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

The driving distance from Dripping Springs, TX to Arlington, TX is about 221.4 miles (356.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 185.1 miles (297.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 17m 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
221.41 mi
03h 38m
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 Dripping Springs.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
185.09 mi
Kilometers
297.87 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
221.41 mi
Kilometers
356.33 km
Drive Time
03h 38m

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 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Arlington
Thu, May 14, 8:06 AM CDT
Return by in Dripping Springs
Thu, May 14, 11:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dripping Springs
2026-05-14T04:27
Arrive Arlington
Thu, May 14, 8:06 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:39 AM to 11:39 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
9:42 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dripping Springs
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 Dripping Springs
110.4 mi
01h 49m
To Arlington
111 mi
01h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
89°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 14 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    101 m · 26 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right

    32 m · 8 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Ranch Road 12

    850 ft · 20 sec · Ranch Road 12

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East US Highway 290

    12.2 mi · 17 min · East US Highway 290

  5. 5

    Continue on West US Highway 290

    1424 ft · 18 sec · West US Highway 290

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left

    892 ft · 22 sec

  7. 7

    Continue on West US Highway 290

    2 mi · 2 min · West US Highway 290

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Loop 1 North

    1.1 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto South Mopac Expressway

    4.6 mi · 5 min · South Mopac Expressway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    10.2 mi · 11 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight right onto North Mopac Expressway

    4.3 mi · 4 min · North Mopac Expressway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on TX 45 Toll East

    2829 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North, Toll 45 East

    655 ft · 16 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto State Highway 45 North

    3080 ft · 35 sec · State Highway 45 North

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35 North: Waco

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

    80 mi · 1 hr 23 min · Purple Heart Trail

  18. 18

    Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

  19. 19

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35W: Fort Worth

    45.1 mi · 47 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East: Dallas

    1752 ft · 43 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 20 East: Dallas

    2391 ft · 58 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    5.7 mi · 6 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

    4.6 mi · 5 min · Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway

  25. 25

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

    1054 ft · 26 sec

  26. 26

    Continue on West Interstate 20

    1357 ft · 25 sec · West Interstate 20

  27. 27

    Turn left onto South Cooper Street

    1 mi · 2 min · South Cooper Street

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on South Cooper Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Cooper Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto West Pioneer Parkway

    2548 ft · 51 sec · West Pioneer Parkway

  30. 30

    Turn left onto South Center Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · South Center Street

  31. 31

    Continue on South Mesquite Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · South Mesquite Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto East Abram Street

    708 ft · 26 sec · East Abram Street

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Abram Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
33 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
5 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
113 mi · 51%
I 35W
45.1 mi · 20%
South Mopac Expressway
14.8 mi · 7%
East US Highway 290
12.2 mi · 6%
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
10.3 mi · 5%
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.63 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Purple Heart Trail

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

80 mi · 01h 23m

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 38m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.3 mi
185.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lorena
01h 49m from Dripping Springs
Leave By
9:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Dripping Springs and Sunny near Arlington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 221.4 miles (356.3 km) and usually takes 03h 38m 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 Dripping Springs and 111 miles from Arlington.

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 36.3 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 9:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.51 one way or $59.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Dripping Springs and Arlington. Straight-line distance: 185.09 mi (297.87 km).

Dripping Springs

#1 Dripping Springs

City in Texas

Population6,587
Coordinates30.1902100, -98.0866800
Altitude350
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: (-98.086672, 30.189964)
End: West Abram Street (-97.108073, 32.735603)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 356 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.81 gal
29.58 L · about $29.51
Round trip
$59.03
15.62 gal · 59.16 L
Estimated CO2
69.4 kg one way
Round trip: 138.8 kg / 306 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $29.51 $59.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $33.21 $66.42
Premium $4.59 $35.86 $71.71
Diesel $3.99 $31.19 $62.37

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 Dripping Springs and Arlington. The current time is 04:27:18.

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.