Garland, TX to Mansfield, TX is 183 miles and takes about 3h 27m via I 30 and US Highway 259 South, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive primarily on major highways. With 91% of the journey on highways, you'll cover a good distance efficiently. Consider this route for a practical, no-fuss journey between these two Texas cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.5 miles from Garland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 30
131.8 mi
2h 16m
US Highway 259 South
16.3 mi
24m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
6.1 mi
6m
Marvin D Love Freeway
4.5 mi
4m
South R L Thornton Freeway
4.3 mi
4m
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
4.2 mi
4m
East Broad Street
3.9 mi
7m
Senator Chris Harris Memorial Highway
2.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 30
— 131.8 mi, about 2h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garland, TX and Mansfield, 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
132 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 46AToward I 35E: Denton, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
7
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I 35E South: WacoUse the left / right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi·44 sec·South R L Thornton Freeway
10
Continue on I 35E
3.7 mi·4 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426Toward Dallas ZooUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Exit 423Toward US 67 South: Cleburne, Kiest Boulevard
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 67
4.5 mi·4 min·Marvin D Love Freeway
Toward US 67 South: CleburneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 20 West: Fort WorthUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 20
6.1 mi·6 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 20
4.2 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 453BToward TX 360 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto TX 360
1.1 mi·1 min·Angus G. Wynne, Jr. Freeway
18
Continue on 360 Toll
2.3 mi·2 min·Rosa Parks Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on 360 Toll
2.9 mi·3 min·Senator Chris Harris Memorial Highway
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·20 sec
Toward Broad StreetUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto TX 360
0.2 mi·18 sec·North State Highway 360
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto East Broad Street
3.9 mi·7 min·East Broad Street
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on East Broad Street
157 ft·10 sec·East Broad Street
24
Arrive at destination
East Broad Street
Trip Plan
Since this 3h 27m drive is easily manageable in a single day, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Garland, TX in the morning will allow you to reach Mansfield, TX with plenty of daylight remaining. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, keeping your tank topped up should be straightforward. A single stop is factored into the duration, so plan for a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs and stay alert. Given the long stretch on I 30, ensure you're comfortable with extended periods of highway driving before you depart.
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 91.5 miles from Garland, TX, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.8 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 40 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.5 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mansfield, 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 183 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 I 30 for about 131.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 150.7 and 171.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
150.7 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 46A
Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
9
151.4 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
151.4 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Waco
7
156.2 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|US 67 / Marvin D Love Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 67 / Marvin D Love Freeway toward US 67 South: Cleburne
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 67 South: Cleburne
7
171.4 mi into trip|~3h 10m in
Take the exit toward TX 360 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 453B
Toward TX 360 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.65 one way
$55.30 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$30.27
$60.53
premium
$4.54
$32.67
$65.35
diesel
$5.61
$40.40
$80.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.9
0
$19.22
$8.78
Efficient EV
45.8
0
$16.01
$7.32
EV Truck/SUV
73.2
0
$25.62
$11.71
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Garland, TX
Late night
in Garland on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mansfield, TX
Late night
in Mansfield on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Nevada, TX
92 mi in
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
16 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
3h 27m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 183-mile trip, with 91% of your travel time spent on major roads like I 30. You'll encounter one significant stretch of 131.8 miles on I 30, meaning long, uninterrupted periods of driving. The route generally maintains a consistent highway feel, allowing for steady progress rather than frequent changes in road type or speed. This profile suggests a drive where maintaining speed is the primary characteristic.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.8 mi on I 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and US Highway 259 South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 150.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 183 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.
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 Mansfield, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Denton and Dallas Zoo.
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 3h 27m. Total distance: 183 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 131.8 miles on I 30. 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 Mansfield, 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 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Mansfield, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
