Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
141.7 mi
228 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
This 141.7-mile drive from Garland, TX to Forney, TX is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 43 minutes. With 94% of the journey on highways, it's a straightforward drive primarily utilizing I-30 and US Highway 259 South. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $21. Given its relatively short distance and highway focus, this trip offers flexibility for departure and stop timing. Both Garland and Forney are situated within the Great Plains region, so expect consistent, open-road scenery throughout your travels.
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
70.9 miles from Garland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Garland is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area in the State of Texas. Mike Judge, the creator of Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill, used to live in Garland, as well as some other small towns around Texas. So, yeah. Don't be shocked if you take a wrong turn through a downscale neighborhood and see someone barbecuing hot dogs using one of those things that turns your truck's air filter into a grill. On the other hand, Garland's north side is a palacial monument to suburban living in all its McMansioned, strip malling, Starbucks-sipping glory. Garland is basically an unprepossessing, pleasant place. While it's hard to get too excited about much that happens in Garland, it is just so darned pleasant.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 141.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 94% of the 141.7 miles spent on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 110 miles on I-30, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While much of the drive will be on high-speed interstates, the inclusion of FM 740 suggests a potential shift to more local roads closer to your destination. This mix means you'll experience both efficient travel and a more intimate connection with the Texas landscape.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and US Highway 259 South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near US 259 / US Highway 259 South.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 43m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (US 259 / US Highway 259 South): Navigation decision point; at 18.9 miles (I 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto US 259 / US Highway 259 South
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 30
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward FM 740: Ridge Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto FM 460 / Clements Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 30 | 110 mi | 1h 50m |
| US Highway 259 South | 16.3 mi | 24m |
| FM 740 | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Ridge Road | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| FM 1701 | 2.1 mi | 5m |
| Laurence Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Clements Drive | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Bois D'Arc | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Garland, TX and Forney, TX.
Start on FM 1701
At end of road, turn right onto US 259
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 30
Take the exit
Turn straight onto East Interstate 30
Turn left onto FM 740
Continue on FM 740
Continue on FM 740
Turn left onto FM 740
Continue on FM 740
Turn right onto FM 460
Turn left onto West US Highway 80
Turn slight right
Continue on FM 688
Turn right onto FM 740
Turn right onto West Main Street
Arrive at destination
For this 2-hour and 43-minute drive, leaving Garland, TX in the morning or mid-afternoon will help you avoid peak traffic. With only one recommended stop and a 110-mile stretch on I-30, you can plan your breaks strategically. Consider filling up your fuel tank before departing Garland, as the $21 fuel cost is based on the entire 141.7 miles. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best, but be mindful of the limited number of fuel stops indicated.
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.
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 31 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.9 miles or 1h 22m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forney, TX than in the middle of the route.
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Garland, TX
This is one driving day of about 141.7 miles and 2h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.9 mi from Garland, TX · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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.
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 70.9 miles from Garland, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110 miles.
The final approach into Forney, 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 Forney, 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.
Regular Gas
$21.41 one way
$42.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $23.44 | $46.87 |
| premium | $4.54 | $25.30 | $50.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.29 | $62.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.5 | 0 | $14.88 | $6.80 |
| Efficient EV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.40 | $5.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.7 | 0 | $19.84 | $9.07 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Garland on Friday
Local time
5:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Forney on Friday
Local time
5:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
74°F
Greenville, TX
71 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Garland, TX or browse trips ending in Forney, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
