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Trip from Texas City, TX to Arlington, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 22m

Distance

296.3 mi

477 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
5h 9m ★
6 AM
5h 23m
8 AM
5h 50m
10 AM
5h 32m
12 PM
5h 29m
3 PM
5h 33m
5 PM
5h 48m
8 PM
5h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Galveston County, Texas

Texas City, TX

Wikimedia Commons

suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Arlington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 296.3-mile drive from Texas City, TX to Arlington, TX is best tackled as a single-day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 22 minutes. Primarily utilizing the North Freeway, Gulf Freeway, and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 95% of it being interstate driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $45, it's an economical option for a quick transition between the Great Plains regions of Texas. One planned stop is suggested, and the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 226.9 miles. This journey offers a straightforward and efficient way to travel between these two Texas cities.

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

148.1 miles from Texas City, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Freeway 226.9 mi 3h 57m
Gulf Freeway 33 mi 38m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway 15.1 mi 16m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway 6.1 mi 6m
Emmett F Lowry Expressway 5.8 mi 7m
South Collins Street 3.9 mi 7m
Palmer Highway 1.6 mi 2m
9th Avenue North 1.4 mi 2m
Longest stretch: North Freeway — 226.9 mi, about 3h 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Texas City, TX and Arlington, TX.

1

Start on this road

48 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Spur 197

0.7 mi · 1 min · 6th Street
3

Turn left onto 9th Avenue North

1.4 mi · 2 min · 9th Avenue North
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on FM 1764

1.6 mi · 2 min · Palmer Highway
5

Continue on FM 1764

5.8 mi · 7 min · Emmett F Lowry Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Merge onto I 45

33 mi · 38 min · Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 45

227 mi · 3 hr 57 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min
Exit 276A Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 20

15 mi · 16 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 20

6.1 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 451 Toward Collins Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn straight onto East Interstate 20

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East Interstate 20
13

Turn right onto South Collins Street

3.9 mi · 7 min · South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
14

Turn left onto East Abram Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
15

Arrive at destination

West Abram Street

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour and 22-minute duration, starting your drive from Texas City early in the morning is advisable to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a fuel cost estimated at $45, keeping your tank topped off is a good idea, though significant fuel stops are unlikely given the route's highway focus. The longest stretch without needing to exit is over 226 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly. While only one stop is officially recommended, feel free to take advantage of the flexibility a single-day trip offers to stretch your legs when needed.

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 148.1 miles from Texas City, TX, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 226.9 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 14m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 148.1 miles or 2h 41m 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 21m

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 Texas City, 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 Texas City, TX

This is one driving day of about 296.3 miles and 5h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Texas City, 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 Freeway for about 226.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Corsicana, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Corsicana, TX

148 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

Atascocita, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Corsicana, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 148.1 miles from Texas City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before North Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 226.9 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.

Best meal stop · first break window

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Houston, Texas

Near the start, right off the route

First break · 46min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Houston, Texas

1.7 mi

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13462417524

Visit website

Children's Museum Houston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+17135221138

Visit website

Bay Street Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Texas City, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14099483111

Visit website

Union Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Houston, Texas

+17132598070

Visit website

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+17137520314

Visit website

Dennis Johnston Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Spring, Texas

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+17132740930

Visit website

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17137520314

Visit website

Midtown Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+17135267577

Visit website

Frankie Carter Randolph Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Friendswood, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+12814826055

Break Free Escape Room

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Webster, Texas

Hours: 12–9 pm

+12812013556

Visit website

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 0.7 and 291.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | 9th Avenue North

Turn left onto 9th Avenue North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
9.4 mi into trip | ~13m in | I 45 / Gulf Freeway

Merge onto I 45 / Gulf Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
269.2 mi into trip | ~4h 48m in

Take the exit toward I 20 West: Fort Worth

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 276A Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
5
270.2 mi into trip | ~4h 50m in | I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Merge onto I 20 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
291.4 mi into trip | ~5h 13m in

Take the exit toward Collins Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 451 Toward Collins Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.77 one way

$89.54 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $49.01 $98.01
premium $4.54 $52.90 $105.80
diesel $5.61 $65.42 $130.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 103.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 88.9 1 $31.11 $14.22
Efficient EV 74.1 0 $25.93 $11.85
EV Truck/SUV 118.5 1 $41.48 $18.96

Gas CO2

104 kg

EV CO2

35 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 Dec 18, 2023

Origin

Texas City, TX

Late night in Texas City on Tuesday

Local time

3:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arlington, TX

Late night in Arlington on Tuesday

Local time

3:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°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

4 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 22m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this 296.3-mile journey, with 95% of the drive being on interstates. The route unfolds along major freeways like the North Freeway, Gulf Freeway, and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, offering a consistent driving pace for most of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 226.9 miles, meaning you can cover substantial ground without frequent exits. This highway-centric profile suggests a drive characterized by efficiency and a steady progression towards your destination.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 226.9 mi on North Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and Gulf Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near 9th Avenue North.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 296.3 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 0.7 miles (9th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (I 45 / Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Texas City, TX

Full guide →

Texas City is in Galveston County and lies on the Gulf Coast of the Texas mainland.

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 22m. Total distance: 296.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 226.9 miles on North Freeway. 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 0.7 miles (9th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (I 45 / Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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