Abilene, TX to Garland, TX is 331.9 miles and takes about 6 hours 2 minutes via East R L Thornton Freeway and I 20, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive focuses entirely on highways, taking you across the vast Great Plains region of Texas. Expect a straightforward journey with minimal detours, ideal for those who prefer covering ground efficiently. Given the 6-hour duration, it's a manageable same-day trip, but plan your departure to account for potential traffic as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
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
166 miles from Abilene, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East R L Thornton Freeway
132.6 mi
2h 17m
I 20
128.2 mi
2h 10m
Tom Landry Freeway
31 mi
36m
US Highway 259 North
16.5 mi
24m
West Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
East Highway 80
5.3 mi
8m
FM 1701
2.1 mi
4m
North 1st Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Abilene, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on South Pine Street
259 ft·7 sec·South Pine Street
2
Turn right
361 ft·16 sec
3
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
374 ft·14 sec·South 1st Street
4
Continue on this road
265 ft·13 sec·this road
5
Turn slight right onto South Pine Street
141 ft·3 sec·South Pine Street
6
Turn right onto North 1st Street
0.4 mi·46 sec·North 1st Street
7
Continue on I 20 Bus
5.3 mi·8 min·East Highway 80
8
Take the ramp
363 ft·8 sec
Toward I 20 East: Fort Worth
9
Merge onto I 20
128 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30
15 mi·17 min·West Freeway
Exit 421Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 30
31 mi·36 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
15
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi·24 min·US Highway 259 North
16
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi·4 min·FM 1701
17
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Abilene to beat potential headwinds and arrive in Garland with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop, you'll have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 132.6-mile stretch, and plan your refueling accordingly. The primary consideration will be navigating the increasing traffic density as you get closer to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, so anticipate a slower pace in the final hour.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 166 miles from Abilene, TX, or about 2h 57m 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 73 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 50m
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 Abilene, 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 Abilene, TX
This is one driving day of about 331.9 miles and 6h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Abilene, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 313 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
6.1 mi into trip|~9m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
134.2 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 30 / West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 421
Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
7
187.9 mi into trip|~3h 23m 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
5
313 mi into trip|~5h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.15 one way
$100.30 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$54.89
$109.79
premium
$4.54
$59.26
$118.52
diesel
$5.61
$73.28
$146.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.6
1
$34.85
$15.93
Efficient EV
83
0
$29.04
$13.28
EV Truck/SUV
132.8
1
$46.47
$21.24
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Abilene, TX
Morning
in Abilene on Tuesday
Local time
7:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Garland, TX
Morning
in Garland on Tuesday
Local time
7:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
1 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
6h 2m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 100% highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend your entire time on major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch clocks in at 132.6 miles, likely occurring on the East R L Thornton Freeway or I 20. While this offers consistent speed and ease of navigation, be prepared for a potentially monotonous experience. The character of the road remains largely consistent, characterized by multi-lane interstate travel across the open Texas landscape.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.6 mi on East R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and I 20. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 331.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 6.1 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.2 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Abilene, TX to Garland, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Daingerfield along the way.
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 6h 2m. Total distance: 331.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (100%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 132.6 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 37 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Garland, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 37 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 6.1 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 134.2 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Garland, TX before the return drive.
