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

The driving distance from Cottonwood Shores, TX to Arlington, TX is about 204.7 miles (329.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 166.7 miles (268.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 21m 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
204.71 mi
03h 40m
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 Cottonwood Shores.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
204.71 mi
Kilometers
329.45 km
Drive Time
03h 40m

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 03h 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Arlington
Sun, May 31, 7:02 AM CDT
Return by in Cottonwood Shores
Sun, May 31, 10:43 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cottonwood Shores
2026-05-31T03:21
Arrive Arlington
Sun, May 31, 7:02 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:41 AM to 11:41 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cottonwood Shores
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 Cottonwood Shores
100.2 mi
01h 50m
To Arlington
104.5 mi
01h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
92°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
95°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Magnolia Lane

    611 ft · 32 sec · Magnolia Lane

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Willow Drive

    72 m · 13 sec · Willow Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Pecan Lane

    1817 ft · 1 min · Pecan Lane

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Ranch Road 2147

    3.4 mi · 6 min · West Ranch Road 2147

  5. 5

    Turn left onto South US Highway 281

    12 mi · 16 min · South US Highway 281

  6. 6

    Continue on South Water Street

    3.6 mi · 6 min · South Water Street

  7. 7

    Continue on North US Highway 281

    20 mi · 22 min · North US Highway 281

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South Key Avenue

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South Key Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on North US Highway 281

    965 ft · 15 sec · North US Highway 281

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on North US Highway 281

    42.9 mi · 49 min · North US Highway 281

  11. 11

    Continue on South Rice Street

    2.3 mi · 3 min · South Rice Street

  12. 12

    Continue on North US Highway 281

    19 mi · 20 min · North US Highway 281

  13. 13

    Continue on South Walnut Street

    2995 ft · 44 sec · South Walnut Street

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West 2nd Street

    973 ft · 13 sec · West 2nd Street

  15. 15

    Continue on East 2nd Street

    701 ft · 15 sec · East 2nd Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Cedar Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · North Cedar Street

  17. 17

    Continue on State Highway 220

    12.8 mi · 19 min · State Highway 220

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 67

    12.1 mi · 14 min · US Highway 67

  19. 19

    Continue on Northeast Big Bend Trail

    24 mi · 27 min · Northeast Big Bend Trail

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 171, CTP: Nolan River Road, County Road 1216

    1845 ft · 45 sec

  21. 21

    Continue on West Katherine P Raines Drive

    860 ft · 24 sec · West Katherine P Raines Drive

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Chisholm Trail Parkway

    21.3 mi · 23 min · Chisholm Trail Parkway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East: Dallas

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    10.9 mi · 12 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  25. 25

    Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    4.6 mi · 5 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward FM 157 South: UT Arlington, Mansfield

    1054 ft · 26 sec

  27. 27

    Continue on West Interstate 20

    1357 ft · 25 sec · West Interstate 20

  28. 28

    Turn left onto South Cooper Street

    1 mi · 2 min · South Cooper Street

  29. 29

    Keep slight right to continue on South Cooper Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Cooper Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto West Pioneer Parkway

    2548 ft · 51 sec · West Pioneer Parkway

  31. 31

    Turn left onto South Center Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · South Center Street

  32. 32

    Continue on South Mesquite Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · South Mesquite Street

  33. 33

    Turn left onto East Abram Street

    708 ft · 26 sec · East Abram Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Abram Street

Car Route Details

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

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
34 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North US Highway 281
82.1 mi · 40%
Northeast Big Bend Trail
24 mi · 12%
Chisholm Trail Parkway
21.3 mi · 10%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
15.4 mi · 8%
State Highway 220
12.8 mi · 6%
US Highway 67
12.1 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

North US Highway 281

Keep slight right to continue on North US Highway 281

42.9 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
03h 40m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38 mi
166.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hico
01h 50m from Cottonwood Shores
Leave By
9:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Cottonwood Shores and Sunny near Arlington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 204.7 miles (329.5 km) and usually takes 03h 40m 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 Cottonwood Shores and 104.5 miles from Arlington.

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 38 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 9:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.28 one way or $54.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Cottonwood Shores and Arlington. Straight-line distance: 166.73 mi (268.33 km).

Cottonwood Shores

#1 Cottonwood Shores

City in Burnet County, Texas, United States

Population1,313
Coordinates30.5557500, -98.3239100
Altitude253
CountryUnited States
Arlington

#2 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
Start: Magnolia Lane (-98.324067, 30.555747)
End: West Abram Street (-97.108073, 32.735603)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 329 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 33m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.22 gal
27.34 L · about $27.28
Round trip
$54.57
14.44 gal · 54.68 L
Estimated CO2
64.2 kg one way
Round trip: 128.3 kg / 283 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $27.28 $54.57
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.70 $61.40
Premium $4.59 $33.15 $66.29
Diesel $3.99 $28.83 $57.66

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 Cottonwood Shores and Arlington. The current time is 03:21:57.

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.