Hempstead to Garland is 286.5 miles and takes about 5h 53m via State Highway 90, State Highway 155, and I 45, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Texas. With 80% of the route on highways, you'll experience mostly efficient travel. This is a good option for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
143.3 miles from Hempstead, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 90
41.5 mi
1h 1m
State Highway 155
39.9 mi
45m
I 45
31.5 mi
31m
US 271
29.8 mi
34m
West Commerce Street
28 mi
31m
TX 6
19.2 mi
21m
I 30
17.1 mi
17m
US Highway 259 North
16.5 mi
24m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 90
— 41.5 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on US 290 Bus
63 ft·6 sec·Austin Street
2
Turn right onto US 290 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·US 290 Business
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on TX 6
11 mi·12 min·TX 6
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn straight onto TX 6
8.5 mi·9 min·TX 6
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward TX 90, TX 105 West: Anderson, Brenham
6
Turn straight onto TX 105
0.4 mi·47 sec·State Highway 6
7
Turn right onto TX 90
0.3 mi·33 sec·East Washington Avenue
8
Continue on TX 90
41 mi·1 hr 1 min·State Highway 90
9
Turn right onto TX 90
0.2 mi·19 sec·East South Street
10
Turn left onto TX 75
1.7 mi·2 min·South May Street
11
Continue on TX 75
3.3 mi·4 min·State Highway 75 North
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
13
Merge onto I 45
32 mi·31 min·I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 178Toward US 79: Buffalo, JewettUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto US 79
28 mi·31 min·West Commerce Street
16
Merge onto US 79; US 84
7.7 mi·10 min·US 79; US 84
17
Turn left onto TX 155
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Link Street
18
Turn straight onto TX 155
21 mi·23 min·State Highway 155
19
Continue on TX 155
0.4 mi·30 sec·South Elm Street
20
Continue on TX 155
1.5 mi·1 min·North Frankston Highway
21
Continue on TX 155
19 mi·22 min·State Highway 155
22
Continue on TX 155
2.0 mi·3 min·Frankston Highway
23
Continue on TX 155
1.2 mi·2 min·South Vine Avenue
24
Turn straight onto South Palace Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Palace Avenue
25
Turn right onto TX 31
0.9 mi·1 min·West Front Street
26
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155
1.0 mi·1 min·South Beckham Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on US 271; TX 155
1.6 mi·2 min·East Gentry Parkway
28
Continue on US 271; TX 155
5.5 mi·6 min·US Highway 271
29
Turn left onto TX 155
4.9 mi·5 min·State Highway 155 North
30
Continue on TX 155
1.1 mi·1 min·South Main Street
31
Continue on TX 155
6.7 mi·7 min·State Highway 155 North
32
At end of road, turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi·1 min·West Broadway Street
33
Turn left onto TX 155
16 mi·18 min·North Tyler Street
Use the left lane.
34
Continue on US 271
30 mi·34 min·US 271
35
Turn right onto Burton Road
0.2 mi·20 sec·Burton Road
36
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
37
Merge onto I 30
17 mi·17 min·I 30
38
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
39
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi·24 min·US Highway 259 North
40
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi·4 min·FM 1701
41
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 53-minute drive, leaving Hempstead in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. The route has only one recommended stop, but with 286.5 miles total, you can easily adjust your breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 41.5-mile stretch on State Highway 90, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $41, so budget accordingly.
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 143.3 miles from Hempstead, TX, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.5 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 63 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.3 miles or 2h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garland, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hempstead, 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 Hempstead, TX
This is one driving day of about 286.5 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Hempstead, 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 State Highway 90 for about 41.5 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 182.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 290 Business
Turn right onto US 290 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
20.7 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward TX 90, TX 105 West: Anderson, Brenham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 90, TX 105 West: Anderson, Brenham
5
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|I 45
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
100.1 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 79: Buffalo, Jewett
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 178
Toward US 79: Buffalo, Jewett
6
182.5 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|US 271; TX 155 / South Beckham Avenue
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155 / South Beckham Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.87 one way
$87.73 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.29
$48.41
$96.82
premium
$4.64
$52.31
$104.63
diesel
$6.18
$69.70
$139.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86
1
$30.08
$13.75
Efficient EV
71.6
0
$25.07
$11.46
EV Truck/SUV
114.6
1
$40.11
$18.34
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 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
Hempstead, TX
Afternoon
in Hempstead on Monday
Local time
1:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Garland, TX
Afternoon
in Garland on Monday
Local time
1:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
84°F
Mineola, TX
143 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
28 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
5h 53m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 80% of this 286.5-mile drive on highways, so expect a good amount of time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 41.5 miles on State Highway 90. Surface roads will become more frequent as you approach urban areas. Be prepared for more frequent exits and merging traffic as you get closer to Garland.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.5 mi on State Highway 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 90 and State Highway 155. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 290 Business.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 286.5 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 290 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
477 ft212 ft
Total Climb
732 ft
Total Descent
588 ft
Highest Point
477 ft
~186.1 mi in
Elevation Range
266 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hempstead, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Brenham, Jewett and Daingerfield.
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 5h 53m. Total distance: 286.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.5 miles on State Highway 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Garland, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 290 Business): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Garland, TX before the return drive.
