This 251.1-mile drive from Woodway, TX to Garland, TX is best tackled as a single-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 36 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, covering about 85% of the route on interstate and freeway conditions. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $38, making it an economical option for a quick getaway or a necessary commute. Since both origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, expect a consistent landscape throughout. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive designed for efficient travel between these two Texas locations.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.6 miles from Woodway, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 251.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 251.1-mile journey, with 85% of the route utilizing major roadways. The primary arteries for this trip include East R L Thornton Freeway and I 35E, often referred to as Purple Heart Trail. You'll encounter one significant uninterrupted stretch of 132.6 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. This route is characterized by its efficiency rather than scenic detours, prioritizing speed and directness over winding country roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 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 132.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and I 35E. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.5 miles in near I 35E.
Driving Effort9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 251.1 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 42.5 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
42.5 mi into trip|~48m in|I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
8
98.7 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Bouleva...
6
99.1 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Wor...
6
99.2 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
7
107.1 mi into trip|~1h 57m 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Woodway, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center and Daingerfield.
Fort Worth
99.1 mi in|~1h 47m
Texarkana
99.1 mi in|~1h 47m
Convention Center
99.2 mi in|~1h 47m
Daingerfield
232.2 mi in|~4h 5m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East R L Thornton Freeway
132.6 mi
2h 17m
I 35E
56.2 mi
58m
Purple Heart Trail
33 mi
33m
US Highway 259 North
16.5 mi
24m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
4.3 mi
5m
FM 1701
2.1 mi
4m
South Valley Mills Drive
1.6 mi
3m
Spur 298
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodway, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on Old McGregor Road
79 ft·9 sec·Old McGregor Road
2
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
266 ft·7 sec·Santa Fe Drive
3
Continue on Texas Central Parkway
0.1 mi·27 sec·Texas Central Parkway
4
Turn left onto Woodway Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·Woodway Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US 84 East
6
Merge onto US 84
1.1 mi·1 min·George W Bush Parkway
7
Take the exit onto Spur 298
1.5 mi·2 min·Spur 298
Toward Spur 298: Franklin Avenue
8
Turn slight right
258 ft·9 sec
9
Take the ramp onto South Valley Mills Drive
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Valley Mills Drive
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
11
Merge onto Loop 396
1.5 mi·2 min·South Valley Mills Drive
12
Turn left onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.9 mi·1 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
13
Take the ramp
444 ft·10 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 77 North
14
Continue on US 77
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 77
15
Merge onto I 35; US 77
3.3 mi·3 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi·58 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 427AToward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin StreetUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
21
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft·6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
22
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
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: TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
25
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi·24 min·US Highway 259 North
26
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi·4 min·FM 1701
27
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 36-minute drive, starting your journey in the morning is advisable to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With only one suggested stop and a $38 fuel estimate, you have a lot of flexibility in how you pace yourself. The longest stretch without a major road change is over 132 miles, so plan for a rest stop before or after this segment. Consider fueling up before departing Woodway, as services might be more spaced out on the initial highway portions.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125.6 miles from Woodway, TX, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.6 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 55 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.6 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 38m
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 Woodway, 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 Woodway, TX
This is one driving day of about 251.1 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Woodway, 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 132.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 125.6 mi from Woodway, TX
· 2h 16m 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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.94 one way
$75.88 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$41.53
$83.06
premium
$4.54
$44.83
$89.66
diesel
$5.61
$55.44
$110.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.3
0
$26.37
$12.05
Efficient EV
62.8
0
$21.97
$10.04
EV Truck/SUV
100.4
1
$35.15
$16.07
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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
Woodway, TX
Late night
in Woodway on Saturday
Local time
3:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Garland, TX
Late night
in Garland on Saturday
Local time
3:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 36m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Woodway, TX to Garland, TX covers 251.1 miles and takes about 4h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East R L Thornton Freeway, I 35E, Purple Heart Trail. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 125.6 miles from Woodway, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.94 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break 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 20 significant decision points across 251.1 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 42.5 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Woodway, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center and Daingerfield.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Waco Mammoth National Monument.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
