How Bad Is Arlington Traffic?
Arlington is a popular destination and place to drive through. Here are some tips to help you avoid traffic in the area.
Written by Max Werner
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- How bad is Arlington traffic?
- Why is Arlington traffic so bad?
- How to navigate Arlington traffic like a pro
- Prepare for Arlington traffic by updating your car insurance
- FAQs
Load full table of contents
Arlington traffic isn’t bad enough to put the city on any “worst traffic in the US” lists—but drivers can still expect heavy congestion due to large events and commuters between Fort Worth and Dallas.
Arlington,
Texas
, is a metropolitan city only twenty minutes away from Dallas and Fort Worth. It's also a great place for entertainment, whether you’re in the mood to catch a baseball game or ride the nation’s only 1,500-foot bobsled. But as the nation’s 50th most populated city, you’ll want to plan your trips around the city’s traffic schedule.There’s more to traffic than just avoiding certain times of the day. Here to catch you up on rush hour in Arlington is
Jerry
, the ultimate car insurance
and broker app. We’ll look at all the traffic statistics you need to know and tips for avoiding congestion in the Lone Star State. Plus, we've got some tips to help you lower your Arlington car insurance costs
.How bad is Arlington traffic?
According to
Business Insider
, Texans lose 63 hours sitting in traffic, costing drivers about $932 a year—and Arlington is not exempt. Sitting directly between two of Texas's largest cities, Dallas
and Fort Worth
, Arlington sees thousands of commuters every morning.A
Texas A&M Transportation Institution study
found that drivers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area lose 72 hours a year to traffic, which is up from 47 hours in 2000. North Texans alone spend 80 million gallons of fuel a year in gridlock.The most congested area in Arlington is the downtown district. For detailed information on traffic in the surrounding cities and other areas in the state, see the table below.
City | Hours lost to congestion | Cost per driver |
|---|---|---|
Dallas | 63 hours | $932 |
Fort Worth | 67 hours | $972 |
San Antonio | 39 hours | $577 |
Houston | 81 hours | $1,199 |
Austin | 69 hours | $1,021 |
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Why is Arlington traffic so bad?
It’s impossible to pin the cause of traffic on one culprit—in any city, traffic can result from the surrounding infrastructure, population, and habits of local drivers. Here are a few reasons why Arlington traffic can be so difficult to navigate.
Population size
Arlington has a population of 401,047, making it the 7th largest city in Texas. The city also has an annual growth rate of .18%, which has increased by 9.74% as of the most recent census. Arlington has plenty of drivers on the road—and more drivers means denser traffic on major roadways.
MORE: Arlington towing service
Surrounding metropolitan areas
Arlington isn’t just a heavily populated city. It’s also smack-dab in the middle of Texas's two largest metropolitan areas: Dallas and Fort Worth. Commuters between the two cities are what contribute the most to Arlington traffic—you can expect traffic to be at its worst before and after regular work hours.
Busy event schedule
Not only is Arlington a metropolitan hotspot, but it also has several unique destinations for sports and entertainment fans alike. Locations like the Dallas Cowboys
AT&T Stadium
, Texas Rangers Globe Life Field
, and the nation’s first Six Flags
location garner millions of visitors a year—and place a hefty traffic burden on local drivers.MORE: The best type of car insurance to get if you commute long distances
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How to navigate Arlington traffic like a pro
Traffic in Arlington won’t just slow down your day, throw off your schedule, or make you want to pull your hair out—it’s also a recipe for severe traffic accidents.
According to the Texas Crash Report Information System, Arlington has experienced a steady increase of yearly traffic accidents—from 3,988 in 2014 up to 5,791 in 2019. Traffic fatalities have yet to reach triple digits each year like in some other Texas cities, but there are still an enormous amount of injuries caused by congestion.
Traffic can also take a chunk out of your finances. Even minor collisions can
make your insurance go up after an accident
. Avoid damage to yourself or your wallet by following these tips and tricks for traffic in Arlington:- Avoid the rush. In Arlington, rush hours occur between 7:00 am and 9:00 am and 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. If you can avoid driving during these time windows, you will likely skip out on frustrating traffic.
- Stay on the back roads. If you’re driving at a busy time, it can’t hurt to use the back roads. Back roads can also be a great way to avoid commuters and tourist traffic, as drivers from out of town won’t be as familiar with the routes available.
- Make use of traffic apps. Most modern phones come equipped with a traffic monitoring system—use it! Checking traffic before you get behind the wheel can save you lots of time on your next trip.
- Stay focused! You might find yourself stuck in stop-and-go traffic. Avoid distractions and practice safe driving. Avoidingdistracted drivingcould help you avoid a nasty accident.
Prepare for Arlington traffic by updating your car insurance
If you’re worried about Arlington traffic putting a hold on your day, or worse causing an accident, it can’t hurt to update your car insurance policy. Regardless of your current provider, you’re probably overpaying—
Jerry
makes it easy to change that.When you download Jerry's #1-rated,
trustworthy car insurance comparison app
, it takes Jerry just 45 seconds to find customized quotes based on a comparison of 50+ top insurance providers. With help from a world-class team of insurance experts, you could have your new policy in place within an hour or less—with no phone calls, no unnecessary forms, and no long wait times! The best part? Jerry users save an average of $887 a year on
car insurance
. That’s some Texas-sized savings!“I wasn’t comfortable signing onto an otherwise cheap policy because the provider would track my miles, soJerryfound me a non-tracking policy with Clearcover for only $61/month! I think I made the right choice going with Clearcover. Thanks for helping my peace of mind, Jerry.” —Jorge C.
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Reviewed on 5/28/2023
FAQs
Is Arlington hard to drive in?
Arlington isn’t difficult to drive in if you know the roads and pay attention to the time of day. When on the highway, make sure to get in your lane early. If you're sticking to the city and not traveling to nearby areas, it can help to use the back roads.
What is the best time to drive through Arlington?
Arlington becomes a completely different city for drivers from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Avoid driving during these times if you want to skip the rush.
