Medina County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Crystal City, TX to Garland, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 43m
Distance
539 mi
868 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$81
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 35m
★
6 AM
9h 44m
8 AM
10h 1m
10 AM
9h 50m
12 PM
9h 48m
3 PM
9h 51m
5 PM
10h 0m
8 PM
9h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Crystal City, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Crystal City, TX to Garland, TX is 539 miles and takes about 9h 43m via Purple Heart Trail and I-35E, with a fuel budget near $84 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive stays within the Great Plains region, primarily traversing Texas. While it's possible to complete in a single day, it's a substantial distance, making a two-day trip a more relaxed option. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward, direct path between these two Texas cities.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
269.5 miles from Crystal City, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 221.8 mi | 3h 52m |
| East R L Thornton Freeway | 132.6 mi | 2h 17m |
| I 35E | 56.2 mi | 58m |
| West US Highway 57 | 52 mi | 56m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 21.5 mi | 26m |
| North US Highway 83 | 16.9 mi | 19m |
| US Highway 259 North | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 7.4 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 221.8 mi, about 3h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crystal City, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on this road
42 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto FM 582
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
East Lake Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto FM 582; FM 1433
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North 7th Avenue
4
Merge onto US 83
17 mi
·
19 min
·
North US Highway 83
5
Turn right onto US 57; Loop 305
52 mi
·
56 min
·
West US Highway 57
6
At end of road, turn left onto Interstate 35 North
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Interstate 35 North
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
8
Merge onto I 35
34 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
10 mi
·
13 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35: Austin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
23
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
24
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
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.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
27
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi
·
24 min
·
US Highway 259 North
28
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
FM 1701
29
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
For this 9 hour 43 minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight. Given the distance, breaking this trip into two days is highly recommended, with an overnight stop around the halfway point. This allows for more comfortable driving and the chance to rest. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 221.8-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent. Planning your stops for fuel and breaks in advance will make the drive smoother.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 269.5 miles from Crystal City, TX, or about 4h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 221.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 119 miles or 2h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 269.5 miles or 4h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 269.5 miles or 4h 53m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 31m
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 Crystal City, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Crystal City, TX
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Garland, TX
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 miles from Crystal City, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 221.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
178 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
356 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Grand Prairie, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
270 mi · about 4.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Killeen, TX after about 270 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 119 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 269.5 miles from Crystal City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 221.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 270 miles or 4.9 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Medina County Southbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Hopkins County Westbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Hopkins County Eastbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.3 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
Spanish Governor's Palace
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12102077527
Visit websiteSan Antonio | The Saga
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9–9:30 pm
+12102259800
Visit websiteGO RIO San Antonio River Cruises
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+12102274746
Visit websiteHemisfair
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 5 am–12 pm
+12107094750
Visit websiteSan Antonio Fire Museum
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm
+12103907236
Visit websiteThe Amazing Mirror Maze
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10:30 am–8 pm
+12102242288
Visit websiteSan Antonio River Lock & Dam
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
+12102271373
Visit websiteSEA LIFE San Antonio
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12106101160
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 115.7 and 395 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
115.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christ...
7
126.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Austin
7
330.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 56m 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
386.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 54m 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...
7
395 mi into trip
|
~7h 5m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$81.44 one way
$162.89 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
189 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $89.15 | $178.29 |
| premium | $4.54 | $96.23 | $192.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $119.00 | $238.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$211–$321
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 188.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 161.7 | 1 | $56.59 | $25.87 |
| Efficient EV | 134.8 | 1 | $47.16 | $21.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 215.6 | 2 | $75.46 | $34.50 |
Gas CO2
189 kg
EV CO2
63 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.
Origin
Crystal City, TX
Late night in Crystal City on Tuesday
Local time
4:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Garland, TX
Late night in Garland on Tuesday
Local time
4:17 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
14 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
9h 43m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 297.4
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 111.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
With 58% of the drive on highways, you'll spend a good portion of your time on interstates. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 221.8 miles along Purple Heart Trail. Expect to encounter a mix of rural cruising and urban merging, particularly as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex on East R L Thornton Freeway and I-35E. The transition from open highway to more developed areas will be noticeable.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 221.8 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
At 9h 43m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 115.7 miles in near I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 539 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 115.7 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.2 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 330.4 miles (I 35E): 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 Crystal City, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi, Johnson City, Fort Worth, Texarkana and Convention Center.
Corpus Christi
115.7 mi in
|
~2h 6m
|
via I 35
Johnson City
115.7 mi in
|
~2h 6m
|
via I 35
Fort Worth
387 mi in
|
~6h 55m
Texarkana
387 mi in
|
~6h 55m
Convention Center
387.1 mi in
|
~6h 55m
About the Cities
Starting in Crystal City, TX
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Crystal City Internment Camp — building in Crystal City, Zavala County, Texas
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?
Solo Traveler
9h 43m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 221.8 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 270 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 50 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 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 50 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 115.7 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.2 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 330.4 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.7 hours each way, a round trip means 19.5 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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