If you are planning to travel from Farmers Branch to Garland, you are looking at a 159.7-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours to complete. This route is designed as a single-day trip, making it an efficient option if you want to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-30, US Highway 259 North, and the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, keeping the drive straightforward and focused. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, it remains a budget-friendly way to cross the Great Plains region. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, this highway-centric path offers a practical and direct connection between the two cities.
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
79.8 miles from Farmers Branch, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 30
121 mi
2h 3m
US Highway 259 North
16.5 mi
24m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
10.6 mi
11m
Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
4.7 mi
5m
Valley View Lane
2.3 mi
5m
FM 1701
2.1 mi
4m
Marsh Lane
0.5 mi
1m
Bee Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 30
— 121 mi, about 2h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farmers Branch, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on Bee Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·Bee Street
2
Turn left onto Valley View Lane
2.3 mi·5 min·Valley View Lane
3
Turn right onto Marsh Lane
0.5 mi·1 min·Marsh Lane
4
Turn left onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
328 ft·7 sec·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·20 sec
Toward I-635 East
6
Merge onto I 635
1.8 mi·1 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 635
4.7 mi·5 min·Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on I 635
8.8 mi·9 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 8B-AToward I 30 East: Texarkana, DallasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 30 East: TexarkanaUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 30; US 67
121 mi·2 hr 3 min·I 30; US 67
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
13
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi·24 min·US Highway 259 North
14
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi·4 min·FM 1701
15
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3-hour journey, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, though avoiding peak traffic hours on the major interstates is always a wise move. You should plan for one scheduled stop to stretch your legs, which will help break up the monotony of the long 121-mile interstate segment. Keep your $24 fuel budget in mind as you map out your refueling needs, ensuring you have enough to cover the entire distance without unnecessary detours. Given the high highway percentage, staying alert during the long, uninterrupted stretches is essential for a safe arrival. Use the shorter duration of this trip to your advantage by planning a departure that allows you to arrive in Garland well before your next engagement.
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 79.8 miles from Farmers Branch, TX, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121 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 35 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 27m 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 20m
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 Farmers Branch, 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 Farmers Branch, TX
This is one driving day of about 159.7 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Farmers Branch, 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 I 30 for about 121 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 3 and 19.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3 mi into trip|~7m in|Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Turn left onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
3.4 mi into trip|~7m in|I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Merge onto I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.7 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8B-A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Dallas
7
19.1 mi into trip|~25m 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
5
19.7 mi into trip|~26m in|I 30; US 67
Merge onto I 30; US 67
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.13 one way
$48.26 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$26.41
$52.83
premium
$4.54
$28.51
$57.03
diesel
$5.61
$35.26
$70.52
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: 55.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.9
0
$16.77
$7.67
Efficient EV
39.9
0
$13.97
$6.39
EV Truck/SUV
63.9
0
$22.36
$10.22
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Farmers Branch, TX
Late night
in Farmers Branch on Sunday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Garland, TX
Late night
in Garland on Sunday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
S 15 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 6:30AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 6:28AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
83°F
Greenville, TX
80 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
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed, highway-focused experience, as 97% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. The road’s personality is defined by its efficiency, highlighted by a significant 121-mile stretch along I-30 that allows for steady cruising. Because the vast majority of the route is interstate, you will experience a consistent rhythm behind the wheel rather than the stop-and-go nature of local roads. The transition between the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway and the stretches of US Highway 259 provides a change in pace, but the character remains consistently focused on long-distance transit. Overall, it is a straightforward drive that prioritizes speed and directness over rural sightseeing.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 121 mi on I 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and US Highway 259 North. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near Lyndon B Johnson Freeway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 159.7 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: at 3 miles (Lyndon B Johnson Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Farmers Branch, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Dallas and Daingerfield.
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 3h. Total distance: 159.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 121 miles on I 30. 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 3 miles (Lyndon B Johnson Freeway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (I 635 / Lyndon B Johnson Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Garland, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
