Garland, TX to Rockport, TX is 471.2 miles and takes about 9h 27m via US 79 and US 77, with a fuel budget near $70 and an overnight stay recommended. This drive crosses the expansive Great Plains region of Texas, offering a mostly straightforward path southward. With 2 recommended days for the trip, you'll have ample time to break up the nearly 10 hours of driving. Plan for two stops along the way to make the most of your travel time.
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
235.6 miles from Garland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 79
75.4 mi
1h 25m
United States Highway 77
67.1 mi
1h 16m
TX 21
36.6 mi
40m
TX 155
26 mi
30m
South US Highway 77
24.7 mi
28m
State Highway 35 South
23.3 mi
34m
US 271
22.6 mi
25m
State Highway 155
20.7 mi
23m
Longest stretch:
US 79
— 75.4 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garland, TX and Rockport, 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
13 mi·15 min·TX 155
12
Turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto TX 155
13 mi·14 min·TX 155
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto US 271; TX 155
5.5 mi·6 min·US Highway 271
15
Continue on US 271; TX 155
1.5 mi·2 min·East Gentry Parkway
16
Continue on US 271; TX 155
1.0 mi·1 min·North Beckham Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto TX 31
0.4 mi·42 sec·East Front Street
18
Turn left onto South Broadway Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·South Broadway Avenue
19
Turn right onto US 69; TX 64; TX 110; TX 155
0.4 mi·35 sec·West Fourth Street
20
Continue on US 69; TX 64; TX 110; TX 155
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Glenwood Boulevard
21
Turn left onto TX 155
0.4 mi·35 sec·South Vine Avenue
22
Continue on TX 155
2.0 mi·3 min·Frankston Highway
23
Continue on TX 155
19 mi·22 min·State Highway 155 South
24
Continue on TX 155
1.5 mi·1 min·North Frankston Highway
25
Continue on TX 155
0.4 mi·30 sec·North Elm Street
26
Continue on TX 155
21 mi·23 min·State Highway 155
27
Continue on TX 155
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Link Street
28
Turn right onto US 79; TX 19
2.1 mi·3 min·East Palestine Avenue
29
Continue on US 79; US 84
12 mi·13 min·West Oak Street
30
Turn straight onto US 79
75 mi·1 hr 25 min·US 79
31
Continue on US 190; TX 6
11 mi·12 min·South State Highway 6
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward TX OSR
33
Continue on South State Highway 6
0.3 mi·37 sec·South State Highway 6
34
Turn right onto TX OSR
8.0 mi·10 min·West Old San Antonio Road
35
Turn right onto TX 21
37 mi·40 min·TX 21
36
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
37
Keep slight left at fork
103 ft·2 sec
38
Turn left onto US 77
27 mi·30 min·United States Highway 77
39
Continue on US 77
2.7 mi·3 min·North Jefferson Street
40
Continue on US 77
25 mi·28 min·South US Highway 77
41
Continue on US 77
6.8 mi·7 min·US 77
42
Continue on US 77
0.2 mi·14 sec·United States Highway 77
43
Continue on US 77
1.3 mi·1 min·North Texana Street
44
Turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt
0.3 mi·20 sec·West 4th Street
45
Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt
0.4 mi·29 sec·Fairwinds Street
46
Turn left onto US 77
40 mi·45 min·United States Highway 77
47
Take the exit
278 ft·7 sec
48
Turn straight onto US 77
405 ft·8 sec·Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway
49
Take the ramp onto US 77
0.3 mi·43 sec·US 77
50
Merge onto US 77
1.4 mi·1 min·Northeast Zac Lentz Parkway
51
Continue on US 77
12 mi·13 min·Northwest Zac Lentz Parkway
52
Take the exit onto US 77
0.6 mi·1 min·US 77
53
Turn left
170 ft·6 sec
54
Turn right onto US 77
14 mi·16 min·US Highway 77 South
55
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
56
Turn sharp left onto TX 239
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 239 East
57
Turn right onto TX 35; TX 239
23 mi·34 min·State Highway 35 South
58
Continue on TX 35
2.2 mi·3 min·Lyndon B Johnson Causeway
59
Continue on TX 35
4.5 mi·7 min·State Highway 35 North
60
Continue on TX 35 Bus
1.5 mi·2 min·Rath Street
61
Keep slight left at fork onto Broadway Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Broadway Street
62
Continue on North Austin Street
0.4 mi·45 sec·North Austin Street
63
Turn right onto East Market Street
0.3 mi·27 sec·East Market Street
64
Arrive at destination
Loop 70
Trip Plan
Given the 9-hour driving time, this trip is best split over two days. Aim to depart Garland early to maximize your first day's mileage, perhaps driving around 5 hours. You'll want to make your first stop around the halfway point, or a bit further if you prefer. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as stations can be spaced out on longer highway stretches, especially on US 79. The second day will be about 4-5 hours of driving, allowing for a relaxed morning before reaching Rockport.
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 235.6 miles from Garland, TX, or about 4h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.4 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 104 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 235.6 miles or 4h 41m 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 235.6 miles or 4h 41m
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 8h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rockport, 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 236 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Rockport, TX
Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 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 US 79 for about 75.4 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.9 and 428.2 — 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
82.6 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|US 80; TX 155 / West Broadway Street
Turn right onto US 80; TX 155 / West Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
83.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|TX 155
Turn left onto TX 155
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
296.1 mi into trip|~5h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
428.2 mi into trip|~8h 22m in|TX 239 / State Highway 239 East
Turn sharp left onto TX 239 / State Highway 239 East
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.54 one way
$129.08 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg165 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$72.09
$144.18
premium
$4.23
$78.38
$156.76
diesel
$4.80
$88.97
$177.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$195–$305
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 164.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
141.4
1
$49.48
$22.62
Efficient EV
117.8
1
$41.23
$18.85
EV Truck/SUV
188.5
2
$65.97
$30.16
Gas CO2
165 kg
EV CO2
55 kg (67% 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Garland, TX
Late night
in Garland on Monday
Local time
1:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:21PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Rockport, TX
Late night
in Rockport on Monday
Local time
1:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 10 to 14 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 6:21PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa 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.
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
7 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
9h 27m 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 91% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on US 79 covers 75.4 miles, giving you a good opportunity for steady cruising. Expect the transition to surface roads around the 429-mile mark of your total journey. The prevalence of highway driving means you'll encounter frequent exits and merges, particularly as you move through more populated areas.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
64 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.4 mi on US 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 79 and United States Highway 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 471.2 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 35.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.6 miles (US 80; TX 155 / West Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 83.4 miles (TX 155): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
513 ft8 ft
Total Climb
395 ft
Total Descent
773 ft
Highest Point
513 ft
~134.6 mi in
Elevation Range
505 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 Rockport, TX, road signs point toward Sh 49, Fm 1734: Mount Pleasant, Paris, Pittsburg and Tx Osr.
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.
Rockport is a small city in the South Barrier Coast region of Texas, about 45 minutes north up the Gulf of Mexico coast from Corpus Christi. It's right between Copano Bay to the west, on the coast of Aransas Bay. Aransas Bay is around 4 miles wide at this point, with the Gulf of Mexico beyond.
Top landmarks
•T. H. Mathis House — historic place in Rockport, Aransas County, Texas
The longest stretch is about 75.4 miles on US 79. 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 236 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Rockport, 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 4 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 82.6 miles (US 80; TX 155 / West Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 83.4 miles (TX 155): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 18.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rockport, TX before the return drive.
