Garland, TX to Dayton, TX is 278.2 miles and takes about 5 hours 31 minutes via Diboll Relief Route and US 271, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region. You'll spend a good portion of the drive on surface roads, so expect a more local pace than a pure interstate trip. It's a solid option if you're looking for a single-day drive without excessive time behind the wheel.
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
139.1 miles from Garland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Garland, TX and Dayton, TX.
1
Start on FM 1701
2.1 mi·5 min·FM 1701
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 259
16 mi·24 min·US Highway 259 South
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
4
Merge onto I 30
17 mi·17 min·I 30
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 271 to US 67, SH 49, FM 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris, Pittsburg
6
Turn straight onto Lakewood Drive
0.2 mi·26 sec·Lakewood Drive
7
Turn left onto US 271
0.5 mi·58 sec·West Ferguson Road
8
Turn straight onto US 271
5.5 mi·6 min·Bill Ratliff Freeway
9
Continue on South US Highway 271
4.2 mi·4 min·South US Highway 271
10
Continue on US 271
23 mi·25 min·US 271
11
Turn straight onto TX 155
1.4 mi·1 min·TX 155
12
Turn left onto FM 2685
6.5 mi·7 min·FM 2685
13
At end of road, turn left onto FM 2685
4.1 mi·5 min·FM 2685
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 80
2.1 mi·2 min·West Upshur Avenue
15
Turn right onto US 271
0.3 mi·22 sec·North Main Street
16
Turn slight right onto US 271
1.6 mi·1 min·South Tyler Street
17
Turn left onto TX 135
11 mi·13 min·State Highway 135
18
Keep slight left at fork
48 ft·0 sec
19
Enter roundabout onto Houston Street
103 ft·1 sec·Houston Street
20
Continue on Houston Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Houston Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto US 259 Business; TX 42
16 mi·19 min·South Henderson Boulevard
22
Continue on US 79; US 259
1.7 mi·2 min·Highway 79
23
Turn left onto US 259
16 mi·18 min·US Route 259
24
Continue on US 259
2.9 mi·3 min·North Railroad Avenue
25
Continue on US 259
3.0 mi·3 min·US Route 259
26
Continue on US 259
11 mi·12 min·US Highway 259
27
Take the exit
224 ft·6 sec
Toward US 59 South: Lufkin
28
Continue on this road
420 ft·11 sec·this road
29
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
30
Turn left
104 ft·4 sec
31
Turn right onto US 59
0.7 mi·47 sec·North US Highway 59
32
Continue on US 59
6.4 mi·7 min·Northwest Stallings Drive
33
Continue on US 59; TX 7; TX 21; Loop 224
0.4 mi·25 sec·Stallings Drive
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
35
Turn straight
223 ft·6 sec
36
Merge onto US 59
1.3 mi·1 min·South Street
37
Continue on US 59
19 mi·22 min·South US Highway 59
38
Take the exit
396 ft·9 sec
Toward South First Street
39
Turn straight onto South Medford Drive
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Medford Drive
40
Turn left onto US 59 Bus
4.1 mi·5 min·South First Street
41
Continue on US 59
1.3 mi·1 min·US 59
42
Continue on US 59
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Diboll Relief Route
43
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward FM 2025: Coldspring
44
Continue on US-59 Bypass
0.1 mi·22 sec·US-59 Bypass
45
Turn left onto FM 2025
0.3 mi·41 sec·Belcher Street
46
Turn right onto Loop 573
0.6 mi·58 sec·Washington Avenue
47
Turn left onto TX 105 Business; TX 321
26 mi·34 min·East Houston Street
Use the left lane.
48
Turn left onto US 90; TX 146
0.3 mi·27 sec·United States Highway 90 West
49
Turn right onto FM 1409
142 ft·8 sec·South Winfree Street
50
Turn left
225 ft·18 sec
51
Turn right
155 ft·16 sec
52
Turn left
87 ft·6 sec
53
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 31-minute drive, leaving Garland, TX in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With only one planned stop suggested, you have flexibility to add more if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition to surface roads where stations might be less frequent. The $44 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you go. Since this is a single-day trip, you can depart at your leisure, but an early start will give you more time upon arrival in Dayton, TX.
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 139.1 miles from Garland, TX, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 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 61 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.1 miles or 2h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dayton, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Garland, 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 Garland, TX
This is one driving day of about 278.2 miles and 5h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Garland, 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 Diboll Relief Route for about 67.4 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 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.9 and 278.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
35.9 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the exit toward US 271 to US 67, SH 49, FM 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris, Pittsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 271 to US 67, SH 49, FM 1734: Mount P...
5
96.5 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|Houston Street
Enter roundabout onto Houston Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
97.2 mi into trip|~2h in|US 259 Business; TX 42 / South Henderson Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto US 259 Business; TX 42 / South Henderson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
251.3 mi into trip|~4h 55m in|TX 105 Business; TX 321 / East Houston Street
Turn left onto TX 105 Business; TX 321 / East Houston Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
278.1 mi into trip|~5h 30m in|FM 1409 / South Winfree Street
Turn right onto FM 1409 / South Winfree Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.76 one way
$83.53 round trip
$3.81/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$46.21
$92.42
premium
$4.57
$50.00
$100.00
diesel
$6.28
$68.74
$137.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.5
1
$29.21
$13.35
Efficient EV
69.6
0
$24.34
$11.13
EV Truck/SUV
111.3
1
$38.95
$17.80
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Garland, TX
Late night
in Garland on Thursday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dayton, TX
Late night
in Dayton on Thursday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 5 mph1% chanceLive 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
5 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
5h 31m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 278.2 miles with 52% of it on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 67.4 miles on Diboll Relief Route before transitioning to more surface roads. Expect to navigate through areas with a higher density of intersections and local traffic as you move away from the main highways. The profile is mostly surface roads, so plan for a more varied driving experience.
Only 52% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.4 mi on Diboll Relief Route.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 29 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 35.9 miles in.
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 278.2 miles you will encounter 29 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 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.5 miles (Houston Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 97.2 miles (US 259 Business; TX 42 / South Henderson Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
440 ft81 ft
Total Climb
160 ft
Total Descent
465 ft
Highest Point
440 ft
~139.1 mi in
Elevation Range
359 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Garland, TX and Dayton, TX, road signs point toward Sh 49, Fm 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris, Pittsburg and Fm 2025: Coldspring.
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 5h 31m. Total distance: 278.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.4 miles on Diboll Relief Route. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 Dayton, 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.5 miles (Houston Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 97.2 miles (US 259 Business; TX 42 / South Henderson Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dayton, TX before the return drive.
