Stanton, TX to Arlington, TX is 293.8 miles and takes about 5h 5m via I 20, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward path. Most of the trip is spent on the interstate, making it a convenient option for getting from West Texas to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Given the relatively short duration and highway-focused nature, it's well-suited for a single-day trip.
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
146.9 miles from Stanton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
262.1 mi
4h 24m
West Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
Tom Landry Freeway
12.3 mi
15m
North Center Street
1 mi
2m
East Business I-20
0.8 mi
1m
East Front Street
0.7 mi
<1m
North Cooper Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 262.1 mi, about 4h 24m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,369 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,769
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Stanton, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on South Saint Mary Street
85 ft·5 sec·South Saint Mary Street
2
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
0.7 mi·58 sec·East Front Street
3
Continue on I 20 Bus
0.8 mi·1 min·East Business I-20
4
Turn straight onto I 20 Bus
389 ft·14 sec·I 20 Bus
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 20 East: Abilene
6
Merge onto I 20
262 mi·4 hr 24 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30
15 mi·17 min·West Freeway
Exit 421Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 30
12 mi·15 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 27AToward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Cooper Street
11
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi·49 sec·West Randol Mill Road
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto North Center Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Center Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
14
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving Stanton, TX in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive in Arlington, TX with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 262.1-mile stretch on I 20, as services can be more spread out in some sections. The $43 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices along your route. Because this is a straightforward highway drive, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take your break.
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 146.9 miles from Stanton, TX, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.1 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 65 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.9 miles or 2h 29m 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 4m
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 Stanton, 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 Stanton, TX
This is one driving day of about 293.8 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Stanton, 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 I 20 for about 262.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 292.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
263.9 mi into trip|~4h 27m in|I 30 / West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 421
Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
8
291.4 mi into trip|~5h in
Take the exit toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
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 27A
Toward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper Street
6
292.3 mi into trip|~5h 2m in|West Randol Mill Road
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
292.7 mi into trip|~5h 3m in|North Center Street
Turn right onto North Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.24 one way
$80.48 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$44.95
$89.90
premium
$4.23
$48.87
$97.74
diesel
$4.80
$55.47
$110.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.1
1
$30.85
$14.10
Efficient EV
73.5
0
$25.71
$11.75
EV Truck/SUV
117.5
1
$41.13
$18.80
Gas CO2
103 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Stanton, TX
Morning
in Stanton on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 mph45% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:16PM MDT until July 17 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:56PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Arlington, TX
Morning
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:16PM MDT until July 17 at 6:15PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:56PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
99°F
Albany, TX
147 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
10 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 5m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 99% highway, meaning you'll spend nearly the entire 5h 5m drive on interstates. The longest continuous stretch of highway is 262.1 miles on I 20. You'll transition from I 20 to West Freeway and then Tom Landry Freeway as you approach Arlington, which involves navigating a denser network of exits and merging traffic common in urban areas.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and West Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near I 20.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 293.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 263.9 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 291.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5m. Total distance: 293.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 262.1 miles on I 20. 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.
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 1.8 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 263.9 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 291.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 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.
