North Alamo, TX to Arlington, TX is 498.7 miles and takes about 9h 14m via I 69C, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with a fuel budget near $75 and an overnight stay recommended. This drive primarily stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region on both ends. It's a straightforward highway-focused journey that offers a direct path north. Given the nearly 10-hour estimated drive time, breaking this trip into two days is a sensible approach for a more relaxed experience.
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
249.3 miles from North Alamo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69C
144.5 mi
2h 38m
Purple Heart Trail
97.7 mi
1h 39m
Pickle Parkway
58.5 mi
54m
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
Nueces Street
11.1 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
I 69C
— 144.5 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Alamo, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on this road
256 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Cesar Chavez Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·North Cesar Chavez Road
3
Turn left onto East Eldora Road
1.3 mi·3 min·East Eldora Road
4
Turn right onto FM 1426
0.5 mi·59 sec·Raul Longoria Road
5
Turn left onto FM 3461
0.8 mi·1 min·West Nolana Loop
6
Turn right onto North Veterans Boulevard
1.0 mi·1 min·North Veterans Boulevard
7
Continue on South I Road
1.5 mi·2 min·South I Road
8
Turn left onto East Wisconsin Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·East Wisconsin Road
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 69C North, US 281 North
10
Merge onto I 69C; US 281
74 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281
70 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 69C; US 281
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
11 mi·14 min·Nueces Street
13
Turn right onto TX 72
32 mi·39 min·King David Drive
14
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
15
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
16
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi·10 min·Helena Road
17
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi·25 min·State Highway 80
18
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi·2 min·South Nixon Avenue
19
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi·35 min·State Highway 80 North
20
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
21
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·South Colorado Street
22
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·16 sec·United States Highway 183
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
24
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi·54 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 35 North: WacoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto I 35
65 mi·1 hr 6 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi·47 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
31
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
32
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
36
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
38
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
39
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
40
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
41
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
42
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of over 9 hours, this trip is best tackled over two days. Consider departing North Alamo in the morning to cover approximately half the distance, allowing for a comfortable stop. You’ll need to budget around $75 for fuel, so keep an eye on gas prices as you travel. Watch for the transition between different main roads like I 69C and the Purple Heart Trail, as these may have varying speed limits and traffic patterns. Planning your overnight stop roughly halfway will break up the 498.7 miles nicely.
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 249.3 miles from North Alamo, TX, or about 4h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.5 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 110 miles or 2h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 249.3 miles or 4h 50m 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 249.3 miles or 4h 50m
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 5m
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 North Alamo, 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 North Alamo, TX
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Arlington, TX
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from North Alamo, 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 I 69C for about 144.5 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 332 and 492.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
332 mi into trip|~6h 15m 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
436.7 mi into trip|~8h 3m 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
481.8 mi into trip|~8h 50m 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
7
482.2 mi into trip|~8h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
8
492.9 mi into trip|~9h 3m 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
$75.35 one way
$150.71 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg175 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$82.48
$164.96
premium
$4.54
$89.04
$178.08
diesel
$5.61
$110.11
$220.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$205–$315
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 174.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
149.6
1
$52.36
$23.94
Efficient EV
124.7
1
$43.64
$19.95
EV Truck/SUV
199.5
2
$69.82
$31.92
Gas CO2
174 kg
EV CO2
58 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
North Alamo, TX
Night
in North Alamo on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Night
in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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.
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
36 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 14m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 64% of the journey utilizing major highways. You'll encounter stretches on I 69C, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, indicating a mix of interstate and significant state routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll face is 144.5 miles on I 69C, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. The road character is likely to be consistent for much of the trip, emphasizing efficient travel over varied scenery.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.5 mi on I 69C.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69C and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 332 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 26 significant decision points across 498.7 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 332 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 436.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 481.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from North Alamo, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 144.5 miles on I 69C. 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 249 miles on day one.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 332 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 436.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 481.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.5 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.
