Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Scenic Oaks, TX to Arlington, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 19m
Distance
289.5 mi
466 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 6m
★
6 AM
5h 20m
8 AM
5h 47m
10 AM
5h 29m
12 PM
5h 27m
3 PM
5h 31m
5 PM
5h 45m
8 PM
5h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scenic Oaks, TX
Jacob Evans
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Scenic Oaks to Arlington is 289.5 miles and takes about 5h 19m via Purple Heart Trail and I-35W, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, passing through the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, so it's not a high-speed dash. It's a straightforward trip, good for a single day if you're looking to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
144.7 miles from Scenic Oaks, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 188.3 mi | 3h 18m |
| I 35W | 45.1 mi | 47m |
| Anderson Loop | 16.7 mi | 17m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| I 10 | 7.2 mi | 7m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Cooper Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 188.3 mi, about 3h 18m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 100 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,362 veh/hr typical · worst 4,075
Quietest
2 AM
~579 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 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 Scenic Oaks, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on Ranch Oaks
146 ft
·
10 sec
·
Ranch Oaks
2
Turn left onto Ranch Creek
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ranch Creek
3
Turn left onto Ranch Land View
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Ranch Land View
4
At end of road, turn right onto Interstate 10 West
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
6
Merge onto I 10; US 87
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
10
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Loop 1604 West
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Loop 1604 East
12
Merge onto Loop 1604
17 mi
·
17 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 35 North, I 35 South: Austin, San Antonio
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Austin
Use the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 35
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 35
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the right lane.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the slight left lane.
26
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Interstate 20
30
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
33
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the left lane.
34
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
35
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
36
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 19m duration and mostly surface roads, an early morning departure from Scenic Oaks is your best bet for a single-day trip. Breaking up the 289.5 miles is easy since you'll be on surface roads for much of it; plan for a stop around the halfway point. Watch for traffic signals and local speed limits, especially as you get closer to Arlington. With a fuel cost estimated at $42, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise, as services might be more spaced out on the Purple Heart Trail segment.
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 144.7 miles from Scenic Oaks, TX, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 64 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.7 miles or 2h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 19m
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 Scenic Oaks, 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 Scenic Oaks, TX
This is one driving day of about 289.5 miles and 5h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Scenic Oaks, 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 188.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
145 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 144.7 miles from Scenic Oaks, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 188.3 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.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Children's Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.7 mi from route
~2 min detour
San Marcos, Texas
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+15123938400
Visit websiteCalaboose African American History Museum
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
San Marcos, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15123938421
Visit websiteAnimal World & Snake Farm Zoo
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+18304024603
Visit websiteBicentennial Park
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Crowley, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+18172972201
Visit websiteGet Out of My Escape Room
5.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.6 mi from route
~7 min detour
Hill Country Village, Texas
Hours: Closed
+12104753174
Visit websiteThe Sophienburg Museum & Archives
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+18306291572
Visit websiteTube Chute
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
3.2 mi from route
~8 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
+18302214000
Visit websiteCascade Caverns
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~9 min detour
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
Boerne, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+18307558080
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 245 decision points cluster between mile 9.6 and 283.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward Frontage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
7
27.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
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.
Toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
7
28.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 North: Austin
7
227.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m 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
8
283.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m 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
$42.00 one way
$84.00 round trip
$3.69/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.08 | $46.54 | $93.07 |
| premium | $4.43 | $50.51 | $101.03 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $63.82 | $127.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.9 | 1 | $30.40 | $13.90 |
| Efficient EV | 72.4 | 0 | $25.33 | $11.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.8 | 1 | $40.53 | $18.53 |
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
Scenic Oaks, TX
Late night in Scenic Oaks on Friday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
SSW 5 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 26 at 9:59PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 26 at 7:27PM CDT until August 27 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night in Arlington on Friday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNW 0 to 5 mph
22% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 26 at 9:59PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 26 at 7:27PM CDT until August 27 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
74°F
Troy, TX
145 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
3 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 19m 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.
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 199.6
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 29.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only 22% of it on highways. You'll spend most of your time on local streets, with a long stretch of 188.3 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. The highway portion, I-35W, will likely involve merging with urban traffic as you approach Arlington. Be prepared for more frequent stops and lower average speeds for the majority of your drive.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 9.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 289.5 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 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,351 ft
555 ft
Total Climb
482 ft
Total Descent
1,229 ft
Highest Point
1,351 ft
Elevation Range
796 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 Scenic Oaks, TX and Arlington, TX, road signs point toward Austin and San Antonio.
Austin
27.8 mi in
|
~36m
San Antonio
28.1 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Starting in Scenic Oaks, 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 5h 19m. Total distance: 289.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 39 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 39 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 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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