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Trip from Duncanville, TX to Garland, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 4m

Distance

164.1 mi

264 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 53m ★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 13m
5 PM
3h 26m
8 PM
2h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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Downtown Duncanville, TX, TX

Duncanville, TX

Mark Direen

Downtown Garland, TX, TX

Garland, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Duncanville, TX to Garland, TX covers 164.1 miles and takes about 3h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East R L Thornton Freeway, US Highway 259 North, Marvin D Love Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 132.6 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.81 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

82.1 miles from Duncanville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East R L Thornton Freeway 132.6 mi 2h 17m
US Highway 259 North 16.5 mi 24m
Marvin D Love Freeway 5.5 mi 5m
South R L Thornton Freeway 3.6 mi 4m
FM 1701 2.1 mi 4m
East Wheatland Road 1 mi 2m
South Cockrell Hill Road 0.5 mi 1m
South Main Street 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: East R L Thornton Freeway — 132.6 mi, about 2h 17m

Traffic on I-30

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

7 AM

~3,719 veh/hr typical · worst 4,303

Quietest

2 AM

~450 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

8.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 98 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Duncanville, TX and Garland, TX.

1

Start on this road

26 ft · 3 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto East Center Street

21 ft · 8 sec · East Center Street
3

Turn left onto South Main Street

0.4 mi · 43 sec · South Main Street
4

Turn left onto East Wheatland Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Wheatland Road
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto South Cockrell Hill Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Cockrell Hill Road
6

Turn sharp left onto East Highway 67

368 ft · 7 sec · East Highway 67
Use the left lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward US 67 North Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8

Merge onto US 67

0.4 mi · 25 sec · East S G Alexander Freeway
9

Continue on US 67

5.5 mi · 5 min · Marvin D Love Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 35E

3.6 mi · 4 min · South R L Thornton Freeway
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Exit 427A Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork

422 ft · 5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
14

Keep slight left at fork

385 ft · 6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
15

Continue on I 30; US 67

7.5 mi · 9 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

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.
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
18

Turn left onto US 259

17 mi · 24 min · US Highway 259 North
19

Turn left onto FM 1701

2.1 mi · 4 min · FM 1701
20

Arrive at destination

FM 1701

Trip Plan

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 82.1 miles from Duncanville, TX, or about 1h 29m 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 36 miles or 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 82.1 miles or 1h 29m 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 22m

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 Duncanville, 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 Duncanville, TX

This is one driving day of about 164.1 miles and 3h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Duncanville, 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.

city in Hunt County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Caddo Mills, TX

82 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

Rowlett, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Greenville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 82.1 miles from Duncanville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before East R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 132.6 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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 20.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in | East Highway 67

Turn sharp left onto East Highway 67

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward US 67 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward US 67 North
8
11.7 mi into trip | ~14m 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
12.1 mi into trip | ~15m 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...
7
20.1 mi into trip | ~25m 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

$23.81 one way

$47.61 round trip

$3.69/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.08 $26.38 $52.76
premium $4.43 $28.63 $57.27
diesel $5.60 $36.17 $72.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 57.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.2 0 $17.23 $7.88
Efficient EV 41 0 $14.36 $6.56
EV Truck/SUV 65.6 0 $22.97 $10.50

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast as of Sep 2, 2026

Origin

Duncanville, TX

Night in Duncanville on Thursday

Local time

11:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy

SE 5 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued September 1 at 7:59PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 7:30PM CDT until September 2 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX

Destination

Garland, TX

Night in Garland on Thursday

Local time

11:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Partly Cloudy

SE 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued September 1 at 7:59PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 7:30PM CDT until September 2 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX

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

3h 4m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

164.1 mi in 3h 4m, mostly highway — 132.6 mi of that is on East R L Thornton Freeway.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?

8/10

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 1.9 miles in near East Highway 67.

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 15 significant decision points across 164.1 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 1.9 miles (East Highway 67): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

724 ft 278 ft

Total Climb

290 ft

Total Descent

628 ft

Highest Point

724 ft

Elevation Range

446 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Duncanville, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center and Daingerfield.

Fort Worth

12.1 mi in | ~15m

Texarkana

12.1 mi in | ~15m

Convention Center

12.2 mi in | ~15m

Daingerfield

145.2 mi in | ~2h 33m

About the Cities

Starting in Duncanville, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1880

Duncanville is a southern suburb of Dallas, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas. Duncanville's population was 39,000 in 2019. The city is part of the Best Southwest area, which includes Duncanville, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, and Lancaster.

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 4m. Total distance: 164.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). 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.

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 1.9 miles (East Highway 67): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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