The drive from Garland, TX to Alice, TX covers 557.5 miles and takes about 9h 45m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 30, South R L Thornton Freeway, TX 130 Toll for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-distance drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 131.8 miles on I 30.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $84.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
278.8 miles from Garland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h into the drive
.
Drive Character
At 557.5 miles and 9h 45m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 30 and South R L Thornton Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 131.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and South R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 150.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 557.5 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 150.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
150.7 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 46A
Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
9
151.4 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
151.4 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Waco
7
312.7 mi into trip|~5h 35m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
8
440.7 mi into trip|~7h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Garland, TX and Alice, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton, Dallas Zoo and Corpus Christi.
Waco
150.7 mi in|~2h 46m
Denton
151.3 mi in|~2h 48m
Dallas Zoo
152.3 mi in|~2h 49m|via I 35E
Corpus Christi
440.7 mi in|~7h 38m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 30
131.8 mi
2h 16m
South R L Thornton Freeway
89.9 mi
1h 32m
TX 130 Toll
86.1 mi
1h 19m
I 37
60.5 mi
1h 1m
Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi
39m
South Nueces Street
36.1 mi
36m
I 10
32.5 mi
33m
I 35
26.5 mi
26m
Longest stretch:
I 30
— 131.8 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garland, TX and Alice, TX.
1
Start on FM 1701
2.1 mi·5 min·FM 1701
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 259
16 mi·24 min·US Highway 259 South
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
4
Merge onto I 30
132 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 46AToward I 35E: Denton, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
7
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I 35E South: WacoUse the left / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi·44 sec·South R L Thornton Freeway
10
Continue on I 35E
89 mi·1 hr 31 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426Toward Dallas ZooUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
26 mi·26 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
Exit 265Toward TX 130 Toll South: San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on TX 130 Toll
86 mi·1 hr 19 min·TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi·11 min·I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
9.4 mi·9 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi·12 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410
1.4 mi·1 min·Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 410; TX 130
6.7 mi·7 min·Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 41Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus ChristiUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus ChristiUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto I 37
60 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi·19 min·US 281 South
Toward US 281 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
36 mi·36 min·South Nueces Street
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
28
Continue on US 281 Business
3.1 mi·4 min·US 281 Business
29
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
0.8 mi·1 min·West 3rd Street
30
Turn right onto North Cameron Street
357 ft·15 sec·North Cameron Street
31
Turn left onto East 2nd Street
94 ft·4 sec·East 2nd Street
32
Arrive at destination
East 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 278.8 miles from Garland, TX, or about 5h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 123 miles or 2h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 278.8 miles or 5h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 278.8 miles or 5h
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alice, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Garland, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Garland, TX
Aim for roughly 279 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Alice, TX
Aim for roughly 279 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 123 miles from Garland, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 30 for about 131.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 278.8 mi from Garland, TX
· 5h into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
1 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 442.2
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 249.9
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $59 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
167.3
2
$58.54
$26.76
Efficient EV
139.4
1
$48.78
$22.30
EV Truck/SUV
223
2
$78.05
$35.68
Gas CO2
195 kg
EV CO2
65 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Garland, TX
Afternoon
in Garland on Friday
Local time
1:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alice, TX
Afternoon
in Alice on Friday
Local time
1:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
22 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
9h 45m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Garland, TX to Alice, TX covers 557.5 miles and takes about 9h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 30, South R L Thornton Freeway, TX 130 Toll. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 279 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 278.8 miles from Garland, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $84.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 557.5 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 150.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Garland, TX and Alice, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton, Dallas Zoo and Corpus Christi.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
