Origin
Shamrock, TX
Late night in Shamrock on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shamrock, TX to Arlington, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 34m
Distance
291.1 mi
468 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 21m
★
6 AM
4h 35m
8 AM
5h 1m
10 AM
4h 44m
12 PM
4h 41m
3 PM
4h 45m
5 PM
5h 0m
8 PM
4h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shamrock, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 291.1-mile drive from Shamrock, TX to Arlington, TX is manageable in about 4 hours and 34 minutes, making it a solid day trip. You'll primarily navigate along Highway 287, with some time on South Main Street and Avenue F Northwest. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $44. Given its relatively short duration and the fact that you'll cross through the Great Plains region of Texas, this route is best tackled in a single day. With just one recommended stop, you can easily complete this drive without needing an overnight stay, offering flexibility in your travel plans.
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
145.5 miles from Shamrock, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | — | — |
| Avenue F Northwest | — | — |
| Highway 287 | — | — |
| Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway | — | — |
| Highway 287 East | — | — |
| Northwest Freeway | — | — |
| Central Freeway | — | — |
| Lloyd Ruby Overpass | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shamrock, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on East Railroad Avenue
46 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Railroad Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
55 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
South Main Street
3
Turn left onto Avenue F Northwest
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Avenue F Northwest
4
Continue on US Highway 287
54 mi
·
58 min
·
US Highway 287
5
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
6
Continue on US Highway 287 East
41 mi
·
42 min
·
US Highway 287 East
7
Continue on Northwest Freeway
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Northwest Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on Northwest Freeway
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Northwest Freeway
9
Merge slight left onto Central Freeway
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Freeway
10
Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lloyd Ruby Overpass
11
Continue on Central East Freeway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway
97 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Central East Freeway
14
Continue straight
4.6 mi
·
4 min
15
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 820
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 820
17
Keep slight left to continue on I 820 East
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 820 East
18
Merge slight left onto Northeast Loop
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
Northeast Loop
19
Take the exit slight left toward I 820 Express East Toll
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 820 Express East Toll
20
Merge slight left onto I 820 TEXpress
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 820 TEXpress
21
Take the exit slight right
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
22
Merge slight right onto Northeast Loop
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast Loop
23
Merge slight right onto Airport Freeway
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Airport Freeway
24
Keep slight left to continue on I 820 South
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
I 820 South
25
Take the exit slight right toward I 30 East: Dallas
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 30 East: Dallas
26
Merge slight left onto Tom Landry Freeway
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
27
Take the exit slight right toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
28
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cooper Street
29
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
West Randol Mill Road
30
Turn right onto North Center Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Center Street
31
Turn right onto West Abram Street
295 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Abram Street
32
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 34-minute duration, starting your drive from Shamrock, TX in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Arlington, TX by the afternoon. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of approximately $44, you can plan your refueling and rest breaks efficiently. Keep an eye on local traffic patterns, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in Arlington. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of flexibility; however, it's wise to be prepared for potential delays on local roads, particularly if you encounter unexpected roadwork or heavy traffic during your drive.
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 145.5 miles from Shamrock, TX, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
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 in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.5 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 45m
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 Shamrock, 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 Shamrock, TX
This is one driving day of about 291.1 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Shamrock, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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 145.5 miles from Shamrock, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.99 one way
$87.97 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $48.15 | $96.29 |
| premium | $4.54 | $51.97 | $103.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.27 | $128.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.3 | 1 | $30.57 | $13.97 |
| Efficient EV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.47 | $11.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.4 | 1 | $40.75 | $18.63 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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.
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 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 34m 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 turn-heavy local drive for much of this 291.1-mile journey. Although Highway 287 is a significant part of the route, the highway share is 0%, indicating a more continuous engagement with local roads and intersections rather than high-speed highway cruising. The profile suggests a driving experience that requires constant attention to navigation and traffic, rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. This kind of route often means you'll be passing through more towns and experiencing a varied pace of travel, with frequent changes in speed limits and road conditions.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: South Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 34m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Shamrock, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
About the Cities
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 34m. Total distance: 291.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Shamrock, TX to Arlington, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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