Garland, TX to Lamesa, TX is 484.4 miles and takes about 8h 34m via I-30, I-20, and US-87, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, primarily utilizing major interstate highways for most of the trip. Given the distance and duration, it's best planned as an overnight trip to avoid a very long day of driving. You'll find this is a straightforward drive, mostly on well-maintained highways that make for efficient travel between these two Texas cities.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
242.2 miles from Garland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
243.1 mi
4h 5m
I 30
178.9 mi
3h 11m
South US Highway 87
18.1 mi
18m
North US Highway 87
17.5 mi
18m
US Highway 259 South
16.3 mi
24m
William Crooker Highway
4.3 mi
4m
FM 1701
2.1 mi
5m
South Dallas Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 243.1 mi, about 4h 5m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,333 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,751
Quietest
2 AM
~187 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garland, TX and Lamesa, 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
179 mi·3 hr 11 min·I 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 20
243 mi·4 hr 5 min·I 20
Use the slight right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·27 sec
Exit 177Toward US 87: San Angelo, Lamesa
7
Turn slight left onto West Interstate 20
0.1 mi·15 sec·West Interstate 20
8
Turn right onto US 87 Bus
2.3 mi·3 min·North US Highway 87
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
10
Merge onto US 87
0.4 mi·25 sec·William B Crooker Memorial Highway
11
Continue on US 87
15 mi·15 min·North US Highway 87
12
Continue on US 87
4.3 mi·4 min·William Crooker Highway
13
Continue on US 87
18 mi·18 min·South US Highway 87
14
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi·1 min·South Dallas Avenue
15
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.2 mi·1 min·South Lynn Avenue
16
Turn left
160 ft·11 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To best manage this 8.5-hour drive, consider splitting it over two days. A good stopping point would be around Abilene, TX, putting you roughly halfway. This allows for a more relaxed pace and ensures you're not pushing it on the second day. You'll have about 2 stops planned into this route, so factor those in for breaks and fuel. Keep an eye on fuel prices as you travel west, as they can vary. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight, especially if you choose to drive it in one day.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 242.2 miles from Garland, TX, or about 4h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 243.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 107 miles or 2h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 242.2 miles or 4h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 242.2 miles or 4h 27m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lamesa, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Garland, TX
Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Lamesa, TX
Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from Garland, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 243.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 440.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in|US 259 / US Highway 259 South
At end of road, turn right onto US 259 / US Highway 259 South
Navigation decision point
3
18.4 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
18.9 mi into trip|~30m in|I 30
Merge onto I 30
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
197.8 mi into trip|~3h 42m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
440.9 mi into trip|~7h 48m in
Take the exit toward US 87: San Angelo, Lamesa
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 177
Toward US 87: San Angelo, Lamesa
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$72.72 one way
$145.43 round trip
$3.81/gal25.4 MPG avg170 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$80.46
$160.92
premium
$4.57
$87.06
$174.12
diesel
$6.28
$119.69
$239.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$73
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$203–$313
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 169.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
145.3
1
$50.86
$23.25
Efficient EV
121.1
1
$42.39
$19.38
EV Truck/SUV
193.8
2
$67.82
$31.00
Gas CO2
169 kg
EV CO2
57 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
Evening
in Garland on Thursday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
E 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lamesa, TX
Evening
in Lamesa on Thursday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
S 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
3 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
8h 34m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 drive is almost entirely on highways, with a highway share of 98%. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I-20, I-30, and US-87. The longest continuous stretch without significant changes in road type is 243.1 miles on I-20, meaning you can settle in for long periods of cruising. Expect a steady flow of traffic and numerous exits on these major arteries, especially as you begin on I-30.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 243.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 30. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near US 259 / US Highway 259 South.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 34m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 7 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (US 259 / US Highway 259 South): Navigation decision point; at 18.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.9 miles (I 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Lamesa is a city in the Llano Estacado region of Texas. It is heavy on the agriculture sector and gives off an authentic feel of provincial Texan life.
The longest stretch is about 243.1 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 242 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 44 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Lamesa, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 44 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (US 259 / US Highway 259 South): Navigation decision point; at 18.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.9 miles (I 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.6 hours each way, a round trip means 17.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lamesa, TX before the return drive.
