Wink, TX to Arlington, TX is 401.1 miles and takes about 7h via I 20 and South State Highway 115, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the Great Plains, largely staying on major highways. It's a straightforward drive that should be manageable for most drivers looking to cover a significant distance in a single day. Plan for a consistent pace as you head east.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200.5 miles from Wink, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
354.8 mi
5h 57m
South State Highway 115
15.9 mi
23m
West Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
Tom Landry Freeway
12.3 mi
15m
North Center Street
1 mi
2m
North Cooper Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Hendricks Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 354.8 mi, about 5h 57m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,511 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,850
Quietest
2 AM
~212 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
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 Wink, TX and Arlington, TX.
1
Start on FM 1232
78 ft·6 sec·Southwest 1st Street
2
Turn left onto TX 115
0.2 mi·14 sec·Hendricks Boulevard
3
Continue on TX 115
16 mi·23 min·South State Highway 115
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 20 East: Odessa
5
Merge onto I 20
355 mi·5 hr 57 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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.
7
Continue on I 30
12 mi·15 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 27AToward Lamar Boulevard, Cooper StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto North Cooper Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Cooper Street
10
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
0.4 mi·49 sec·West Randol Mill Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto North Center Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Center Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto West Abram Street
297 ft·8 sec·West Abram Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Abram Street
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour drive, leaving Wink, TX early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With only 2 planned stops, you can afford to be flexible with your timing, but ensure you factor in potential traffic delays as you get closer to Arlington, TX. Given the highway-heavy nature of the route, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 354.8-mile stretch on I 20, and consider refueling before that long segment if needed. The $58 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 200.5 miles from Wink, TX, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 354.8 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 88 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200.5 miles or 3h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 51m
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 Wink, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wink, TX
This is one driving day of about 401.1 miles and 7h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Wink, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 354.8 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 16.1 and 400 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
16.1 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Odessa
Navigation decision point
Toward I 20 East: Odessa
8
371.1 mi into trip|~6h 22m 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
398.7 mi into trip|~6h 54m 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
399.6 mi into trip|~6h 57m in|West Randol Mill Road
Turn left onto West Randol Mill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
400 mi into trip|~6h 57m in|North Center Street
Turn right onto North Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.94 one way
$109.88 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$61.37
$122.73
premium
$4.23
$66.72
$133.44
diesel
$4.80
$75.74
$151.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
120.3
1
$42.12
$19.25
Efficient EV
100.3
1
$35.10
$16.04
EV Truck/SUV
160.4
2
$56.15
$25.67
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Wink, TX
Late night
in Wink on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 10 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Arlington, TX
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
S 5 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:36PM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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
7 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
7h on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 almost all of your time on major roads. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 354.8 miles, primarily on I 20. You'll transition to South State Highway 115 and then West Freeway as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits as you near the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 354.8 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and South State Highway 115. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.1 miles in.
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 401.1 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 16.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 371.1 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 398.7 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 7h. Total distance: 401.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 354.8 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 371.1 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 398.7 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 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.0 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.
