Spanning 233 miles across the Texas Great Plains, this route from Mineral Wells to Garland is a straightforward trek that takes roughly 4 hours and 24 minutes. Given the manageable duration, you can easily complete this journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $36 for fuel to cover the distance. Since the path remains entirely within the Great Plains region, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout your travels. It serves as a practical, highway-focused connection between these two points, making it an efficient choice for travelers prioritizing speed over scenic detours.
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
116.5 miles from Mineral Wells, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East R L Thornton Freeway
132.6 mi
2h 17m
Tom Landry Freeway
31 mi
36m
US Highway 259 North
16.5 mi
24m
I 20
15.5 mi
16m
West Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
Mineral Wells Highway
12.9 mi
15m
Highway 180 East
2.9 mi
4m
Southwest Ric Williamson Memorial Highway
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mineral Wells, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on US 180; BH
1.1 mi·1 min·Southeast 1st Street
2
Continue on US 180
2.9 mi·4 min·Highway 180 East
3
Continue on US 180
13 mi·15 min·Mineral Wells Highway
4
Turn right onto Southwest Ric Williamson Memorial Highway
2.4 mi·3 min·Southwest Ric Williamson Memorial Highway
5
Turn left onto West Interstate 20
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Interstate 20
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 20 East
7
Merge onto I 20
15 mi·16 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30
15 mi·17 min·West Freeway
Exit 421Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 30
31 mi·36 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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: TexarkanaUse the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
13
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi·24 min·US Highway 259 North
14
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi·4 min·FM 1701
15
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 233-mile trip, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the 4-hour and 24-minute duration. Since the route relies heavily on major freeways, checking traffic conditions before departure is essential to avoid potential delays on the East R L Thornton Freeway. Keep your fuel budget of $36 in mind when selecting your pit stop, as prices can fluctuate depending on where you choose to pull off. Given the high percentage of highway driving, maintaining a steady pace is your best strategy for a smooth arrival in Garland. Use the flexibility of a one-day itinerary to depart whenever traffic is lightest to ensure a stress-free experience.
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 116.5 miles from Mineral Wells, TX, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.6 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 51 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.5 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 30m
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 Mineral Wells, 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 Mineral Wells, TX
This is one driving day of about 233 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Mineral Wells, 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 East R L Thornton Freeway for about 132.6 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.6 and 214.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
19.6 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward I 20 East
5
19.8 mi into trip|~25m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
35.3 mi into trip|~42m in|I 30 / West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 421
Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
7
89 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
5
214.1 mi into trip|~3h 54m 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
$35.21 one way
$70.41 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$38.54
$77.07
premium
$4.54
$41.60
$83.20
diesel
$5.61
$51.44
$102.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.9
0
$24.46
$11.18
Efficient EV
58.3
0
$20.39
$9.32
EV Truck/SUV
93.2
1
$32.62
$14.91
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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 18, 2026
Origin
Mineral Wells, TX
Late night
in Mineral Wells on Sunday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Garland, TX
Late night
in Garland on Sunday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 15 mph61% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:47AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Dust Advisory
Dust Advisory issued April 18 at 1:54AM CDT until April 18 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
54°F
Mesquite, TX
117 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
18 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
4h 24m 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?
Prepare for a drive dominated by high-speed transit, as 93% of your journey takes place on major highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time navigating the Tom Landry Freeway and the East R L Thornton Freeway, the latter of which features your longest uninterrupted stretch of 132.6 miles. The route also incorporates US Highway 259 North to round out the transit experience. Because it is a highway-focused drive, the pace remains brisk and consistent, allowing you to cover ground quickly. Expect a utilitarian experience behind the wheel that favors efficiency and direct travel over winding secondary roads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East R L Thornton Freeway and Tom Landry Freeway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.6 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 233 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 19.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.8 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,090 ft277 ft
Total Climb
523 ft
Total Descent
1,019 ft
Highest Point
1,090 ft
~16.6 mi in
Elevation Range
814 ft
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 Mineral Wells, TX to Garland, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Daingerfield along the way.
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 4h 24m. Total distance: 233 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.8 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Garland, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
