If you’re sitting in a coffee shop in Deep Ellum and realize you have a 7:00 PM kickoff at AT&T Stadium, the first thing you’re going to do is check your maps app. You’ll see that the distance from Dallas to Arlington TX is roughly 20 miles. On paper, that’s a twenty-minute cruise.
In reality? It's a roll of the dice.
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Texas miles aren't like miles in other states. Here, distance is measured in minutes, and those minutes are dictated by the "Mixmaster," the construction gods, and whether or not the Rangers have a home game. Honestly, navigating the gap between these two North Texas anchors is basically a local rite of passage.
The Actual Distance from Dallas to Arlington TX: Breaking Down the Numbers
Let's look at the hard facts before we get into the "ifs" and "buts." If you are traveling from the center of Downtown Dallas to the center of Arlington, you are looking at exactly 20 miles via I-30 West.
Now, if you’re coming from North Dallas—say, near Galleria—that number jumps to about 28 miles.
Distance doesn't tell the whole story, though. You've got two primary "high-speed" arteries connecting these cities:
- Interstate 30 (Tom Landry Highway): The most direct shot. It takes you right past Six Flags and the sports district.
- Interstate 20 (Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): The "southern" route. It’s often a few miles longer (about 24-26 miles total), but it can be a lifesaver when I-30 is a parking lot.
Drive Times You Can Actually Expect
- Late Night/Mid-Day: 22 to 28 minutes.
- Morning Rush (Heading West): 35 to 50 minutes. Most people are commuting into Dallas, so going toward Arlington isn't usually as soul-crushing as the reverse.
- Evening Rush (Heading West): 45 to 75 minutes. This is when the distance from Dallas to Arlington TX feels like a cross-country trek.
- Game Day: Throw the clock out the window. If the Cowboys are playing, that last 3-mile stretch into the Arlington Entertainment District can take 30 minutes on its own.
Why the Route Matters More Than the Mileage
You’d think staying on I-30 is always the move. It’s a straight line. But ask any local and they’ll tell you that the "canyon" in downtown Dallas is where dreams go to die.
If you are starting in South Dallas or Oak Cliff, taking I-20 is almost always the smarter play. It’s wider, and while it gets heavy, it doesn't have the same bottleneck issues as the I-30/I-35E interchange.
Then there’s the sneaky "North" route. If you’re in the Design District or near Love Field, taking Highway 183 to Highway 360 South is a very viable alternative. It’s about 23 miles, but 360 has been significantly improved over the last couple of years, making that transition into North Arlington much smoother than it used to be.
A Quick Reality Check on Tolls
Texas loves a toll road. If you decide to take the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) or the Chisholm Trail extensions to skirt around traffic, you’re going to pay for it. A trip from North Dallas to Arlington using the tollways can cost anywhere from $4 to $8 one way depending on your Tag status. Is it worth it? When you're staring at red lines on Google Maps, usually yes.
Can You Do It Without a Car?
Short answer: It’s complicated.
Arlington famously holds the title of the largest city in America without a traditional comprehensive public bus system. This makes the distance from Dallas to Arlington TX feel much wider for those without a vehicle.
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However, you aren't totally stranded.
The Trinity Railway Express (TRE)
The TRE is the commuter rail that connects Dallas and Fort Worth. To get to Arlington, you’d take the train from Union Station or Victory Station to the CentrePort/DFW Airport Station.
Here’s the catch: once you arrive at CentrePort, you are still about 6 to 10 miles away from the heart of Arlington (the stadiums and UTA).
The Via Rideshare Solution
Since Arlington doesn't have buses, they partnered with Via. It’s essentially a subsidized, on-demand van service. You can take the TRE to CentrePort, then use the Via app to catch a van into Arlington. It's cheap—usually just a few dollars—but it requires some planning and a bit of waiting.
The "Game Day" Factor: A Warning
If your reason for checking the distance from Dallas to Arlington TX is a concert or a sports event, listen closely. The mileage is irrelevant on Game Day.
Arlington’s Entertainment District—which houses AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field, and Choctaw Stadium—is a geographic bottleneck. When 80,000 people descend on a city that relies almost entirely on car transport, I-30 turns into a slow-motion parade.
Pro Tip: Look into "Rally" buses or private shuttles that run from various Dallas bars and hotels. They often have dedicated drop-off points that save you the nightmare of $60 parking and the two-hour crawl out of the lot after the event.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Commute
The biggest misconception is that "Arlington is just a suburb of Dallas."
Arlington is the 50th most populous city in the U.S. It’s a destination in its own right. Because of this, the traffic isn't just "one way" during the day. You have people living in Dallas and working at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) or the GM Plant. You have people living in Arlington and commuting to the Dallas Medical District.
The "reverse commute" (Dallas to Arlington in the morning) has become significantly heavier over the last five years. Don't assume you'll have clear roads just because you're heading away from the skyline.
Real-World Travel Tips
- Check the "Mixmaster" First: Before you leave Dallas, look at the I-30/I-35E junction. If it’s dark red, take the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and snake through West Dallas to hit I-30 further down.
- The 360 Buffer: If you're heading to North Arlington (near the stadiums), Highway 360 is your best friend. It has more exits and alternative "service road" options than the main Interstates.
- Timing the Return: If you're leaving Arlington for Dallas at 5:00 PM, just don't. Grab dinner at Texas Live! or a spot in Downtown Arlington and wait until 6:30 PM. You'll spend the same amount of time "getting home," but you'll spend it eating brisket instead of staring at brake lights.
Making the Move? What to Know
If you're looking at the distance from Dallas to Arlington TX because you're considering a move, the "Mid-Cities" are your sweet spot. Cities like Grand Prairie and Irving sit right in that 20-mile gap.
Living in Grand Prairie (specifically the areas near Joe Pool Lake) gives you a 15-minute commute to Arlington and a 20-minute commute to Dallas. It’s the strategic middle ground for couples who work in opposite directions.
Summary of Route Options
| Starting Point | Recommended Route | Approx. Miles | Peak Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dallas | I-30 West | 20 | 45 min |
| North Dallas | PGBT Toll to I-30 | 28 | 55 min |
| South Dallas | I-20 West | 22 | 40 min |
| Love Field Area | 183 to 360 South | 21 | 45 min |
The distance from Dallas to Arlington TX is short enough to be a daily commute but just long enough to be a headache if you don't respect the North Texas traffic patterns.
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If you are planning a trip today, your best bet is to check a live traffic app roughly 15 minutes before you plan to walk out the door. Waze and Google Maps are generally reliable here, but they can be optimistic about how fast the I-30 bottlenecks clear up.
Plan for 30 minutes, hope for 20, and don't be surprised if it takes 50. That is the reality of the Dallas-Arlington corridor.
To get the most out of your trip, I can help you find specific parking zones near the Arlington stadiums or map out the current construction zones on I-30 for this week.