How far is Arlington, TX from Cactus, TX?
The driving distance from Arlington, TX to Cactus, TX is about 407.2 miles (655.4 km), with a travel time of about 07h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 360.4 miles (580 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 07h 17m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Travis County, Texas, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Arlington and Cactus.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington and Cactus.
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1
Start on West Abram Street
28 m · 8 sec · West Abram Street
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2
Continue on West Abram Street
127 m · 22 sec · West Abram Street
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3
Turn right onto South Center Street
2 mi · 4 min · South Center Street
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4
Turn right onto West Pioneer Parkway
2543 ft · 49 sec · West Pioneer Parkway
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5
Turn left onto South Cooper Street
1.5 mi · 2 min · South Cooper Street
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6
Keep slight right to continue on South Cooper Street
1.5 km · 2 min · South Cooper Street
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7
Take the ramp straight toward I 20 West: Fort Worth
2943 ft · 1 min
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8
Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10.3 mi · 11 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 35W South, I 35W North: Waco, Denton
1177 ft · 29 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on I 35W South: Waco
1.4 km · 2 min
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11
Merge slight left onto South Freeway
78 mi · 1 hr 21 min · South Freeway
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12
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
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13
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
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14
Keep slight left
55.8 mi · 59 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail
49.8 mi · 55 min · Purple Heart Trail
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16
Continue on Interstate Highway 35
1.7 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35
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17
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
11.9 mi · 13 min · Purple Heart Trail
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18
Continue on North Pan Am Expressway
10 mi · 12 min · North Pan Am Expressway
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19
Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway
6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway
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20
Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway
2.1 mi · 3 min · North Pan Am Expressway
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21
Keep slight right to continue on South Pan Am Expressway
10.4 mi · 12 min · South Pan Am Expressway
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22
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
116.9 mi · 1 hr 57 min · Purple Heart Trail
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23
Take the exit slight right toward Callaghan
1081 ft · 26 sec
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24
Turn straight onto I-35 Frontage Road
2359 ft · 1 min · I-35 Frontage Road
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25
Turn left
84 m · 13 sec
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26
Turn left onto I-35 Frontage Road
2406 ft · 1 min · I-35 Frontage Road
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27
Take the ramp slight left
1190 ft · 29 sec
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28
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
1.3 mi · 2 min · Purple Heart Trail
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Purple Heart Trail
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Arlington and Cactus.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Purple Heart Trail
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
117 mi · 01h 57m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy leaving Arlington and Partly Sunny near Cactus.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Arlington to Cactus?
The road trip is about 407.2 miles (655.4 km) and usually takes 07h 17m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Sunset Valley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 204 miles from Arlington and 203.3 miles from Cactus.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 360.4 miles (580 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.8 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $54.30 one way or $108.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 127.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy around Arlington and Partly Sunny near Cactus.
Stop Ideas Near Sunset Valley
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Sunset Valley.
Austin
San Marcos Station
Taylor
Killeen, Texas
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Cactus. Straight-line distance: 360.38 mi (579.98 km).
#1 Arlington
The third most populous city in Texas and the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.
| Population | 398,864 |
| Coordinates | 32.7356900, -97.1080700 |
| Altitude | 184 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cactus
City in Texas, USA
| Population | 3,235 |
| Coordinates | 27.9069500, -99.3939200 |
| Altitude | 178 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cactus (-99.39392, 27.90695)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 655 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 34m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 10m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 47m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 49m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 04m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $54.30 | $108.61 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $61.10 | $122.20 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $65.97 | $131.95 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $57.38 | $114.76 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.