This 278.7-mile drive from Shiner, Texas, to Arlington, Texas, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 5 hours to complete. You'll primarily be on the Purple Heart Trail and Pickle Parkway, eventually merging onto I-35W for the final stretch. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $42. This route offers a mixed driving experience, making it a practical option for those looking to cover ground efficiently within the Great Plains region of Texas. Given its duration, it's well-suited for a morning departure, allowing ample time to reach your destination without feeling overly rushed.
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
139.3 miles from Shiner, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Shiner, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on TX 95
83 ft·5 sec·East 5th Street
2
Turn right onto US 90 Alt
0.9 mi·1 min·North Avenue E
3
Continue on US 90 Alt
15 mi·17 min·US Highway 90A West
4
Continue on US 90 Alt
0.2 mi·24 sec·North Sarah Dewitt Drive
5
Turn left onto Spur 146
2.2 mi·4 min·Saint Louis Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 183; TX 97
13 mi·13 min·Water Street
7
Continue on US 183
5.0 mi·7 min·East Pierce Street
8
Turn right onto US 183; TX 80
1.2 mi·2 min·South Magnolia Avenue
9
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
10
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·South Colorado Street
11
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·16 sec·United States Highway 183
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
13
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi·54 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 35 North: WacoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 35
65 mi·1 hr 6 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
45 mi·47 min·I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort WorthUse the slight left lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 45BToward I 20 East: DallasUse the right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 20 East: DallasUse the slight left lane.
21
Merge onto I 20
5.7 mi·6 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 East: Dallas
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 449AToward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
25
Turn left onto FM 157
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 157
1.7 mi·2 min·South Cooper Street
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto Spur 303
0.5 mi·50 sec·West Pioneer Parkway
Use the right lane.
28
Turn left onto South Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Center Street
Use the left lane.
29
Continue on South Mesquite Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Mesquite Street
30
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Abram Street
31
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Consider departing from Shiner in the morning to take advantage of the full day and avoid late-night driving. With a total duration of 5 hours, you'll have flexibility for brief stops as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 97.7-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent. The $42 fuel cost is a helpful budget point for planning. This route is straightforward enough for a single-day adventure, so focus on enjoying the changing scenery as you make your way across Texas.
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 139.3 miles from Shiner, TX, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 61 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.3 miles or 2h 31m 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 3m
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 Shiner, 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 Shiner, TX
This is one driving day of about 278.7 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Shiner, 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 97.7 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 112 and 272.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
112 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
216.7 mi into trip|~3h 50m 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
261.8 mi into trip|~4h 38m 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
262.2 mi into trip|~4h 38m 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
272.9 mi into trip|~4h 50m 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
$42.11 one way
$84.22 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$46.10
$92.19
premium
$4.54
$49.76
$99.52
diesel
$5.61
$61.53
$123.07
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: 97.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.6
1
$29.26
$13.38
Efficient EV
69.7
0
$24.39
$11.15
EV Truck/SUV
111.5
1
$39.02
$17.84
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Shiner, TX
Morning
in Shiner on Tuesday
Local time
10:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning
in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
10:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph4% chanceLive 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
5h 1m 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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 171.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive features a 49% highway share, offering a balance between faster travel and more local road experiences. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 97.7 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, providing a consistent pace before transitioning to other main roads. The profile is described as a 'Mixed drive,' suggesting a varied road character rather than a monotonous interstate slog. Expect to navigate through different types of Texas terrain as you progress toward Arlington.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
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 112 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 278.7 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 112 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 216.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 261.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Shiner, TX to Arlington, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
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 5h 1m. Total distance: 278.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.7 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 112 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 216.7 miles (I 35W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 261.8 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 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.
