How far is Arlington, TX from Dripping Springs, TX?

The driving distance from Arlington, TX to Dripping Springs, TX is about 220.5 miles (354.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 185.1 miles (297.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 07m 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
220.46 mi
04h 03m
Flight
185.09 mi
297.87 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
185.09 mi
Kilometers
297.87 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
220.46 mi
Kilometers
354.8 km
Drive Time
04h 03m

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 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dripping Springs
Thu, May 14, 9:40 AM CDT
Return by in Arlington
Thu, May 14, 1:44 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arlington
2026-05-14T05:36
Arrive Dripping Springs
Thu, May 14, 9:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:04 AM to 12:04 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
8:52 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
Lorena
TX

City in Texas

From Arlington
110.4 mi
02h 01m
To Dripping Springs
110 mi
02h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE
Destination
87°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arlington and Dripping Springs.

  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

    78 mi · 1 hr 21 min · South Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

  13. 13

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    42.1 mi · 43 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 45 Toll, TX 1 Toll

    2490 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on TX 45 Toll West, TX 1 Toll South: Round Rock, Austin

    1.1 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto State Highway 45 North

    2682 ft · 31 sec · State Highway 45 North

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Loop 1 Toll South

    1.3 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Continue on North Mopac Expressway

    4.2 mi · 4 min · North Mopac Expressway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    10.5 mi · 11 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight right onto North Mopac Expressway

    4.4 mi · 5 min · North Mopac Expressway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, Llano

    1 km · 1 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on US 290 West, TX 71 West

    97 m · 8 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    3.7 mi · 4 min

  25. 25

    Continue on West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd

    136 m · 6 sec · West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd

  26. 26

    Continue on West US 290 Frontage Rd

    1525 ft · 24 sec · West US 290 Frontage Rd

  27. 27

    Turn straight onto West US 290 Bypass Lanes

    2551 ft · 33 sec · West US 290 Bypass Lanes

  28. 28

    Continue on West US Highway 290

    115 m · 5 sec · West US Highway 290

  29. 29

    Continue on West US Highway 290

    11.7 mi · 16 min · West US Highway 290

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Ranch Road 12

    850 ft · 19 sec · Ranch Road 12

  31. 31

    Turn left

    32 m · 13 sec

  32. 32

    Turn left

    101 m · 24 sec

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
33 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
5 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
80.1 mi · 36%
South Freeway
78 mi · 35%
North Mopac Expressway
19 mi · 9%
West US Highway 290
11.8 mi · 5%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10.3 mi · 5%
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.63 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

South Freeway

Merge slight left onto South Freeway

78 mi · 01h 21m

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 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.4 mi
185.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lorena
02h 01m from Arlington
Leave By
8:52 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Arlington and Mostly Sunny near Dripping Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arlington to Dripping Springs?

The road trip is about 220.5 miles (354.8 km) and usually takes 04h 03m 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?

Lorena is a useful midpoint, sitting about 110.4 miles from Arlington and 110 miles from Dripping Springs.

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

The direct path is about 185.1 miles (297.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.4 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 8:52 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.40 one way or $58.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Arlington and Mostly Sunny near Dripping Springs.

Stop Ideas Near Lorena

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

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

RAIL

McGregor

19 mi away
1 Amtrak Blvd.
BUS

Waco, TX

20 mi away
301 South 8th Street
RAIL

Temple

35 mi away
315 West Ave B
BUS

Killeen, Texas

57 mi away
200 East Avenue C

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Dripping Springs. Straight-line distance: 185.09 mi (297.87 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
Dripping Springs

#2 Dripping Springs

City in Texas

Population6,587
Coordinates30.1902100, -98.0866800
Altitude350
CountryUnited States
Start: Arlington (-97.10807, 32.73569)
End: Dripping Springs (-98.08668, 30.19021)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 355 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 30m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.78 gal
29.45 L · about $29.40
Round trip
$58.80
15.56 gal · 58.9 L
Estimated CO2
69.1 kg one way
Round trip: 138.3 kg / 305 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $29.40 $58.80
Mid-grade $4.25 $33.08 $66.16
Premium $4.59 $35.72 $71.44
Diesel $3.99 $31.07 $62.13

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 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Arlington and Dripping Springs. The current time is 05:36:38.

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.