How far is Arlington, TX from Cottonwood Shores, TX?

The driving distance from Arlington, TX to Cottonwood Shores, TX is about 200.1 miles (322 km), with a travel time of about 04h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 166.7 miles (268.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 04m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
200.11 mi
04h 02m
Flight
166.73 mi
268.33 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Arlington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
166.73 mi
Kilometers
268.33 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
200.11 mi
Kilometers
322.04 km
Drive Time
04h 02m

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 04h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cottonwood Shores
Sun, May 31, 8:37 AM CDT
Return by in Arlington
Sun, May 31, 12:39 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington
2026-05-31T04:34
Arrive Cottonwood Shores
Sun, May 31, 8:37 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:02 AM to 12:02 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:56 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arlington
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Hico
TX

City in Hamilton County, Texas, United States

From Arlington
100.2 mi
02h 01m
To Cottonwood Shores
99.9 mi
02h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
95°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph S
Destination
92°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arlington and Cottonwood Shores.

  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

    15.4 mi · 16 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward CTP Toll South: Chisholm Trail Parkway

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Chisholm Trail Parkway

    21.3 mi · 23 min · Chisholm Trail Parkway

  11. 11

    Turn right onto West Katherine P Raines Drive

    1005 ft · 20 sec · West Katherine P Raines Drive

  12. 12

    Take the ramp straight toward US 67 South

    1343 ft · 33 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    36.2 mi · 41 min

  14. 14

    Turn slight left

    13.6 mi · 20 min

  15. 15

    Turn right onto East 2nd Street

    663 ft · 9 sec · East 2nd Street

  16. 16

    Continue on West 2nd Street

    1010 ft · 21 sec · West 2nd Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North Walnut Street

    2995 ft · 39 sec · North Walnut Street

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto North US Highway 281

    19 mi · 20 min · North US Highway 281

  19. 19

    Continue on North Rice Street

    2.3 mi · 3 min · North Rice Street

  20. 20

    Continue on South US Highway 281

    43.1 mi · 49 min · South US Highway 281

  21. 21

    Continue on North Key Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Key Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto South US Highway 281

    20 mi · 22 min · South US Highway 281

  23. 23

    Continue on North Water Street

    3.6 mi · 6 min · North Water Street

  24. 24

    Continue on South US Highway 281

    12 mi · 16 min · South US Highway 281

  25. 25

    Take the exit right

    63 m · 6 sec

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto West Ranch Road 2147

    3.4 mi · 6 min · West Ranch Road 2147

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Dutch Leming Lane

    84 m · 12 sec · Dutch Leming Lane

  28. 28

    Continue on Pecan Lane

    1541 ft · 49 sec · Pecan Lane

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Willow Drive

    72 m · 12 sec · Willow Drive

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Magnolia Lane

    611 ft · 27 sec · Magnolia Lane

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Magnolia Lane

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
31 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South US Highway 281
75.1 mi · 38%
US 67 South
36.5 mi · 18%
Chisholm Trail Parkway
21.3 mi · 11%
North US Highway 281
19 mi · 9%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
15.4 mi · 8%
North Water Street
3.61 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

South US Highway 281

Continue on South US Highway 281

43.1 mi · 00h 49m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.4 mi
166.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hico
02h 01m from Arlington
Leave By
8:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Arlington and Mostly Sunny near Cottonwood Shores.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arlington to Cottonwood Shores?

The road trip is about 200.1 miles (322 km) and usually takes 04h 02m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hico is a useful midpoint, sitting about 100.2 miles from Arlington and 99.9 miles from Cottonwood Shores.

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

The direct path is about 166.7 miles (268.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.4 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.68 one way or $53.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Arlington and Mostly Sunny near Cottonwood Shores.

Stop Ideas Near Hico

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Hico, 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 Hico.

RAIL

Cleburne

74 mi away
206 North Border St.
RAIL

McGregor

85 mi away
1 Amtrak Blvd.
BUS

Fort Hood, Texas

97 mi away
Hood Road & Old Ironsides Ave.
BUS

Waco, TX

98 mi away
301 South 8th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Cottonwood Shores. Straight-line distance: 166.73 mi (268.33 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
Cottonwood Shores

#2 Cottonwood Shores

City in Burnet County, Texas, United States

Population1,313
Coordinates30.5557500, -98.3239100
Altitude253
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington (-97.10807, 32.73569)
End: Cottonwood Shores (-98.32391, 30.55575)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 322 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.06 gal
26.73 L · about $26.68
Round trip
$53.36
14.12 gal · 53.46 L
Estimated CO2
62.7 kg one way
Round trip: 125.5 kg / 277 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $26.68 $53.36
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.02 $60.04
Premium $4.59 $32.41 $64.82
Diesel $3.99 $28.19 $56.38

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Arlington and Cottonwood Shores. The current time is 04:34:42.

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.