Origin
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
4:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas, TX to Garland, TX
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
151.8 mi
244 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Dallas to Garland covers 152.6 miles and takes approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes behind the wheel. Because this route is well within the range of a standard day trip, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. You will navigate via a combination of Commerce Street, I-45 South, and I-30 to reach your destination. Budgeting around $23 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire journey. Both cities remain firmly within the Great Plains region, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your drive. It is a straightforward, manageable trek that serves as a practical connection between these two Texas locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.9 miles from Dallas, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise. Since the route features a 0% highway share, you will spend your time navigating through local roads and urban connectors. This profile creates a more technical experience behind the wheel, requiring your full attention as you move between the segments of Commerce Street and the interstate portions. Because there is no single longest uninterrupted stretch, the drive feels dynamic and requires frequent adjustments rather than long periods of cruise control. You should prepare for a steady, hands-on driving experience that demands engagement with the road's layout.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East R L Thornton Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 130.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and US Highway 259 North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Commerce Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 151.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Commerce Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Commerce Street
Turn left onto Commerce Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 45 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 45 South
8
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 30
7
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward I 30 East
7
7.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Dallas, TX to Garland, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Daingerfield along the way.
Daingerfield
132.9 mi in
|
~2h 19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East R L Thornton Freeway | 130.9 mi | 2h 15m |
| US Highway 259 North | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| FM 1701 | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Commerce Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Lamar Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 130.9 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on North Lamar Street
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Lamar Street
Use the none lane.
2
Turn left onto Commerce Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Commerce Street
Use the none lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 45 South
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 30
Use the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 30 East
Use the none lane.
6
Merge onto I 30; US 67
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67
125 mi
·
2 hr 8 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
9
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi
·
24 min
·
US Highway 259 North
10
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
FM 1701
11
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 23 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid the heaviest local traffic. Since there are no scheduled stops in this itinerary, you are free to dictate your own pace, though you may want to account for the technical nature of the turn-heavy roads when calculating your arrival. Keep your fuel budget of $23 in mind as you plan your stops, ensuring you have enough to cover the full 152.6-mile distance. A helpful tip for this specific route is to prioritize your GPS navigation early, as the transition between local streets and highway segments can be frequent. Staying alert during these transitions will make your trip significantly smoother.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.9 miles from Dallas, TX, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.9 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garland, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dallas, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dallas, TX
This is one driving day of about 151.8 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dallas, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on East R L Thornton Freeway for about 130.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.9 mi from Dallas, TX · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.9 miles from Dallas, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before East R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130.9 miles.
Arriving in Garland, TX
The final approach into Garland, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Garland, TX.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.19 one way
$46.38 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $25.41 | $50.82 |
| premium | $4.59 | $27.44 | $54.88 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $33.72 | $67.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.5 | 0 | $15.94 | $7.29 |
| Efficient EV | 38 | 0 | $13.28 | $6.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.7 | 0 | $21.25 | $9.72 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Garland, TX
Afternoon in Garland on Sunday
Local time
4:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
59°F
Greenville, TX
76 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Dallas, TX to Garland, TX covers 151.8 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East R L Thornton Freeway, US Highway 259 North, FM 1701. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.9 miles from Dallas, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 151.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Commerce Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Dallas, TX to Garland, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Daingerfield along the way.
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