Arlington, Texas
The town between Dallas and Fort Worth that built a stadium district
Arlington is a large suburban city midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, home to the Cowboys, the Rangers, Six Flags Over Texas and a big state university. It had about 394,000 people at the 2020 census, making it the third-largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.
The masthead year is 1876, when the Texas and Pacific Railway laid its line between Dallas and Fort Worth and a station town grew up at the halfway point; it took the name Arlington, after the Virginia home of Robert E. Lee, and was incorporated in 1884. For decades it was a small farming and market town with a mineral well in the middle of its main street. Its growth began after the Second World War, as the two big cities spread towards each other. General Motors opened an assembly plant in 1954, Six Flags Over Texas opened in 1961 on what had been farmland beside the turnpike, and in 1972 the Washington Senators moved to Arlington and became the Texas Rangers. The local college grew into the University of Texas at Arlington, and the town became a city of several hundred thousand.
Arlington lies on gently rolling prairie, crossed in the north by the West Fork of the Trinity River, whose wooded floodplain is kept as River Legacy Park. Interstate 30 runs along the north of the city and Interstate 20 across the south, with State Highway 360 on the east. The Entertainment District sits by I-30: AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field, the old Rangers ballpark now called Choctaw Stadium, Six Flags and its water park, the Texas Live! complex and a cluster of hotels. Downtown, small and centred on Abram and Center Streets, adjoins the UT Arlington campus. Most of the rest of the city is suburban housing, shopping centres and industrial parks, with Lake Arlington in the west and DFW Airport a short drive to the north.
Arlington's character is suburban Texas: family neighbourhoods, megachurches, chain restaurants along the highways and a large, diverse population that includes big Hispanic, Black, Vietnamese and South Asian communities. The university gives the downtown a student life, with independent cafés and bars along Abram Street and a library and plaza at its heart. The National Medal of Honor Museum opened in the Entertainment District in 2025, joining the stadiums and the International Bowling Museum. Game days transform the city, when tens of thousands of visitors fill the car parks for tailgating.
Arlington has bet its economy on big venues, and the bet has been tested on the largest stage. AT&T Stadium, opened in 2009, hosted nine matches of the 2026 World Cup, more than any other ground, including a semi-final; the Rangers won their first World Series in 2023 at Globe Life Field. The GM plant, which builds large SUVs, remains one of the area's biggest employers. Arlington is also known as the largest American city without a conventional bus system: instead it runs Arlington On-Demand, a city-funded shared-ride service booked by app that has covered the whole city since 2021, and it has trialled self-driving shuttles. The questions it faces are the usual ones of the metroplex: traffic, ageing older suburbs and keeping up with growth.
Where People Live
Entertainment District
The stadiums, Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor, Texas Live! and the Medal of Honor Museum, packed together along I-30 and Randol Mill Road. Quiet on weekdays, overwhelmed on game days.
Downtown & UT Arlington
The old town centre around Abram and Center Streets, with the Levitt Pavilion for free outdoor concerts, the central library and the university campus and its student neighbourhoods next door.
North Arlington & River Legacy
Established neighbourhoods south of the Trinity, with River Legacy Park's wooded trails along the river and a nature centre.
Central Arlington
Mid-century ranch houses and older shopping strips around Cooper Street and Park Row, where the city first expanded after the war.
South Arlington & the Parks Mall area
Newer suburbs and big-box shopping along I-20, around The Parks Mall, with a wide mix of communities and international grocers.
Lake Arlington & the west
Quieter residential areas around the reservoir, which supplies water to the city and has a public park and boat ramp.
Viridian
A large master-planned community in the far north by the Trinity River, built around lakes and trails close to DFW Airport.
Where to stay
Drury Plaza Hotel Dallas Arlington
101 W Road to Six Flags St, Arlington, TX 76011 · druryhotels.com
The Sanford House Inn & Spa
506 N Center St, Arlington, TX 76011 · thesanfordhouse.com
The Rambler Inn Arlington
300 E Front St, Arlington, TX 76011 · theramblertx.com
Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center
888 Nolan Ryan Expy, Arlington, TX 76011 · loewshotels.com
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Arlington North 6 Flags Dr
825 N Watson Rd, Arlington, TX 76011 · wyndhamhotels.com
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fort Worth Arlington West
8250 Anderson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76120 · wyndhamhotels.com
Holiday Inn Arlington NE-Rangers Ballpark by IHG
1311 Wet N Wild Way, Arlington, TX 76011 · ihg.com
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Arlington (I-20-Parks Mall) by IHG
1721 Pleasant Pl, Arlington, TX 76015 · ihg.com
Ranger Inn & Suites
800 Six Flags Dr, Arlington, TX 76011 · rangerinnsuites.com
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Arlington Ballpark / Six Flags
2001 E Copeland Rd, Arlington, TX 76011 · wyndhamhotels.com
Lux Hotel and Spa
117 S Watson Rd, Arlington, TX 76010 · luxhotelandspa.com
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Arlington North – Stadium Area by IHG
1024 Brookhollow Plaza Dr, Arlington, TX 76006 · ihg.com
Americas Best Value Inn Arlington
1904 E Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington, TX 76010 · sonesta.com
Executive Inn of Arlington, Near AT&T Stadium
314 N Collins St, Arlington, TX 76011 · executiveinnarlington.com
Super 8 by Wyndham Arlington Near AT&T Stadium
2712 E Abram St, Arlington, TX 76010 · wyndhamhotels.com
Comfort Suites Arlington - Entertainment District
411 W Road to Six Flags St, Arlington, TX 76011 · choicehotels.com
Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Arlington Near Six Flags
2500 E Lamar Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006 · marriott.com
Hyatt Place Dallas/Arlington
2380 E Road to Six Flags St, Arlington, TX 76011 · hyatt.com
Aloft Dallas Arlington Entertainment District
2140 E Lamar Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006 · marriott.com
Budget Host Inn Arlington
1000 E Division St, Arlington, TX 76011 · budgethost.com
Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Arlington/Entertainment District
1500 Nolan Ryan Expy, Arlington, TX 76011 · marriott.com
Four Points by Sheraton Dallas Arlington Entertainment District
2451 E Randol Mill Rd, Arlington, TX 76011 · marriott.com
Home2 Suites by Hilton Fort Worth Arlington West
1225 Little Cina Ln, Fort Worth, TX 76120 · hilton.com
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Dallas Arlington North
1975 E Lamar Blvd, Arlington, TX 76006 · marriott.com
Baymont by Wyndham Arlington At Six Flags Dr
2401 Diplomacy Dr, Arlington, TX 76011 · wyndhamhotels.com
Sleep Inn Arlington Near Six Flags
750 Six Flags Dr, Arlington, TX 76011 · choicehotels.com
Motel 6 Arlington, TX – Entertainment District
910 N Collins St, Arlington, TX 76011 · motel6.com
Motel 6 Arlington, TX - UTA
703 Benge Dr, Arlington, TX 76013 · motel6.com
Oasis Motel
818 W Division St, Arlington, TX 76012
Restaurants & places to go
Airports
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) 13 mi to the centre
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 33 airlines (American Airlines, US Airways, Spirit Airlines, Delta Air Lines…) · direct flights to 187 destinations incl. Atlanta, Frankfurt, London, Los Angeles, New Orleans… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 33 airlines, 187 direct destinations
- American Airlines AA (ERJ-145, MD-80, M83, ERD, 737-800, CRJ…) · 183 routes: Abilene*, Aguascalientes*, Albuquerque, Alexandria*, Amarillo*, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Baton Rouge*, Beaumont*, Belize City, Bentonville, Birmingham, Bloomington*, Bogota, Boston, Brisbane*, Brownsville*, Buenos Aires, Calgary, Cancun, Caracas, Cedar Rapids*, Champaign*, Charleston*, Charleston*, Charlotte, Chattanooga*, Chicago, Chihuahua*, Cincinnati*, Cleveland, College Station*, Colorado Springs, Columbia*, Columbia*, Columbus, Corpus Christi, Cozumel, Dayton … +143 more
- US Airways US (ERJ-145, MD-80, M83, 737-800, ERD, A319…) · 180 routes: Abilene, Aguascalientes, Albuquerque, Alexandria, Amarillo, Atlanta*, Austin, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, Beaumont, Belize City, Bentonville, Birmingham, Bloomington*, Bogota, Boston, Brownsville*, Calgary, Cancun, Cedar Rapids*, Champaign*, Charleston*, Charleston*, Charlotte, Chattanooga, Chicago, Chihuahua*, Cincinnati, Cleveland, College Station, Colorado Springs, Columbia, Columbia, Columbus, Corpus Christi, Cozumel, Dayton, Del Bajio, Denver, Des Moines … +140 more
- Spirit Airlines NK (A319, A320) · 22 routes: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cancun, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Myrtle Beach, New Orleans, New York, Oakland, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Jose Del Cabo, Tampa
- Delta Air Lines DL (A319, A320, MD-88, CRJ-900, Embraer 175, A330-200…) · 12 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta, Calgary*, Cincinnati*, Detroit, Memphis*, Mexico City, Minneapolis, New York*, New York, Salt Lake City, Seoul*
- United Airlines UA (A319, 737-800, 737-700, A320, 737-900, A330-300…) · 11 routes: Chicago, Cleveland*, Denver, Frankfurt*, Houston, Los Angeles*, Newark, San Francisco, San Salvador*, Toronto*, Washington
- British Airways BA (777, MD-80, M83, 747-400, 767-300, ERJ-145) · 8 routes: Atlanta*, Frankfurt*, London, Madrid*, Mexico City*, Morelia*, New Orleans*, Paris*
- Alaska Airlines AS (737-800, 757, 767-300, M83, 73J, 737-900…) · 6 routes: Los Angeles*, Portland, San Diego*, San Francisco*, Santa Ana*, Seattle
- Finnair AY (777, 747-400, 767-300) · 4 routes: Frankfurt*, London, Madrid, Paris*
- Iberia Airlines IB (777, 747-400, 767-300, 777-300ER) · 4 routes: Frankfurt*, London*, Madrid*, Paris*
- WestJet WS (737-800, A319, 737-700) · 4 routes: Calgary, Montreal*, Toronto*, Vancouver*
- LAN Airlines LA (767-300, A319) · 3 routes: Bogota*, Lima*, Santiago*
- Malaysia Airlines MH (777) · 3 routes: Frankfurt, London, Tokyo
- Qantas QF (M83, MD-80, A319, 747-400) · 3 routes: Atlanta*, Brisbane, New Orleans*
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (777, MD-80, M83) · 2 routes: New Orleans*, Tokyo*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (Embraer 190, 777-200LR) · 2 routes: Boston, Dubai
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (A319, 330, MD-88) · 2 routes: Amsterdam, Atlanta*
- Sun Country Airlines SY (737-800) · 2 routes: Cancun, Minneapolis
- TAM Brazilian Airlines JJ (767-300, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo
- Virgin America VX (A319, A320) · 2 routes: Los Angeles, San Francisco
- AeroMéxico AM (EMJ) · 1 route: Mexico City*
- Air Berlin AB (777) · 1 route: Frankfurt*
- Air Canada AC (Embraer 175) · 1 route: Toronto
- Air France AF (A319, MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- AirTran Airways FL (M83) · 1 route: Austin*
- Alitalia AZ (MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (Embraer 190) · 1 route: San Salvador
- Emirates EK (777-200LR) · 1 route: Dubai
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319, A320) · 1 route: Denver
- Korean Air KE (777-200) · 1 route: Seoul
- LAN Argentina 4M (777) · 1 route: Buenos Aires*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-300) · 1 route: Frankfurt
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-800) · 1 route: Fort Myers*
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (A319, MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) 18 mi to the centre
Dallas, TX, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 8 airlines (Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, Air France, Delta Air Lines…) · direct flights to 24 destinations incl. Atlanta, Amarillo, Austin, Birmingham, Houston… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves Fort Worth (29 mi) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 8 airlines, 24 direct destinations
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 73C, 735, 737-300) · 18 routes: Albuquerque, Amarillo, Austin, Birmingham, Branson, El Paso, Harlingen, Houston, Kansas City, Little Rock, Lubbock, Midland, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, St. Louis, Tulsa, Wichita
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 73C, 735, 737-300) · 15 routes: Amarillo*, Austin*, Birmingham*, Houston, Kansas City*, Little Rock*, Lubbock*, Midland*, New Orleans*, Oklahoma City*, Salt Lake City*, San Antonio*, San Francisco*, Seattle*, St. Louis*
- Air France AF (CRJ) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Delta Air Lines DL · 1 route: Atlanta
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (CRJ) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- SeaPort Airlines K5 (CNC) · 1 route: El Dorado
- United Airlines UA (ERJ) · 1 route: Houston*
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (CRJ) · 1 route: Atlanta*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Fort Worth Meacham International Airport (FTW) 16 mi to the centre
Fort Worth, TX, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Perot Field/Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) 22 mi to the centre
Fort Worth, TX, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Mid-Way Regional Airport 22 mi to the centre
Midlothian/Waxahachie, TX, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Dallas Executive Airport (RBD) 15 mi to the centre
Dallas, TX, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Local transit
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)
Bus · Dallas, Texas · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Fort Worth Transit Authority
Bus · Fort Worth, Texas · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Trains & rail
Amtrak
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Greyhound
Intercity coach
Jefferson Lines
Intercity coach
MegaBus
Intercity coach
Trailways
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Aero
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Airshare
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Phenom 300, Challenger 350 · Fractional and jet card programme centred on the US Midwest and East.
Blade
Helicopter, by-the-seat · Helicopters, seaplanes, jets via partners · By-the-seat helicopters Manhattan–JFK/Newark and the Hamptons; jet charter through partners.
Clay Lacy Aviation
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, light to ultra-long-range · Charter, management and FBOs at Van Nuys and Orange County; the original Hollywood jet operator.
Flexjet
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Living Here
Getting about
- Arlington is a car city on the interstate grid, with I-30, I-20 and SH 360 the main routes. Game-day traffic around the stadiums can stop the surrounding roads; arrive early or plan around it.
- Arlington On-Demand, booked by app, carries riders anywhere in the city in shared vans for a modest distance-based fare, and connects to the Trinity Railway Express at CentrePort station for trains to Dallas and Fort Worth. There is no fixed-route city bus network.
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is about twenty minutes' drive north. Love Field in Dallas is a little further.
- Ride-hailing apps are widely used, especially for stadium events.
Health
- Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital and Medical City Arlington are the main hospitals; major trauma cases often go to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth or Parkland in Dallas.
- Dial 911 for any emergency. Summers are hot, and spring brings severe storms, hail and tornado warnings; take them seriously.
- American healthcare is expensive: visitors need travel insurance with good medical cover.
Work & study
- The University of Texas at Arlington is one of the largest universities in the state, strong in engineering, nursing and business. Tarrant County College has a campus in south-east Arlington.
- Big employers include the university, the GM assembly plant, the school district, the stadiums and attractions, and the hospitals; many residents commute to Dallas, Fort Worth or the airport.
- Non-citizens need a visa or immigration status that allows work. Texas has no state income tax, but property taxes are high.
Money & manners
- US dollars. Cards are taken almost everywhere, and stadiums are largely cashless. Tipping of around 18 to 20 per cent is expected in restaurants and bars.
- Friendly, family-oriented and serious about football in autumn; Friday-night high-school games draw big crowds too.
- Summers are long and hot, winters short with the occasional ice storm. Spring and autumn are the pleasant seasons.
News
Situations Vacant
Classified
Property
Sport
Display Advertising
Sources
- Geoverts Local — Arlingtonthe local directory, the people-and-company index, and who is hiring
- Better Mapping — Arlingtonthe intelligence map — parcels, boundaries and what is actually where