This 127.8-mile drive from Wichita Falls, TX to Arlington, TX will take you about 1 hour and 58 minutes. It's a straightforward, one-day trip, perfect for getting you to your destination without needing an overnight stay. You'll be navigating primarily local roads, so expect a more turn-heavy experience than an interstate journey. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $20. Both Wichita Falls and Arlington are situated within the Great Plains region, so you won't experience a drastic change in landscape, but rather a smooth transition across Texas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.6 miles from Wichita Falls, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Central East Freeway
98.3 mi
1h 45m
Tom Landry Freeway
4.8 mi
6m
US 81
4.6 mi
4m
I 820 TEXpress
3.3 mi
3m
I 820
3 mi
3m
Northeast Loop
2.6 mi
2m
North Freeway
2.3 mi
2m
North Center Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Central East Freeway
— 98.3 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wichita Falls, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on US 287 Bus
0.7 mi·1 min·Scott Avenue
2
Continue on US 287 Bus
0.2 mi·29 sec·East Scott Avenue
3
Turn slight right onto Loop 473
1.0 mi·1 min·Old Jacksboro Highway
4
Turn left onto Central East Freeway
0.1 mi·17 sec·Central East Freeway
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·19 sec
6
Merge onto US 82; US 287
1.5 mi·1 min·Central East Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
97 mi·1 hr 43 min·Central East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 81; US 287
4.6 mi·4 min·US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 35W; US 287
2.3 mi·2 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·24 sec
Exit 57Toward I 820Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 820 EastUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 820
0.4 mi·24 sec·Northeast Loop
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·7 sec
Toward I 820 Express East Toll
14
Merge onto I 820 TEXpress
3.3 mi·3 min·I 820 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 820
2.3 mi·2 min·Northeast Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 820; TX 121; TX 183
0.8 mi·56 sec·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820
3.0 mi·3 min·I 820
Toward I 820 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
1.2 mi·2 min
Exit 28AToward I 30 East: DallasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 30
4.8 mi·6 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 27AToward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Cooper Street
23
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi·49 sec·West Randol Mill Road
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto North Center Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Center Street
Use the right lane.
25
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
26
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Wichita Falls in the morning will get you to Arlington with ample time to settle in. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, it's wise to stay focused and mindful of navigation. The estimated fuel cost of $20 is quite manageable, but it's always a good idea to start with a full tank. Keep an eye out for the transition onto the Central East Freeway as a key point in your journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 63.6 miles from Wichita Falls, TX, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.3 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.6 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 53m
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 Wichita Falls, 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 Wichita Falls, TX
This is one driving day of about 127.1 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Wichita Falls, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Central East Freeway for about 98.3 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 107.3 and 124.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
107.3 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 820
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 57
Toward I 820
7
107.7 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 820 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 820 East
7
115.7 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|I 820
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 toward I 820 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 820 South
7
118.7 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 28A
Toward I 30 East: Dallas
8
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 19m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.21 one way
$38.41 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$21.02
$42.04
premium
$4.54
$22.69
$45.39
diesel
$5.61
$28.06
$56.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.1
0
$13.35
$6.10
Efficient EV
31.8
0
$11.12
$5.08
EV Truck/SUV
50.8
0
$17.79
$8.13
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Wichita Falls, TX
Late night
in Wichita Falls on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
3:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph4% chanceLive forecast
59°F
Aurora, TX
64 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
11 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
2h 24m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With a 0% highway share, this route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive.' You'll be spending your time on roads like East Scott Avenue and Old Jacksboro Highway, interspersed with segments of the Central East Freeway. This means you should anticipate frequent turns and traffic lights rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed driving. The drive progresses as a connected series of local and arterial roads, offering a different rhythm compared to highway travel.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.3 mi on Central East Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central East Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 107.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 127.1 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 107.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.7 miles (I 820): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Wichita Falls is a town in the North Central Plains of Texas, named for Wichita Indians who lived near waterfalls on what is now the Wichita River. In 1882, Fort Worth and Denver Railroad brought the first train to the area, establishing the town as an agricultural and trade center. The oil boom in the early 1900s made city headquarters for north Texas petroleum production, service and manufacturing. The city is the seat for Wichita County and a leading gateway to Texas on I-44. It's a major trade and industrial center with economy based on Sheppard Air Force Base, oil processing and other varied manufacturing.
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 2h 24m. Total distance: 127.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.3 miles on Central East Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 107.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.7 miles (I 820): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Arlington, TX before heading back.
