Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Palacios, 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
6h 22m
Distance
320.3 mi
515 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 10m
★
6 AM
6h 22m
8 AM
6h 47m
10 AM
6h 31m
12 PM
6h 29m
3 PM
6h 32m
5 PM
6h 46m
8 PM
6h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palacios, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Palacios, TX to Arlington, TX is 320.3 miles and takes about 6h 22m via TX 71, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route cuts through the Great Plains region, transitioning from the coastal plains of Texas to the more inland areas. Expect a mix of driving conditions as you cover the 320.3 miles. It's a manageable drive that can be completed in a single day, making it convenient for a quick trip. The overall feel is practical, moving you efficiently from the coast toward the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
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
160.2 miles from Palacios, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 71 | 87.1 mi | 1h 50m |
| North Travis Avenue | 48.6 mi | 55m |
| South Main Street | 48 mi | 57m |
| I 35W | 45.1 mi | 47m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 33 mi | 33m |
| North US Highway 77 | 17.3 mi | 19m |
| 1st Street | 12.5 mi | 18m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
TX 71
— 87.1 mi, about 1h 50m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,924 veh/hr typical · worst 2,733
Quietest
2 AM
~303 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Palacios, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Ritchie Avenue
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
Ritchie Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 304
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street
3
Turn right onto TX 35
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Henderson Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto TX 35
12 mi
·
18 min
·
1st Street
5
Turn slight left onto TX 71
61 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
TX 71
6
Turn left onto TX 71
446 ft
·
8 sec
·
I-10 Service Road
7
Take the ramp onto TX 71
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
TX 71
8
Merge onto I 10; TX 71
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10; TX 71
9
Take the exit onto TX 71
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
10
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
25 mi
·
25 min
·
TX 71
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 77: Giddings, Schulenburg
12
Turn straight onto East State Highway 71 Bypass
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
East State Highway 71 Bypass
13
Turn right onto US 77
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Jefferson Street
14
Continue on US 77
17 mi
·
19 min
·
North US Highway 77
15
Continue on US 77
48 mi
·
57 min
·
South Main Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 77; US 190; TX 36
17
Turn right onto US 77
49 mi
·
55 min
·
North Travis Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto Circle Road
215 ft
·
11 sec
·
Circle Road
19
Continue on Circle Road
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Circle Road
20
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
21
Take the ramp
444 ft
·
10 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 77 North
22
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 77
23
Merge onto I 35; US 77
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the right lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the slight left lane.
28
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Interstate 20
32
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
34
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
35
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the left lane.
36
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
37
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
38
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 22m estimated drive time, leaving Palacios in the morning should allow you to reach Arlington with daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in where and when you choose to break up the 320.3-mile journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 87.1-mile stretch on TX 71, as services might be spaced out. The fuel cost is estimated at $47, so factor that into your budget. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, you could consider an overnight stop around the halfway point.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 160.2 miles from Palacios, TX, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.1 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 70 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.2 miles or 3h 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 5h 16m
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 Palacios, 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 Palacios, TX
This is one driving day of about 320.3 miles and 6h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Palacios, 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 TX 71 for about 87.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
160 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 160.2 miles from Palacios, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before TX 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.1 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.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
1 mi from route
290 Travel Plaza
1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.1 mi from route
Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area
2.1 mi from route
Colorado County Westbound Rest Area
2.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Bicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 255 decision points cluster between mile 172.1 and 314.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
172.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 36m in
|
US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Turn right onto US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
258.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 11m 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
303.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 58m 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
303.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 59m 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
314.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 11m 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
$43.87 one way
$87.74 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
112 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $49.00 | $98.01 |
| premium | $4.23 | $53.28 | $106.56 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $60.48 | $120.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.1 | 1 | $33.63 | $15.37 |
| Efficient EV | 80.1 | 0 | $28.03 | $12.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.1 | 1 | $44.84 | $20.50 |
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Origin
Palacios, TX
Morning in Palacios on Monday
Local time
9:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
S 15 mph
14% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:03AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning in Arlington on Monday
Local time
9:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:03AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
96°F
Troy, TX
160 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
1 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
6h 22m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 220.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This 320.3-mile drive is about 50% highway. You'll spend a significant portion of your time cruising on TX 71, which accounts for the longest stretch at 87.1 miles. The profile is mixed highway and surface roads, meaning you'll likely notice the transition from higher-speed driving to slower, potentially more built-up areas as you approach your destination. Be prepared for varying traffic patterns as you move between these different road types.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.1 mi on TX 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 172.1 miles in near US 77 / North Travis Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 25 significant decision points across 320.3 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 172.1 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 258.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 303.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
711 ft
13 ft
Total Climb
790 ft
Total Descent
199 ft
Highest Point
711 ft
~297.4 mi in
Elevation Range
697 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 Palacios, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Schulenburg.
Austin
76.3 mi in
|
~1h 46m
|
via TX 71
Schulenburg
101.9 mi in
|
~2h 12m
About the Cities
Starting in Palacios, TX
Full guide →Founded 1903
Palacios is a city of 4,400 people (2020) on Matagorda Bay in the Gulf Coast region of Texas, 1½-2 hours southwest of Houston. It is especially noted for birding opportunities.
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 6h 22m. Total distance: 320.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.1 miles on TX 71. 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 172.1 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 258.4 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 303.5 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 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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