Origin
Bedford, TX
Late night in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bedford, TX to Garland, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
174.3 mi
280 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 39m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bedford, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bedford, TX to Garland, TX is 174.3 miles and takes about 3h 15m via East R L Thornton Freeway and US Highway 259 North, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, beginning and ending in the Great Plains region. With nearly all of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward journey focused on covering ground efficiently. The recommended 1-day timeframe suggests this is a manageable drive for most travelers looking to connect these two points without extensive detours.
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
87.1 miles from Bedford, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East R L Thornton Freeway | 131.9 mi | 2h 16m |
| US Highway 259 North | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| Airport Freeway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| SH 183 TEXpress | 7.6 mi | 7m |
| North Stemmons Freeway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| FM 1701 | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| John W Carpenter Freeway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Forest Ridge Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 131.9 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bedford, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on Forest Ridge Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Forest Ridge Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
2
Turn left onto Airport Freeway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward TX 183 East
Use the slight left lane.
4
Merge onto TX 183
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
450 ft
·
11 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Merge onto TX 183 TEXpress
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
8
Merge onto TX 183
0.8 mi
·
50 sec
·
John W Carpenter Freeway
9
Merge onto I 35E
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 428A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
327 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 30 East, I 45, US 75: Texarkana, Houston, McKinney
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 30 East, I 45, US 75: Texarkana, Houston, McKinney, Cesar Chavez Boulevard
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
16
Merge onto I 30; US 67
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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: Texarkana
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
19
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi
·
24 min
·
US Highway 259 North
20
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
FM 1701
21
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 15 minutes, this is a perfect same-day trip. You can depart anytime, but consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With only one stop recommended and a fuel cost estimated at $26, planning for gas might be your primary consideration. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 131.9-mile stretch on the East R L Thornton Freeway, as services might be less frequent than you'd expect on major interstates.
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 87.1 miles from Bedford, TX, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.9 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.1 miles or 1h 35m 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 32m
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 Bedford, 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 Bedford, TX
This is one driving day of about 174.3 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Bedford, 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 131.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87.1 miles from Bedford, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before East R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 22.1 and 23.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
22.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 428A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
8
22.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Bouleva...
7
22.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 East: Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
8
22.9 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 East, I 45, US 75: Texarkana, Houston, McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 30 East, I 45, US 75: Texarkana, Houst...
7
23.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 30 East, I 45, US 75: Texarkana, Houston, McKinney, Cesar Chavez Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 30 East, I 45, US 75: Texarkana, Houst...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.34 one way
$52.67 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $28.83 | $57.66 |
| premium | $4.54 | $31.12 | $62.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.48 | $76.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.30 | $8.37 |
| Efficient EV | 43.6 | 0 | $15.25 | $6.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.40 | $11.16 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Garland, TX
Late night in Garland on Sunday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Nevada, TX
87 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
17 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
3h 15m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 99% of the route utilizing major roadways like the East R L Thornton Freeway and Airport Freeway. You'll encounter a 131.9-mile stretch on the East R L Thornton Freeway, indicating long, uninterrupted periods of highway driving. The profile suggests a consistent pace, meaning you won't find many winding backroads or significant changes in road type that would slow you down. Expect a steady journey primarily on well-maintained, high-speed roads.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.9 mi on East R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and US Highway 259 North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 174.3 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 22.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.5 miles: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bedford, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Houston, Mckinney and Daingerfield.
Houston
22.9 mi in
|
~27m
Mckinney
22.9 mi in
|
~27m
Daingerfield
155.4 mi in
|
~2h 45m
About the Cities
Starting in Bedford, TX
Full guide →Bedford is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Arriving in Garland, TX
Full guide →Founded 1891
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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 174.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 131.9 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Garland, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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
Continue From Garland, TX
More trips to Garland, TX
Explore more options from Bedford, TX or browse trips ending in Garland, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.