Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Robert Lee, 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
4h 12m
Distance
234.7 mi
378 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 13m
8 AM
4h 39m
10 AM
4h 22m
12 PM
4h 20m
3 PM
4h 23m
5 PM
4h 38m
8 PM
4h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Robert Lee, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Robert Lee, TX to Arlington, TX is 234.7 miles and takes about 4h 12m via I 20, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another area within the same region, primarily on a major interstate. Expect a fairly straightforward trip with minimal complexity, making it a good option if you're looking for efficiency. The estimated fuel cost is around $34, and with a drive time under five hours, it's easily manageable in a single day. This route is ideal for those prioritizing getting to their destination without extensive detours.
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
117.4 miles from Robert Lee, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 137.1 mi | 2h 19m |
| North State Street | 51.4 mi | 56m |
| West Freeway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Tom Landry Freeway | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| Highland Park Road | 11.8 mi | 12m |
| Winters Freeway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| North Center Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Cooper Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 137.1 mi, about 2h 19m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,819 veh/hr typical · worst 2,291
Quietest
2 AM
~200 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.1×
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 Robert Lee, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Loop 229
91 ft
·
4 sec
·
East 7th Street
2
Turn right onto TX 158
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Commerce Street
3
Continue on TX 158
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Highland Park Road
4
Turn left onto US 277
51 mi
·
56 min
·
North State Street
5
Turn left onto US 277
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Danville Drive
6
Take the ramp onto US 277
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 277
7
Merge onto US 83; US 84; US 277
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Winters Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
9
Merge onto I 20
137 mi
·
2 hr 19 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Continue on I 30
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 27A
Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cooper Street
14
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Randol Mill Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Center Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Center Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Abram Street
17
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 12m duration, departing Robert Lee, TX in the morning will allow you to reach Arlington, TX well before evening. You'll only need one stop on this route, so plan it strategically along the 137.1-mile stretch of I 20 where services are readily available. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you get closer to Arlington, and factor in potential traffic delays near the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The relatively short drive time means you have flexibility; however, it's wise to be aware of the $34 fuel cost estimate and ensure you have enough for the journey.
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 117.4 miles from Robert Lee, TX, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.1 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 52 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.4 miles or 2h 5m 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 22m
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 Robert Lee, 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 Robert Lee, TX
This is one driving day of about 234.7 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Robert Lee, 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 137.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 117.4 miles from Robert Lee, 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 137.1 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.
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
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
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
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
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
Forest Park Miniature Railroad
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+18179665509
Visit websiteParamount Theatre
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
Abilene, Texas
+13256769620
Visit websiteAdamson-Spalding Storybook Garden
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Abilene, Texas
Visit website12th Armored Division Memorial
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Abilene, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+13256776515
Visit websitePlay Street Museum - Fort Worth
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–8 pm
+18179302577
Visit websiteThe Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
Abilene, Texas
Hours: 1–5 pm
+13256735050
Visit websiteFort Worth Herd
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: 11:30 am–4 pm
+18173364373
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 233.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
TX 158 / Commerce Street
Turn right onto TX 158 / Commerce Street
Navigation decision point
8
204.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 34m 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
232.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 7m 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
233.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m in
|
West Randol Mill Road
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
233.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 10m in
|
North Center Street
Turn right onto North Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.15 one way
$64.29 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $35.91 | $71.81 |
| premium | $4.23 | $39.04 | $78.08 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $44.32 | $88.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.4 | 0 | $24.64 | $11.27 |
| Efficient EV | 58.7 | 0 | $20.54 | $9.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.9 | 1 | $32.86 | $15.02 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Robert Lee, TX
Evening in Robert Lee on Monday
Local time
6:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 5 to 10 mph
14% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:53AM CDT until July 19 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Evening in Arlington on Monday
Local time
6:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 10 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:53AM CDT until July 19 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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
7 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
4h 12m 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?
You'll spend about 71% of this 234.7-mile route on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 137.1 miles on I 20. This means you'll experience primarily highway driving for the majority of your trip. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface streets, likely marked by an increase in exits and local traffic, as you approach Arlington. The substantial highway share suggests long stretches of consistent speed before you reach your destination.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and North State Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 158 / Commerce Street.
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 234.7 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (TX 158 / Commerce Street): Navigation decision point; at 204.8 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.3 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
2,264 ft
546 ft
Total Climb
1,073 ft
Total Descent
2,292 ft
Highest Point
2,264 ft
~50.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,718 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Robert Lee, 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 4h 12m. Total distance: 234.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137.1 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 158 / Commerce Street): Navigation decision point; at 204.8 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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