Origin
Kilgore, TX
Night in Kilgore on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kilgore, TX to Garland, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
96.7 mi
156 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 51m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kilgore, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Kilgore, TX to Garland, TX is 96.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 59 minutes via US 271 and I-30, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Texas. Expect a high percentage of highway driving, making it a quick and efficient trip for those looking to get from point A to point B with minimal fuss. With a duration under two hours, this is an ideal option for a same-day journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Kilgore, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 271 | 29.8 mi | 34m |
| I 30 | 17.1 mi | 17m |
| US Highway 259 North | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| State Highway 135 North | 10.9 mi | 12m |
| FM 2685 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| TX 155 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| FM 2865 | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| West Upshur Avenue | 2.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 271
— 29.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kilgore, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto Gladewater Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Gladewater Street
3
Turn right onto TX 135
11 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 135 North
4
Continue on US 271
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Tyler Street
5
Continue on US 271
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Main Street
6
Turn left onto US 80
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Upshur Avenue
7
Turn right onto FM 2685
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
FM 2865
8
Turn right onto FM 2685
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
FM 2685
9
Turn right onto TX 155
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
TX 155
10
Continue on US 271
30 mi
·
34 min
·
US 271
11
Turn right onto Burton Road
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Burton Road
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
13
Merge onto I 30
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 30
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
15
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi
·
24 min
·
US Highway 259 North
16
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
FM 1701
17
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with this trip. Leaving Kilgore any time of day should allow you to reach Garland well before evening. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, you can likely complete the journey without needing to refuel, but it's always wise to check your gauge. The longest stretch of highway is just under 30 miles, so you won't need to worry about extended periods without services. Keep an eye out for the transition from US 271 onto I-30, as that's where the highway character shifts most noticeably.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.3 miles from Kilgore, TX, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.8 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
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 Kilgore, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kilgore, TX
This is one driving day of about 96.7 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Kilgore, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 271 for about 29.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.3 miles from Kilgore, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 77.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Gladewater Street
Turn left onto Gladewater Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
TX 135 / State Highway 135 North
Turn right onto TX 135 / State Highway 135 North
Navigation decision point
4
13.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
US 80 / West Upshur Avenue
Turn left onto US 80 / West Upshur Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
15.6 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
FM 2685 / FM 2865
Turn right onto FM 2685 / FM 2865
Navigation decision point
5
77.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.61 one way
$29.22 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $15.99 | $31.99 |
| premium | $4.54 | $17.27 | $34.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.35 | $42.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29 | 0 | $10.15 | $4.64 |
| Efficient EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.46 | $3.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.54 | $6.19 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Garland, TX
Night in Garland on Saturday
Local time
11:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live 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.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 59m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads, including US 271 and I-30. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 29.8 miles on US 271, providing a solid period of consistent driving. While the majority of the trip is on the interstate, you will also incorporate segments of US Highway 259 North, offering slight variations in the road's character. Overall, anticipate a smooth and direct experience behind the wheel.
94% 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: 29.8 mi on US 271.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 271 and I 30. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Gladewater Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 59m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Gladewater Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (TX 135 / State Highway 135 North): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles (US 80 / West Upshur Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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.
On the drive from Kilgore, TX to Garland, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Daingerfield along the way.
Daingerfield
77.8 mi in
|
~1h 28m
About the Cities
Starting in Kilgore, TX
Full guide →“Home of the Rangerettes” · Founded 1872
Kilgore is in the Central Piney Woods region of East Texas. Home to slightly less than 14,000 residents (2025), Kilgore is often identified as the "Oil Capital of East Texas", due to its proximity near the center of the vast East Texas Oilfield. Residents are proud of their heritage, and evidence of the city's prominence in petroleum production is widespread and accentuated throughout Kilgore.
Arriving 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.
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 1h 59m. Total distance: 96.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.8 miles on US 271. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Gladewater Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (TX 135 / State Highway 135 North): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles (US 80 / West Upshur Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Garland, TX before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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