Nurillo, TX to Arlington, TX is 494.8 miles and takes about 9h 8m via I 69C, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with a fuel budget near $75 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive will take you across the vast Great Plains region of Texas. While it's possible to complete in one day, splitting it over two recommended days allows for a more relaxed pace. This route is a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B within the state.
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
247.4 miles from Nurillo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69C
143.6 mi
2h 37m
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
— 143.6 mi, about 2h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nurillo, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on South Cesar Chavez Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Cesar Chavez Road
2
Turn left onto East Canton Road
1.8 mi·4 min·East Canton Road
3
Turn right
97 ft·2 sec
4
Turn right
0.2 mi·30 sec
5
At end of road, turn right onto South Expressway 281
0.3 mi·49 sec·South Expressway 281
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 69C North, US 281 North
7
Merge onto I 69C; US 281
73 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281
70 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 69C; US 281
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
11 mi·14 min·Nueces Street
10
Turn right onto TX 72
32 mi·39 min·King David Drive
11
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
12
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
13
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi·10 min·Helena Road
14
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi·25 min·State Highway 80
15
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi·2 min·South Nixon Avenue
16
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi·35 min·State Highway 80 North
17
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
18
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·South Colorado Street
19
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·16 sec·United States Highway 183
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
21
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi·54 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 35 North: WacoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 35
65 mi·1 hr 6 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi·47 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
29
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
33
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
35
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
36
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
37
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
38
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
39
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 9-hour duration, consider breaking this 494.8-mile drive into two days to make it more comfortable. Aim to leave early in the morning if you plan to tackle it in one go. With only 2 recommended stops, plan your breaks strategically to coincide with potential rest areas or towns along I 69C. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 143.6-mile stretch on I 69C, as services might be less frequent.
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 247.4 miles from Nurillo, TX, or about 4h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.6 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 109 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 247.4 miles or 4h 45m 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 247.4 miles or 4h 45m
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 7h 59m
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 Nurillo, 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 Nurillo, TX
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Arlington, TX
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Nurillo, 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 143.6 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 328.1 and 489 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
328.1 mi into trip|~6h 9m 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
432.8 mi into trip|~7h 57m 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
478 mi into trip|~8h 44m 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
478.3 mi into trip|~8h 45m 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
489 mi into trip|~8h 57m 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
$74.77 one way
$149.53 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg173 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$81.84
$163.67
premium
$4.54
$88.34
$176.69
diesel
$5.61
$109.25
$218.49
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: 173.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
148.4
1
$51.95
$23.75
Efficient EV
123.7
1
$43.30
$19.79
EV Truck/SUV
197.9
2
$69.27
$31.67
Gas CO2
173 kg
EV CO2
58 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Nurillo, TX
Night
in Nurillo on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Night
in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
9:45 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
37 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 8m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 392.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 65% of the journey on major roadways. You'll encounter stretches on I 69C, the Purple Heart Trail, and the Pickle Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 143.6 miles on I 69C, so be prepared for a significant period of consistent driving. Expect a fairly direct and efficient journey, typical of a route dominated by interstates and parkways.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 143.6 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 328.1 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 24 significant decision points across 494.8 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 328.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 432.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 478 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 Nurillo, 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 143.6 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 247 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 328.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 432.8 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 478 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.3 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.
