Llano Estacado Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Post, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h
Distance
288.2 mi
464 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 47m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 7m
3 PM
5h 11m
5 PM
5h 26m
8 PM
4h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Post, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 288-mile drive from Post, Texas, to Arlington, Texas, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours. With 99% of the route on highways, you'll encounter minimal delays and can expect a direct trip through the Great Plains region of Texas. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $44, making it an economical option for a single-day excursion. Given its manageable duration, this route is ideal for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. It's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
144.1 miles from Post, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 84 | 183 mi | 3h 5m |
| US Highway 84 | 74.6 mi | 1h 15m |
| West Freeway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| North Center Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Cooper Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Broadway Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Randol Mill Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 84
— 183 mi, about 3h 5m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,680 veh/hr typical · worst 2,135
Quietest
2 AM
~202 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.3×
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 Post, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on West Main Street
171 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on West Main Street
467 ft
·
23 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 84; US 380
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Broadway Street
4
Continue on US 84
75 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
US Highway 84
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
183 mi
·
3 hr 5 min
·
US 84
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30
15 mi
·
17 min
·
West Freeway
Exit 421
Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 30
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 27A
Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cooper Street
10
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Randol Mill Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto North Center Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Center Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Abram Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Post, TX, to maximize your daylight hours. With only one recommended stop and a long, uninterrupted stretch of 183 miles on US 84, plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically before you leave that longest segment. The estimated fuel cost of $44 is a helpful budget marker, but it's always wise to have a little extra. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace, but staying on schedule on the highway portions will ensure you arrive in Arlington, TX, with ample time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the end of that 183-mile stretch.
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 144.1 miles from Post, TX, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 183 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 63 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.1 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 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 Post, 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 Post, TX
This is one driving day of about 288.2 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Post, 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 US 84 for about 183 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 144.1 miles from Post, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 84 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 183 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.
Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Westbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Eastland County Westbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Callahan County Westbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.2 mi from route
Waterfall Overlook
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Hill Arbor
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.5 mi from route
~6 min detour
Abilene, Texas
Visit websitePlay Street Museum - Fort Worth
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.6 mi from route
~6 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–8 pm
+18179302577
Visit websiteParamount Theatre
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
Abilene, Texas
+13256769620
Visit website12th Armored Division Memorial
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Abilene, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13256776515
Visit websiteWhite Settlement Museum
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
White Settlement, Texas
Hours: 10 am–3 pm
+18172469719
Visit websiteForest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteThe Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Halfway reset
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Abilene, Texas
Hours: 1–5 pm
+13256735050
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 75.2 and 287.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
75.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84 toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
8
258.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 22m in
|
I 30 / West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 421
Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
8
285.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 54m in
Take the exit toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
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 27A
Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
6
286.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 57m in
|
West Randol Mill Road
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
287.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 57m in
|
North Center Street
Turn right onto North Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.47 one way
$78.95 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $44.09 | $88.18 |
| premium | $4.23 | $47.94 | $95.88 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $54.42 | $108.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.5 | 1 | $30.26 | $13.83 |
| Efficient EV | 72.1 | 0 | $25.22 | $11.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.3 | 1 | $40.35 | $18.44 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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
Post, TX
Afternoon in Post on Sunday
Local time
12:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 to 15 mph
19% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:13PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:12PM MDT until July 17 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Destination
Arlington, TX
Afternoon in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
12:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:13PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:12PM MDT until July 17 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
99°F
Albany, TX
144 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
8 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 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?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this trip, with 99% of your travel occurring on major roadways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is an impressive 183 miles, primarily on US 84. This highway-focused profile means you'll be covering ground quickly, with limited need for navigating smaller local roads. The journey is designed for efficiency, allowing you to maintain consistent speeds for extended periods. The character of the drive is defined by its directness and speed, making it a no-fuss transit through the Texan landscape.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 183 mi on US 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 84 and US Highway 84. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 75.2 miles in near US 84.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 288.2 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 75.2 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 258.3 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 285.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,605 ft
604 ft
Total Climb
250 ft
Total Descent
2,251 ft
Highest Point
2,605 ft
Elevation Range
2,001 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Post, TX
Full guide →Founded 1907
Post is a city in the Llano Estacado region of Texas.
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. Total distance: 288.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 183 miles on US 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 75.2 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 258.3 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 285.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 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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