Origin
Midland, TX
Afternoon in Midland on Monday
Local time
12:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Midland, TX to Garland, TX
Drive Time
7h 8m
Distance
481.3 mi
775 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$74
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 57m
★
6 AM
7h 8m
8 AM
7h 30m
10 AM
7h 16m
12 PM
7h 14m
3 PM
7h 17m
5 PM
7h 29m
8 PM
7h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Midland, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Midland, TX to Garland, TX covers 481.3 miles and takes about 7h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Big Spring Street, West Texas Avenue, East Front Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $73.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
240.6 miles from Midland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 8m drive with frequent turns across 481.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Big Spring Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Midland, TX to Garland, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Big Spring Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Texas Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Front Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 80 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 20 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tom Landry Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East R L Thornton Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Big Spring Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Midland, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on West Wall Street
46 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Wall Street
2
Turn right onto North Big Spring Street
384 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Big Spring Street
3
Turn right onto West Texas Avenue
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
West Texas Avenue
4
Turn straight onto East Front Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Front Street
5
Continue on East Highway 80
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
East Highway 80
6
Take the exit straight toward I 20 East: Abilene
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20 East: Abilene
7
Merge slight left
276 mi
·
4 hr 38 min
8
Keep slight left to continue on West Freeway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
West Freeway
9
Continue on Tom Landry Freeway
31 mi
·
36 min
·
Tom Landry Freeway
10
Continue on East R L Thornton Freeway
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
11
Keep slight left to continue on East R L Thornton Freeway
125 mi
·
2 hr 8 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
13
Turn left onto US Highway 259 North
17 mi
·
24 min
·
US Highway 259 North
14
Turn left
2.1 mi
·
5 min
15
Arrive at your destination
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 240.6 miles from Midland, TX, or about 3h 34m into the drive.
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 106 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 240.6 miles or 3h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 14m
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 Midland, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Midland, TX
This is one driving day of about 481.3 miles and 7h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 106 miles from Midland, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 240.6 mi from Midland, TX · 3h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
241 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 106 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 240.6 miles from Midland, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.52 one way
$147.04 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
168 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $80.57 | $161.14 |
| premium | $4.59 | $86.99 | $173.99 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $106.93 | $213.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 168.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 144.4 | 1 | $50.54 | $23.10 |
| Efficient EV | 120.3 | 1 | $42.11 | $19.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 192.5 | 2 | $67.38 | $30.80 |
Gas CO2
168 kg
EV CO2
56 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Monday
Local time
12:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°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.
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
10 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
7h 8m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Midland, TX to Garland, TX covers 481.3 miles and takes about 7h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Big Spring Street, West Texas Avenue, East Front Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 240.6 miles from Midland, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $73.52 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 8m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Midland, TX to Garland, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Midland, TX to Garland, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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