Picnic Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Garland, TX to La Porte, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 9m
Distance
313.4 mi
504 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 57m
★
6 AM
6h 9m
8 AM
6h 35m
10 AM
6h 18m
12 PM
6h 16m
3 PM
6h 20m
5 PM
6h 34m
8 PM
6h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Garland, TX
Wikimedia Commons
La Porte, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Garland, TX to La Porte, TX is 313.4 miles and takes about 6h 9m via Diboll Relief Route and US 271, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. You'll travel across the Great Plains region of Texas, starting in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and heading southeast. The majority of this trip utilizes surface roads, so expect a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate drive. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, especially if you're looking to avoid the hustle of major highways.
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
156.7 miles from Garland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Diboll Relief Route | 98.5 mi | 1h 46m |
| US 271 | 22.6 mi | 25m |
| South US Highway 59 | 19.4 mi | 22m |
| US Route 259 | 19.3 mi | 21m |
| I 30 | 17.1 mi | 17m |
| US Highway 259 South | 16.3 mi | 24m |
| South Henderson Boulevard | 16.3 mi | 19m |
| North Sam Houston Tollway East | 13.2 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
Diboll Relief Route
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garland, TX and La Porte, 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
98 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
Diboll Relief Route
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 144A
Toward BW 8 East, BW 8 West: Sam Houston Parkway
Use the slight right lane.
44
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward BW 8 East: Sam Houston Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
45
Merge onto BW 8
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Sam Houston Parkway East
46
Continue on SHT
13 mi
·
15 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Continue on BW 8
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Sam Houston Parkway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Continue on SHT
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
East Sam Houston Tollway North
49
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward TX 225: Deer Park, Houston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
this road
Toward TX 225: Deer Park, Houston
51
Continue on BW 8
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
East Sam Houston Parkway South
Toward Texas 225: Deer Park, Houston
52
Turn left onto Pasadena Freeway Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Pasadena Freeway Frontage Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
53
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward TX 225 East
54
Merge onto TX 225
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Pasadena Freeway
55
Continue on TX 225
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
La Porte Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 146 South: La Porte
Use the slight right lane.
57
Merge onto TX 146
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
TX 146
58
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward TX 146 Business
Use the slight right lane.
59
Turn straight onto State Highway 146 North
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
State Highway 146 North
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
60
Turn left onto TX 146 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
61
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
174 ft
·
37 sec
·
North Broadway Street
62
Continue on North Broadway Street
12 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Broadway Street
63
Arrive at destination
North Broadway Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider leaving Garland in the morning to allow ample time for potential traffic and a comfortable pace. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but planning for one stop around the halfway point is wise. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $49 estimated cost suggests a budget-conscious approach. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage for Diboll Relief Route and US 271, as these form the backbone of your journey before you transition to more local roads.
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 156.7 miles from Garland, TX, or about 3h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 69 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.7 miles or 3h 9m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Porte, 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 313.4 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 98.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
157 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 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 156.7 miles from Garland, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Diboll Relief Route if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Polk County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Polk County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.8 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.4 mi from route
Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+12814562800
Visit websiteDurst Taylor Museum
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.6 mi from route
~6 min detour
Nacogdoches, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+19365604443
Visit websitePecan Acres Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Halfway reset
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Nacogdoches, Texas
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+19365592960
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 355 decision points cluster between mile 281.3 and 310.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
281.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 27m in
Take the exit toward BW 8 East, BW 8 West: Sam Houston Parkway
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 144A
Toward BW 8 East, BW 8 West: Sam Houston Parkwa...
7
281.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward BW 8 East: Sam Houston Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward BW 8 East: Sam Houston Parkway
7
303.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 54m in
Take the exit toward TX 225: Deer Park, Houston
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.
Toward TX 225: Deer Park, Houston
7
303.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 55m in
|
Pasadena Freeway Frontage Road
Turn left onto Pasadena Freeway Frontage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
310.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward TX 146 South: La Porte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward TX 146 South: La Porte
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.93 one way
$85.85 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
110 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $47.95 | $95.90 |
| premium | $4.23 | $52.13 | $104.26 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $59.18 | $118.35 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.30
Sam Houston Tollway
(16.3 mi)
$1.30
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94 | 1 | $32.91 | $15.04 |
| Efficient EV | 78.4 | 0 | $27.42 | $12.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 125.4 | 1 | $43.88 | $20.06 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Origin
Garland, TX
Evening in Garland on Monday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph
16% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 12:33PM CDT until July 17 at 3:30PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
La Porte, TX
Evening in La Porte on Monday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 10 mph
20% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 12:33PM CDT until July 17 at 3:30PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 11:14AM CDT until July 17 at 2:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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
1 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
6h 9m 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?
With 50% of the trip on highways, you'll experience a mix of driving. The Diboll Relief Route accounts for the longest stretch at 98.5 miles, offering a significant segment on primary roads. As you transition away from highways, you'll be navigating mostly surface roads, which can mean more frequent intersections and varied speed limits. Expect to encounter a greater number of exits and local traffic as you get closer to your destination.
Only 50% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
63 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on Diboll Relief Route.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 281.3 miles in.
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 35 significant decision points across 313.4 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 281.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 281.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 303.1 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
450 ft
19 ft
Total Climb
236 ft
Total Descent
603 ft
Highest Point
450 ft
~111.9 mi in
Elevation Range
432 ft
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 Garland, TX and La Porte, TX, road signs point toward Sh 49, Fm 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris, Pittsburg and Bw 8 East.
Sh 49
35.9 mi in
|
~47m
Fm 1734: Mount Pleasant
35.9 mi in
|
~47m
Paris
35.9 mi in
|
~47m
Pittsburg
35.9 mi in
|
~47m
Bw 8 East
281.3 mi in
|
~5h 27m
About the Cities
Starting 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.
Arriving in La Porte, TX
Full guide →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 9m. Total distance: 313.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.5 miles on Diboll Relief Route. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.30 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 15 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 La Porte, 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 281.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 281.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 303.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at La Porte, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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