Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Schulenburg, 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 29m
Distance
235.7 mi
379 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 16m
★
6 AM
4h 29m
8 AM
4h 56m
10 AM
4h 38m
12 PM
4h 36m
3 PM
4h 40m
5 PM
4h 54m
8 PM
4h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Schulenburg, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 237-mile journey from Schulenburg, Texas, to Arlington, Texas, is planned for a 4-hour and 5-minute drive, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, including Kessler Avenue and South Jefferson Street, before transitioning to Highway 77. With a projected fuel cost of $36, this route offers an economical option for travelers. The drive traverses the Great Plains region throughout, offering a consistent landscape. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive and ensure a comfortable experience.
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
117.8 miles from Schulenburg, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Kessler Avenue | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
North Travis Avenue
— 48.6 mi, about 55m
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 Schulenburg, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on US 90
105 ft
·
6 sec
·
Summit Street
2
Turn right onto US 77
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Kessler Avenue
3
Continue on US 77
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Jefferson Street
4
Continue on US 77
17 mi
·
19 min
·
North US Highway 77
5
Continue on US 77
48 mi
·
57 min
·
South Main Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 77; US 190; TX 36
7
Turn right onto US 77
49 mi
·
55 min
·
North Travis Avenue
Use the right lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto Circle Road
215 ft
·
11 sec
·
Circle Road
9
Continue on Circle Road
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Circle Road
10
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
11
Take the ramp
444 ft
·
10 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 77 North
12
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 77
13
Merge onto I 35; US 77
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi
·
47 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 45B
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
Use the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 449A
Toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Interstate 20
22
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Center Street
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mesquite Street
27
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Abram Street
28
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 5-minute drive, leaving Schulenburg in the morning is a good strategy to arrive in Arlington with plenty of daylight. Since this is a local road-heavy route with a 0% highway share, pace yourself and anticipate more frequent stops than you might on an interstate. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have flexibility. A key tip is to be mindful of local speed limits, as you'll be passing through several communities on Highway 77 and the connecting local roads. Factor in the $36 fuel cost for your budget.
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 117.8 miles from Schulenburg, TX, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.6 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 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.8 miles or 2h 17m 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 38m
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 Schulenburg, 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 Schulenburg, TX
This is one driving day of about 235.7 miles and 4h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Schulenburg, 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 North Travis Avenue for about 48.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
118 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 117.8 miles from Schulenburg, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
Pilot Travel Center
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
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Doris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Halfway reset
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 87.5 and 229.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
87.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Turn right onto US 77 / North Travis Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
173.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m 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
218.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 5m 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
219.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 6m 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
229.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 18m 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
$32.28 one way
$64.57 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
83 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $36.06 | $72.12 |
| premium | $4.23 | $39.21 | $78.41 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $44.50 | $89.01 |
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: 82.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.7 | 0 | $24.75 | $11.31 |
| Efficient EV | 58.9 | 0 | $20.62 | $9.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 94.3 | 1 | $33.00 | $15.08 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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
Schulenburg, TX
Evening in Schulenburg on Monday
Local time
6:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph
1% 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
6:52 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
96°F
Troy, TX
118 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 29m 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 138.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for most of this 237-mile route, with a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating through towns and communities for the majority of the trip, rather than cruising on high-speed interstates. This means more frequent turns and a more engaged driving experience. Since there's no longest uninterrupted stretch noted, be prepared for a continuous series of local road segments. The character of the drive remains consistent, focusing on local thoroughfares and Highway 77.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.6 mi on North Travis Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 87.5 miles in near US 77 / North Travis Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 235.7 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 87.5 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 173.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 218.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
773 ft
268 ft
Total Climb
666 ft
Total Descent
429 ft
Highest Point
773 ft
~202 mi in
Elevation Range
505 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Schulenburg, TX
Full guide →Schulenburg is a city in Fayette County in the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas. It bills itself as halfway to everywhere, since it's halfway between Houston and San Antonio on I-10 and halfway from Austin to Victoria north-south.
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 29m. Total distance: 235.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.6 miles on North Travis Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 87.5 miles (US 77 / North Travis Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 173.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 218.9 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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