This 180.7-mile journey from Round Rock, TX to Arlington, TX is best tackled as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 14 minutes. You'll navigate using a mix of roads including the Purple Heart Trail, I-35W, and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, with about 29% of the drive on highways. Given the relatively short duration and estimated fuel cost of $27, this route is an efficient option for a day trip, allowing for flexibility. The drive traverses the Great Plains region in Texas, offering a straightforward travel experience without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90.3 miles from Round Rock, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Round Rock, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on South Mays Street
467 ft·18 sec·South Mays Street
2
Turn left onto West Liberty Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·West Liberty Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto Round Rock Avenue
0.3 mi·36 sec·Round Rock Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Interstate 35
0.3 mi·23 sec·North Interstate 35
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 35 North
6
Merge onto I 35
78 mi·1 hr 20 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi·47 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
16
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
21
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
22
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
For this 1-day, 3-hour drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight and minimize potential traffic, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where to pause. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest uninterrupted stretch is over 111 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, and plan your refueling accordingly. The estimated fuel cost is around $27, so budgeting for this is straightforward.
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 90.3 miles from Round Rock, TX, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.1 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 40 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.3 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 34m
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 Round Rock, 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 Round Rock, TX
This is one driving day of about 180.7 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Round Rock, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 111.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 118.7 and 176.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
118.7 mi into trip|~2h 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
163.8 mi into trip|~2h 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
164.2 mi into trip|~2h 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
174.9 mi into trip|~3h 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
6
176.4 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157 / South Cooper Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.30 one way
$54.61 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$29.89
$59.77
premium
$4.54
$32.26
$64.53
diesel
$5.61
$39.90
$79.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.2
0
$18.97
$8.67
Efficient EV
45.2
0
$15.81
$7.23
EV Truck/SUV
72.3
0
$25.30
$11.56
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Round Rock, TX
Late night
in Round Rock on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
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.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 14m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 87.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for much of this 180.7-mile route. While 29% of your travel will be on highways, the majority involves navigating local roads and trails, including a significant 111.1-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail. This suggests a driving experience that requires more attention to turns and speed adjustments compared to a pure interstate cruise. The profile indicates a dynamic route that may shift between more open stretches and more intricate local road segments as you progress towards Arlington.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.1 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 118.7 miles in near I 35W.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 180.7 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 118.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 163.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 180.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.1 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 118.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 163.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
