Origin
Pleasanton, TX
Night in Pleasanton on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pleasanton, 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
8h 10m
Distance
468.3 mi
754 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 3m
★
6 AM
8h 11m
8 AM
8h 27m
10 AM
8h 16m
12 PM
8h 15m
3 PM
8h 17m
5 PM
8h 26m
8 PM
8h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pleasanton, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Pleasanton to Garland covers 468.3 miles and typically takes about 8 hours and 10 minutes behind the wheel. Because of the significant distance, this journey is best approached as a two-day trip rather than a single grueling day of driving. You will traverse the Great Plains, sticking primarily to major thoroughfares like the East R L Thornton Freeway, the Purple Heart Trail, and the Pickle Parkway. Budgeting roughly $72 for fuel is a smart move for this trek across Texas. While it is a straightforward highway-focused drive, splitting the trip into two days ensures you arrive in Garland refreshed rather than exhausted.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
234.2 miles from Pleasanton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 57m 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 |
| Pickle Parkway | 86 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 35E | 56.2 mi | 58m |
| I 37 | 23.2 mi | 23m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 21.7 mi | 22m |
| US Highway 259 North | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| I 10 | 10.9 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pleasanton, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on TX 97
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
TX 97
2
Turn left onto I-37 Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
I-37 Frontage Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 37 North
4
Merge onto I 37
23 mi
·
23 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 133
Toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 410 North, TX 130 North
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 410; TX 130
7.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto TX 130
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
TX 130
Exit 33
Toward I 10, US 90, TX 130: San Antonio, Houston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 130
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
TX 130
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, TX 130 North: Houston, Seguin
10
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 130
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
TX 130
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East
11
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
22 mi
·
22 min
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on I 10; TX 130
11 mi
·
10 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 614
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on TX 130 Toll
86 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 35
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
23
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
24
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
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.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
27
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi
·
24 min
·
US Highway 259 North
28
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
FM 1701
29
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
Planning for two stops along the way is the best way to maintain your energy during this 468.3-mile transit. Aim to depart early in the morning to beat congestion, especially as you approach the more populated regions near your destination. Since you are spending a significant amount of time on high-speed roads, keep a close watch on your fuel gauge to stay within your $72 budget. A practical strategy is to plan your first break after your longest stretch to avoid fatigue. By pacing your stops efficiently, you can manage the long duration of the drive without feeling rushed or overwhelmed by the time spent in the driver's seat.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 234.2 miles from Pleasanton, TX, or about 3h 57m 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 103 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 234.2 miles or 3h 57m 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 234.2 miles or 3h 57m
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 6h 58m
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 Pleasanton, 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 Pleasanton, TX
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Garland, TX
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Pleasanton, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 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.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
234 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, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
234 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Arlington, TX after about 234 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 234.2 miles from Pleasanton, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before East R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 132.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 234 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 27.1 and 315.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
27.1 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South
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 133
Toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South
8
27.3 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 410 North, TX 130 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 410 North, TX 130 North
8
34.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
TX 130
Take the exit onto TX 130 toward I 10, US 90, TX 130: San Antonio, Houston
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 33
Toward I 10, US 90, TX 130: San Antonio, Housto...
8
68 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
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 614
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
8
315.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 21m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.76 one way
$141.52 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
164 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $77.45 | $154.91 |
| premium | $4.54 | $83.61 | $167.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $103.39 | $206.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$71
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 163.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 140.5 | 1 | $49.17 | $22.48 |
| Efficient EV | 117.1 | 1 | $40.98 | $18.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 187.3 | 2 | $65.56 | $29.97 |
Gas CO2
164 kg
EV CO2
55 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.
Destination
Garland, TX
Night in Garland on Saturday
Local time
9:47 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.
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
7 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
8h 10m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a consistent interstate experience, as 72% of this journey is spent on highways designed for efficiency. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 132.6 miles while navigating the East R L Thornton Freeway, requiring steady focus and patience. The route maintains a high-speed, highway-focused profile throughout, moving you steadily between these two Texas hubs. You won't find many technical, winding backroads here; instead, anticipate a direct path that prioritizes speed over scenery. Keeping your eyes on the road is essential as you settle into the rhythm of these major corridors.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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?
10/10
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 27.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 468.3 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 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.7 miles (TX 130): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Pleasanton, TX and Garland, TX, road signs point toward Houston, Seguin, Austin, Waco, Fort Worth and Texarkana - among others.
Houston
34.7 mi in
|
~38m
|
via TX 130
Seguin
34.8 mi in
|
~39m
|
via TX 130
Austin
57.1 mi in
|
~1h 3m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Waco
57.1 mi in
|
~1h 3m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Fort Worth
316.3 mi in
|
~5h 22m
Texarkana
316.3 mi in
|
~5h 22m
Convention Center
316.4 mi in
|
~5h 22m
About the Cities
Starting in Pleasanton, TX
Full guide →Pleasanton is in Texas.
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 234 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.7 miles (TX 130): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.4 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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