How far is Arlington, TX from Zapata, TX?
The driving distance from Arlington, TX to Zapata, TX is about 480.9 miles (774 km), with a travel time of about 08h 39m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 423 miles (680.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 19m 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 08h 39m.
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.
The third most populous city in Comal County, Texas.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Arlington and Zapata.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington and Zapata.
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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
144.4 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Purple Heart Trail
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23
Continue on Santa Ursula Avenue
549 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ursula Avenue
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24
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
2145 ft · 54 sec · Matamoros Street
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25
Continue on Chihuahua Street
1 mi · 2 min · Chihuahua Street
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26
Turn right onto North Meadow Avenue
2 mi · 4 min · North Meadow Avenue
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27
Turn right onto South Zapata Highway
5.4 mi · 8 min · South Zapata Highway
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28
Continue on US Highway 83 South
14.2 mi · 16 min · US Highway 83 South
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29
Continue on United States Highway 83
25.7 mi · 29 min · United States Highway 83
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · United States Highway 83
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Arlington and Zapata.
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
144 mi · 02h 26m
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.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Arlington and Mostly Sunny near Zapata.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Arlington to Zapata?
The road trip is about 480.9 miles (774 km) and usually takes 08h 39m 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?
New Braunfels is a useful midpoint, sitting about 240.9 miles from Arlington and 240 miles from Zapata.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 423 miles (680.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.9 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 $64.13 one way or $128.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 150.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Arlington and Mostly Sunny near Zapata.
Stop Ideas Near New Braunfels
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
New Braunfels Parks and Recreation
Marion City Hall
Comal County Courthouse(Gerichtsgebäude)
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to New Braunfels.
San Marcos Station
San Antonio Station
Austin
Taylor
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Arlington and Zapata. Straight-line distance: 423.04 mi (680.81 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 Zapata
Census designated place
| Population | 5,089 |
| Coordinates | 26.9072600, -99.2714300 |
| Altitude | 121 |
| Country | United States |
End: Zapata (-99.27143, 26.90726)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 774 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 01m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 01m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 37m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 00m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 52m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 59m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $64.13 | $128.26 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $72.16 | $144.31 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $77.91 | $155.82 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $67.76 | $135.52 |
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.