Origin
Friendswood, TX
Late night in Friendswood on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Friendswood, 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
6h 16m
Distance
317.3 mi
511 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 4m
★
6 AM
6h 17m
8 AM
6h 42m
10 AM
6h 26m
12 PM
6h 23m
3 PM
6h 27m
5 PM
6h 41m
8 PM
6h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Friendswood, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Trip Overview
Embarking on a road trip from Friendswood, TX, to Garland, TX, covers 317.3 miles and will take approximately 6 hours and 16 minutes. This journey is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the route utilizing major freeways like US 59 and I-69 (also known as the Eastex Freeway). Given its duration, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day adventure, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Budget around $48 for fuel, and expect to make at least one planned stop along the way. Both your origin and destination are situated within the Great Plains region, suggesting a consistent landscape throughout your drive.
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
158.6 miles from Friendswood, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 59 | 57.5 mi | 1h 5m |
| I-69 | 42 mi | 44m |
| Eastex Freeway | 39.3 mi | 45m |
| US 271 | 29.8 mi | 34m |
| US Route 259 | 19.2 mi | 21m |
| I 30 | 17.1 mi | 17m |
| US Highway 259 North | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| Gulf Freeway | 13.6 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
US 59
— 57.5 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Friendswood, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on FM 518
32 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Friendswood Drive
2
Continue on FM 518
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Friendswood Drive
3
Turn right onto FM 2351
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Edgewood Avenue
4
Continue on FM 2351
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Friendswood Road
5
Continue on FM 2351
310 ft
·
11 sec
·
Clear Lake City Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Turn left onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 45 North
8
Merge onto I 45
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 45
Toward TX 288 South, I 69, US 59: Lake Jackson, Freeport, Cleveland, Victoria, Texas Southern University
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 288 South, US 59, I 69: Lake Jackson, Freeport, Victoria, Cleveland
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 69; US 59
39 mi
·
45 min
·
Eastex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69; US 59
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 69; US 59
14
Continue on I-69; US 59
42 mi
·
44 min
·
I-69; US 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 59; FM 942
36 mi
·
40 min
·
US 59; FM 942
16
Take the exit onto US 59
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
US 59
Toward US 59 North, Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 59
16 mi
·
17 min
·
US 59
Toward US 59 North: Nacogdoches
18
Turn left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
19
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
this road
20
Merge onto Loop 224
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Southwest Stallings Drive
21
Continue on US 59
0.9 mi
·
58 sec
·
North US Highway 59
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
this road
24
Merge onto US 259
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 259
25
Continue on US 259
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US Route 259
26
Continue on US 259
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Railroad Avenue
27
Continue on US 259
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US Route 259
28
Turn right onto US 79; US 259
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 79
29
Continue on US 259
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Kilgore Drive
30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 259 Business
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
US 259 Business
31
Turn left onto Houston Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Houston Street
32
Keep slight right at fork onto Houston Street
371 ft
·
7 sec
·
Houston Street
33
Enter roundabout onto TX 135
124 ft
·
1 sec
·
State Highway 135 North
34
Continue on TX 135
11 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 135 North
35
Continue on US 271
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Tyler Street
36
Continue on US 271
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Main Street
37
Turn left onto US 80
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Upshur Avenue
38
Turn right onto FM 2685
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
FM 2865
39
Turn right onto FM 2685
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
FM 2685
40
Turn right onto TX 155
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
TX 155
41
Continue on US 271
30 mi
·
34 min
·
US 271
42
Turn right onto Burton Road
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Burton Road
43
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
44
Merge onto I 30
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 30
45
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
46
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi
·
24 min
·
US Highway 259 North
47
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
FM 1701
48
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
To maximize your travel time, aim to depart from Friendswood early in the morning, ideally before 7 AM, to bypass potential rush hour traffic. This 6-hour and 16-minute drive allows for flexibility, but planning one comfortable stop around the halfway point can break up the 317.3 miles nicely. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $48, and it's always wise to refuel before the needle gets too low. A specific tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the transitions between US 59, I-69, and the Eastex Freeway as you get closer to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to ensure a smooth arrival in Garland.
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 158.6 miles from Friendswood, TX, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.5 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 70 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.6 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 4m
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 Friendswood, 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 Friendswood, TX
This is one driving day of about 317.3 miles and 6h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Friendswood, 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 US 59 for about 57.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 158.6 miles from Friendswood, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 295 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 220.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
Turn left onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
18.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward TX 288 South, I 69, US 59: Lake Jackson, Freeport, Cleveland, Victoria, Texas Southern University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 45
Toward TX 288 South, I 69, US 59: Lake Jackson,...
6
19.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 288 South, US 59, I 69: Lake Jackson, Freeport, Victoria, Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 288 South, US 59, I 69: Lake Jackson,...
8
20.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland
6
220.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 18m in
|
TX 135 / State Highway 135 North
Enter roundabout onto TX 135 / State Highway 135 North
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.94 one way
$95.89 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $52.48 | $104.96 |
| premium | $4.54 | $56.65 | $113.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $70.06 | $140.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.2 | 1 | $33.32 | $15.23 |
| Efficient EV | 79.3 | 0 | $27.76 | $12.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.9 | 1 | $44.42 | $20.31 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Destination
Garland, TX
Late night in Garland on Sunday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
22 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 16m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive predominantly features highway travel, making it a swift and efficient journey. With 89% of the route on major highways, you'll experience long stretches of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted segment spans 57.5 miles on US 59, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. The Eastex Freeway and I-69 are key components, providing a familiar interstate experience for most of the 317.3 miles. While largely highway-focused, be prepared for the typical changes in traffic patterns and speed limits as you approach urban areas.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
48 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.5 mi on US 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 59 and I-69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near Gulf Freeway Frontage Road.
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 29 significant decision points across 317.3 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 3.8 miles (Gulf Freeway Frontage Road): 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; at 19.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Friendswood, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Freeport, Cleveland, Victoria, Texas Southern University, Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches and Daingerfield.
Freeport
18.7 mi in
|
~24m
Cleveland
18.7 mi in
|
~24m
Victoria
18.7 mi in
|
~24m
Texas Southern University
18.7 mi in
|
~24m
Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches
139.3 mi in
|
~2h 41m
|
via US 59
Daingerfield
298.4 mi in
|
~5h 46m
About the Cities
Starting in Friendswood, TX
Full guide →Founded 1960
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 6h 16m. Total distance: 317.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.5 miles on US 59. 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 3.8 miles (Gulf Freeway Frontage Road): 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; at 19.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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