This 333.7-mile drive from Pflugerville, TX, to Garland, TX, is estimated to take just under 6 hours. It's a solid day trip, allowing you to complete the journey without needing an overnight stop. You'll be spending about 70% of your time on highways, so expect a focused driving experience. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $50. Both your starting point in Pflugerville and your destination in Garland are located within the Great Plains region, meaning the broader landscape will remain consistent throughout your travels.
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
166.9 miles from Pflugerville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m 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 35E
56.2 mi
58m
US Highway 259 North
16.5 mi
24m
Pickle Parkway
16.2 mi
15m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
7m
FM 685
2.4 mi
4m
FM 1701
2.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pflugerville, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on South Railroad Avenue
37 ft·5 sec·South Railroad Avenue
2
Turn right onto FM 1825
0.3 mi·36 sec·East Pecan Street
3
Turn slight left
0.1 mi·36 sec
Use the left lane.
4
At end of road, turn left onto FM 685
2.4 mi·4 min·FM 685
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto FM 685
0.5 mi·55 sec·State Highway 130
6
Continue on FM 685
0.6 mi·1 min·TX 130 Frontage Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·19 sec
Exit 428AToward TX 130 Toll NorthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
16 mi·15 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 35 North: WacoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35
65 mi·1 hr 6 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi·58 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 427AToward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin StreetUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
17
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft·6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
18
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
21
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi·24 min·US Highway 259 North
22
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi·4 min·FM 1701
23
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour, 59-minute journey, consider an early morning departure to bypass potential traffic, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 132.6 miles, you can comfortably manage your breaks. Plan for refueling before you leave or at the midway point, keeping the $50 fuel cost in mind. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, so you have the flexibility to adjust your pace as needed.
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 166.9 miles from Pflugerville, TX, or about 2h 54m 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 73 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.9 miles or 2h 54m 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 46m
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 Pflugerville, 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 Pflugerville, TX
This is one driving day of about 333.7 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Pflugerville, 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 189.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.9 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward TX 130 Toll North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 428A
Toward TX 130 Toll North
7
20.4 mi into trip|~23m 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
125.1 mi into trip|~2h 11m 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
181.3 mi into trip|~3h 9m 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
189.7 mi into trip|~3h 20m 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
$50.42 one way
$100.85 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg117 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$55.19
$110.38
premium
$4.54
$59.58
$119.16
diesel
$5.61
$73.68
$147.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.1
1
$35.04
$16.02
Efficient EV
83.4
0
$29.20
$13.35
EV Truck/SUV
133.5
1
$46.72
$21.36
Gas CO2
117 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Pflugerville, TX
Morning
in Pflugerville on Tuesday
Local time
7:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Garland, TX
Morning
in Garland on Tuesday
Local time
7:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
S 15 mph9% chanceLive 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
1 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 59m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 92.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 70% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll navigate segments of the East R L Thornton Freeway and I-35E, experiencing the efficiency of interstate travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter measures 132.6 miles, so be prepared for extended periods on these main arteries. While the route prioritizes speed and directness, the consistent highway profile suggests a straightforward driving experience without significant changes in road type.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 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?
8/10
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 3.9 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 17 significant decision points across 333.7 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 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 20.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.1 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 Pflugerville, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center 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 59m. Total distance: 333.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 20.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.1 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 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.
