16.9 mi | 19m |
| Main Street | 11.1 mi | 15m |
| East R L Thornton Freeway | 7.6 mi | 9m |
| State Highway 135 North | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Spur 557 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| North Center Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 83.8 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New London, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Burnett Street
295 ft
·
15 sec
·
Burnett Street
2
Turn right onto Phillips Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Phillips Street
3
Turn right onto TX 42
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Main Street
4
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 135
228 ft
·
5 sec
·
TX 135
5
Enter roundabout onto TX 135
217 ft
·
3 sec
·
State Highway 135 North
6
Continue on TX 135
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 135 North
7
Turn left onto I-20 Access Road
94 ft
·
2 sec
·
I-20 Access Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 20 West: Dallas
9
Merge onto I 20
84 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 557
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Spur 557
Exit 499A
Toward Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
11
Continue on US 80
19 mi
·
20 min
·
US 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 30; US 67
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 30
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 28B
Toward FM 157: Collins Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto Wet N Wild Way
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Wet N Wild Way
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto North Center Street
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
North Center Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Abram Street
18
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 46m drive time, leaving in the morning from New London is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Arlington with plenty of afternoon time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $23, this trip is easy to plan. The 83.8-mile stretch on I 20 means you can comfortably cover a significant portion before needing to think about a break. Watch for the transition from I 20 to US 80 and then to Tom Landry Freeway as you get closer to Arlington; this change in road designation often signals increased traffic and more frequent exits.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.3 miles from New London, TX, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.8 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.3 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
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 New London, 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 New London, TX
This is one driving day of about 150.7 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from New London, 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 83.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.3 miles from New London, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.8 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.
Van Zandt County Eastbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Winona Westbound Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Winona Eastbound Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Texas Best Smokehouse Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
1.1 mi from route
City Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websiteXcape Adventures
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Mesquite, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19729822073
Visit websiteRipley's Believe It or Not!
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteLouis Tussaud's Palace of Wax
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
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 0.1 and 148 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Phillips Street
Turn right onto Phillips Street
Navigation decision point
6
11.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
TX 135 / State Highway 135 North
Enter roundabout onto TX 135 / State Highway 135 North
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
16.3 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
100.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
Spur 557
Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 557 toward Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 499A
Toward Dallas
7
148 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward FM 157: Collins Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28B
Toward FM 157: Collins Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.77 one way
$45.54 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $24.92 | $49.85 |
| premium | $4.54 | $26.91 | $53.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.27 | $66.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.82 | $7.23 |
| Efficient EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.19 | $6.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.10 | $9.64 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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.
Origin
New London, TX
Afternoon in New London on Tuesday
Local time
12:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Afternoon in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
12:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
NNE 5 to 10 mph
16% chance
Live forecast
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
33 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
2h 46m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 88% highway, meaning you'll be on major interstates for the vast majority of the 150.7 miles. The longest continuous stretch on I 20 covers 83.8 miles, so expect long periods of consistent cruising. You'll transition to US 80 and then Tom Landry Freeway as you approach Arlington, which typically means an increase in exit density and potential for urban merging traffic. Surface roads make up the remaining 12% of the drive.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.8 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Phillips Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 150.7 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 0.1 miles (Phillips Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles (TX 135 / State Highway 135 North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 16.3 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 New London, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas along the way.
Dallas
100.2 mi in
|
~1h 46m
|
via Spur 557
About the Cities
Starting in New London, 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 2h 46m. Total distance: 150.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.8 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Phillips Street): Navigation decision point; at 11.3 miles (TX 135 / State Highway 135 North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 16.3 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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