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Trip from Mercedes, TX to Garland, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

12h 6m

Distance

662.4 mi

1,066 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$100

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
11h 56m ★
6 AM
12h 6m
8 AM
12h 28m
10 AM
12h 14m
12 PM
12h 12m
3 PM
12h 15m
5 PM
12h 27m
8 PM
12h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Texas, USA

Mercedes, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 686.2-mile journey from Mercedes to Garland, Texas, is a significant undertaking, clocking in at nearly 10 hours of driving time. Primarily utilizing East Expressway 83 and I-69C North, this route is best approached as a two-day trip, given its length. With an estimated fuel cost of $105, it's a budget-friendly drive for its distance. You'll be covering ground across the Great Plains region of Texas, so expect a straightforward, long-distance travel experience. While it has two recommended stops, the longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, hinting at a drive that might benefit from planned breaks.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

331.2 miles from Mercedes, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East R L Thornton Freeway 132.6 mi 2h 17m
Purple Heart Trail 97.7 mi 1h 39m
I 69C 92 mi 1h 43m
Pickle Parkway 58.5 mi 54m
US 281 57.1 mi 1h
I 35E 56.2 mi 58m
King David Drive 31.8 mi 39m
State Highway 80 North 30.8 mi 35m
Longest stretch: East R L Thornton Freeway — 132.6 mi, about 2h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mercedes, TX and Garland, TX.

1

Start on South Texas Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Texas Avenue
2

Turn left onto East Expressway 83

0.3 mi · 28 sec · East Expressway 83
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec
4

Merge onto I 2; US 83

16 mi · 18 min · I 2; US 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 146A Toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 69C

22 mi · 23 min · I 69C
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on US 281

57 mi · 1 hr · US 281
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281

70 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 69C; US 281
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

11 mi · 14 min · Nueces Street
10

Turn right onto TX 72

32 mi · 39 min · King David Drive
11

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
12

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street
13

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road
14

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80
15

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue
16

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North
17

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
18

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street
19

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183
20

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
21

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

56 mi · 58 min · I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.
27

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Exit 427A Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street Use the slight right lane.
28

Keep slight left at fork

422 ft · 5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
29

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
30

Keep slight left at fork

385 ft · 6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
31

Continue on I 30; US 67

7.5 mi · 9 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67

125 mi · 2 hr 8 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana Use the straight / right lanes.
33

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
34

Turn left onto US 259

17 mi · 24 min · US Highway 259 North
35

Turn left onto FM 1701

2.1 mi · 4 min · FM 1701
36

Arrive at destination

FM 1701

Trip Plan

Given the 9-hour and 54-minute duration, splitting this 686.2-mile drive into two days is highly recommended for safety and comfort. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight driving. With two suggested stops, plan your breaks strategically to avoid fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $105, and ensure you're topped off before heading into longer stretches where services might be less frequent. A practical tip for this route is to monitor traffic conditions on East Expressway 83 and I-69C North, especially as you approach more populated areas, to avoid unexpected delays.

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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 331.2 miles from Mercedes, TX, or about 6h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.6 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 146 miles or 2h 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 331.2 miles or 6h 14m 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 331.2 miles or 6h 14m

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 10h 53m

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 Mercedes, 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 Mercedes, TX

Aim for roughly 331 miles and 6.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Garland, TX

Aim for roughly 331 miles and 6.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 146 miles from Mercedes, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on East R L Thornton Freeway for about 132.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in Texas, United States, that is the seat of Comal County

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

New Braunfels, TX

219 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

New Braunfels, TX to Arlington, TX

246.2 mi · 4h 27m

suburban city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Arlington, TX

437 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Arlington, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Round Rock, TX

331 mi · about 6.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Round Rock, TX after about 331 miles or 6.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 146 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Round Rock, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 331.2 miles from Mercedes, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before East R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 132.6 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 331 miles or 6.1 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Cultivar Coffee Roasting Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour Inexpensiv

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14693876289

Visit website

Xcape Adventures

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Mesquite, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19729822073

Visit website

Estero Llano Grande State Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Weslaco, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+19565653919

Visit website

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 17.3 and 518.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
17.3 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg

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 146A Toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
7
349 mi into trip | ~6h 30m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
453.7 mi into trip | ~8h 18m in | I 35E

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 35E: Dallas
8
509.9 mi into trip | ~9h 17m in

Take the exit toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 427A Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Bouleva...
7
518.4 mi into trip | ~9h 27m in | I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30; US 67 / East R L Thornton Freeway toward I 30 East: Texarkana

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 30 East: Texarkana

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$100.09 one way

$200.18 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 232 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $109.56 $219.11
premium $4.54 $118.27 $236.53
diesel $5.61 $146.25 $292.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$100

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$230–$340

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 231.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $70 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 198.7 2 $69.55 $31.80
Efficient EV 165.6 1 $57.96 $26.50
EV Truck/SUV 265 3 $92.74 $42.39

Gas CO2

232 kg

EV CO2

78 kg (66% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 20, 2026

Origin

Mercedes, TX

Late night in Mercedes on Tuesday

Local time

3:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

94°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Garland, TX

Late night in Garland on Tuesday

Local time

3:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

81°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.

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

13 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

12h 6m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 411.1
View on nps.gov
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

National Historical Park

On May 8, 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Although the two countries have deve...

29 mi from route ~73 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is characterized as a long-distance haul, with a significant portion on major roadways like East Expressway 83 and I-69C North. The highway share is 0%, suggesting you'll be on a mix of expressways and potentially some city streets like Nueces Street, but not necessarily interstates in the traditional sense. While the longest uninterrupted stretch isn't detailed, the overall profile indicates a drive that prioritizes covering ground efficiently rather than scenic meandering. Expect a consistent pace for much of the journey, with the road primarily serving as a connection between your origin and destination.

76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.6 mi on East R L Thornton Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 21 significant decision points across 662.4 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 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 349 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 453.7 miles (I 35E): 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 Mercedes, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Waco, Fort Worth, Texarkana and Convention Center.

Waco

290.1 mi in | ~5h 35m

Fort Worth

510.3 mi in | ~9h 17m

Texarkana

510.3 mi in | ~9h 17m

Convention Center

510.4 mi in | ~9h 17m

About the Cities

Starting in Mercedes, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1907

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 132.6 miles on East R L Thornton Freeway. 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 331 miles on day one.

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 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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 17.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 349 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 453.7 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 12.1 hours each way, a round trip means 24.2 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.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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