Origin
Willis, TX
Late night in Willis on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Willis, 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
3h 38m
Distance
208.1 mi
335 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 26m
★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 48m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 3m
8 PM
3h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Willis, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Willis to Arlington is 208.1 miles and takes about 3h 38m via I 45 and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within the Great Plains region, taking you from the northern edge of the Houston area into the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. The 94% highway share means you'll be on major interstates for most of the journey, so if you're looking for a quick and efficient transfer between these two Texas cities, this route will get you there without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
104.1 miles from Willis, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 178.2 mi | 2h 59m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.1 mi | 16m |
| Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| South Collins Street | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| North State Highway 75 | 2 mi | 3m |
| East Abram Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Danville Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Interstate 20 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 45
— 178.2 mi, about 2h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willis, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on FM 1097
35 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Stewart Street
2
Turn right onto TX 75
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Danville Street
3
Continue on TX 75
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North State Highway 75
4
Turn left onto Calvary Road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Calvary Road
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge onto I 45
178 mi
·
2 hr 59 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 276A
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 20
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 20
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 451
Toward Collins Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Interstate 20
12
Turn right onto South Collins Street
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
South Collins Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto East Abram Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Abram Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 38 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart Willis in the morning to avoid potential rush hour congestion as you near Arlington. With a fuel cost estimated at $31, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, though finding stations along I 45 should be straightforward. The longest stretch without a major road change is 178.2 miles on I 45, so plan for a potential pit stop around the halfway point, perhaps near Corsicana, if needed. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility with your departure time.
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 104.1 miles from Willis, TX, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178.2 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 46 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.1 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 54m
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 Willis, 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 Willis, TX
This is one driving day of about 208.1 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Willis, 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 45 for about 178.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.1 miles from Willis, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 178.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 203.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
TX 75 / North Danville Street
Turn right onto TX 75 / North Danville Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 45
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
181.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 4m 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
182.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 6m 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
203.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m 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
$31.44 one way
$62.89 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $34.42 | $68.84 |
| premium | $4.54 | $37.15 | $74.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.95 | $91.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.4 | 0 | $21.85 | $9.99 |
| Efficient EV | 52 | 0 | $18.21 | $8.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.2 | 1 | $29.13 | $13.32 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
2:33 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
23 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
3h 38m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 94% of it on major interstates. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I 45, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 178.2 miles. This means you can expect consistent speeds and limited need for navigation, making for a predictable driving experience. While the majority of the journey is on high-speed roadways, be aware that you'll transition onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway and Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which can see increased traffic.
94% 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: 178.2 mi on I 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TX 75 / North Danville Street.
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 208.1 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (TX 75 / North Danville Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
725 ft
254 ft
Total Climb
579 ft
Total Descent
355 ft
Highest Point
725 ft
~193.3 mi in
Elevation Range
471 ft
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 3h 38m. Total distance: 208.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 178.2 miles on I 45. 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.
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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 75 / North Danville Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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