Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 16m
Distance
407.1 mi
655 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gonzales, TX
Wikimedia Commons
This 407.1-mile journey from Garland, TX to Gonzales, TX will take approximately 7 hours and 16 minutes of driving time. Primarily using I-30 and TX-130 Toll, this drive is largely highway-focused, making it a feasible day trip for those looking to cover significant ground. With an estimated fuel cost of $62 and a plan for two stops, you can manage this trip efficiently. The route stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a consistent landscape for your drive. Consider an early start to maximize daylight hours and minimize traffic.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203.6 miles from Garland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 42m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 30 | 131.8 mi | 2h 16m |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| TX 130 Toll | 58.5 mi | 54m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 37.9 mi | 39m |
| I 35 | 26.5 mi | 26m |
| US Highway 259 South | 16.3 mi | 24m |
| North United States Highway 183 | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| US 183 | 10.1 mi | 11m |
Step-by-step road directions between Garland, TX and Gonzales, TX.
Start on FM 1701
At end of road, turn right onto US 259
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 30
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 35E
Continue on I 35E
Continue on I 35; US 77
Continue on I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Take the exit
Continue on TX 130 Toll
Take the exit
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183
Turn left onto US 90; US 183
Continue on US 183
Turn left onto Spur 146
Turn left onto US 183 Business
Turn right onto Saint Lawrence Street
Arrive at destination
For this 7-hour, 16-minute drive, departing Garland, TX early in the morning is your best bet to avoid congestion, especially on the initial freeway segments. Planning for two stops along the 407.1 miles should allow for comfortable breaks without significantly extending your travel time. Given the $62 fuel cost, ensure your tank is full before leaving Garland. A key tip for this route is to monitor your navigation for the transition to TX-130 Toll, as it's a significant portion of the drive and can have different tolling mechanisms than standard highways.
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 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 90 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.6 miles or 3h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gonzales, TX than in the middle of the route.
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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Garland, TX
This is one driving day of about 407.1 miles and 7h 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
204 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.
A short stop after about 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 203.6 miles from Garland, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 150.7 and 371.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$61.51 one way
$123.03 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $67.33 | $134.66 |
| premium | $4.54 | $72.68 | $145.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $89.88 | $179.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 122.1 | 1 | $42.75 | $19.54 |
| Efficient EV | 101.8 | 1 | $35.62 | $16.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 162.8 | 2 | $56.99 | $26.05 |
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
48 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Garland on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Gonzales on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect an 87% highway-focused drive, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 131.8 miles on I-30. The route begins with South R L Thornton Freeway before transitioning to I-30, and eventually TX-130 Toll. This profile suggests a consistent pace, largely on well-maintained, high-speed roads. While not overly technical, the extended highway segments mean you'll be settling into a rhythm of consistent travel for significant portions of the trip. The character is one of efficient transit across the Texas landscape.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and South R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 150.7 miles in.
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 407.1 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 150.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Garland, TX and Gonzales, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton and Dallas Zoo.
Waco
Denton
Dallas Zoo
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.
Gonzales is the county seat of Gonzales County, Texas, and one of the oldest cities in Texas.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 16m. Total distance: 407.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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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