How far is Arlington, TX from Ames, TX?

The driving distance from Arlington, TX to Ames, TX is about 117.9 miles (189.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 92.6 miles (149.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
117.84 mi
02h 36m
Flight
92.67 mi
149.13 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Arlington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
92.67 mi
Kilometers
149.13 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
117.84 mi
Kilometers
189.65 km
Drive Time
02h 36m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ames
Thu, Apr 23, 4:43 AM CDT
Return by in Arlington
Thu, Apr 23, 7:20 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington
2026-04-23T02:06
Arrive Ames
Thu, Apr 23, 4:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:37 AM to 12:37 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:16 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arlington
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Retreat
TX

Human settlement in Navarro County, Texas, United States of America

From Arlington
59 mi
01h 18m
To Ames
58.8 mi
01h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph S
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Arlington and Ames.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arlington and Ames.

  1. 1

    Start on West Abram Street

    28 m · 8 sec · West Abram Street

  2. 2

    Continue on West Abram Street

    127 m · 22 sec · West Abram Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Center Street

    2 mi · 4 min · South Center Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Pioneer Parkway

    2543 ft · 49 sec · West Pioneer Parkway

  5. 5

    Turn left onto South Cooper Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · South Cooper Street

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on South Cooper Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · South Cooper Street

  7. 7

    Take the ramp straight toward I 20 West: Fort Worth

    2943 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    10.3 mi · 11 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton

    1177 ft · 29 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35W South: Waco

    1.4 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto South Freeway

    7 mi · 8 min · South Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 174 South: Cleburne, Wilshire Boulevard

    2237 ft · 54 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on Northeast Wilshire Boulevard

    1 km · 1 min · Northeast Wilshire Boulevard

  14. 14

    Continue on Southwest Wilshire Boulevard

    5.4 mi · 9 min · Southwest Wilshire Boulevard

  15. 15

    Continue on North Broadway Street

    3.1 mi · 5 min · North Broadway Street

  16. 16

    Continue on North Main Street

    9.3 mi · 14 min · North Main Street

  17. 17

    Continue on TX 174

    1.3 mi · 2 min · TX 174

  18. 18

    Continue on North State Highway 174

    6.1 mi · 9 min · North State Highway 174

  19. 19

    Continue on TX-174

    27 mi · 35 min · TX-174

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Morgan Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Morgan Street

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 22

    3182 ft · 1 min · State Highway 22

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Texas State Highway 6

    11.1 mi · 13 min · Texas State Highway 6

  23. 23

    Turn right onto West 5th Street

    6.9 mi · 9 min · West 5th Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Farm-to-Market Road 182

    10.4 mi · 13 min · Farm-to-Market Road 182

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Farm-to-Market Road 182

    9.5 mi · 12 min · Farm-to-Market Road 182

  26. 26

    Turn right onto 36th Division Memorial Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · 36th Division Memorial Highway

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 36th Division Memorial Highway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Arlington and Ames.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
27 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
TX-174
27 mi · 23%
Farm-to-Market Road 182
19.9 mi · 17%
Texas State Highway 6
11.1 mi · 9%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10.3 mi · 9%
North Main Street
9.31 mi · 8%
South Freeway
7.02 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

TX-174

Continue on TX-174

27 mi · 00h 35m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 36m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.3 mi
92.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Retreat
01h 18m from Arlington
Leave By
1:16 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Arlington and Mostly Cloudy near Ames.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arlington to Ames?

The road trip is about 117.9 miles (189.7 km) and usually takes 02h 36m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Retreat is a useful midpoint, sitting about 59 miles from Arlington and 58.8 miles from Ames.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 92.6 miles (149.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:16 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.72 one way or $31.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 37 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Arlington and Mostly Cloudy near Ames.

Stop Ideas Near Retreat

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Retreat, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Retreat.

RAIL

Cleburne

25 mi away
206 North Border St.
RAIL

Fort Worth Central Station

70 mi away
1001 Jones Street
BUS

Waco, TX

72 mi away
301 South 8th Street
RAIL

McGregor

78 mi away
1 Amtrak Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Ames. Straight-line distance: 92.67 mi (149.13 km).

Arlington

#1 Arlington

The third most populous city in Texas and the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Population398,864
Coordinates32.7356900, -97.1080700
Altitude184
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Ames

City in Liberty County, Texas, United States

Population1,275
Coordinates31.5209900, -97.7794700
Altitude281
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington (-97.10807, 32.73569)
End: Ames (-97.77947, 31.52099)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 190 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.16 gal
15.74 L · about $15.72
Round trip
$31.44
8.32 gal · 31.48 L
Estimated CO2
37 kg one way
Round trip: 73.9 kg / 163 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $15.72 $31.44
Mid-grade $4.25 $17.69 $35.38
Premium $4.59 $19.10 $38.20
Diesel $3.99 $16.61 $33.22

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Arlington and Ames. The current time is 02:06:43.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.