Weatherford, TX to Garland, TX is 211 miles and takes about 4 hours via East R L Thornton Freeway, US Highway 259 North, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a consistent landscape for the entirety of your journey. With a highway share of 97%, expect a predominantly fast-paced trip focused on efficient travel. This route is a solid choice for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
105.5 miles from Weatherford, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m 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
West Freeway
15.2 mi
17m
I 20
6.5 mi
6m
Fort Worth Highway
5.9 mi
9m
FM 1701
2.1 mi
4m
US 180
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
East R L Thornton Freeway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Weatherford, TX and Garland, TX.
1
Start on FM 51
221 ft·11 sec·North Main Street
2
Continue on FM 51
272 ft·6 sec·North Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto US 180
456 ft·14 sec·Fort Worth Highway
4
Continue on US 180
5.8 mi·8 min·Fort Worth Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp onto US 180
0.9 mi·1 min·US 180
6
Merge onto I 20
6.5 mi·6 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
Continue on I 30
31 mi·36 min·Tom Landry Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 30; US 67
7.5 mi·9 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward US 259: De Kalb, Daingerfield
12
Turn left onto US 259
17 mi·24 min·US Highway 259 North
13
Turn left onto FM 1701
2.1 mi·4 min·FM 1701
14
Arrive at destination
FM 1701
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, departing Weatherford in the morning allows ample time to reach Garland well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $32, this trip is quite economical. Pay attention to traffic conditions as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, as congestion can significantly impact your travel time. The longest stretch of highway is over 130 miles, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before starting that segment.
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 105.5 miles from Weatherford, TX, or about 2h 1m 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 46 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.5 miles or 2h 1m 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 10m
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 Weatherford, 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 Weatherford, TX
This is one driving day of about 211 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Weatherford, 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 0.1 and 192.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 180 / Fort Worth Highway
Enter roundabout onto US 180 / Fort Worth Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
6.8 mi into trip|~11m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
13.3 mi into trip|~18m 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
67 mi into trip|~1h 21m 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
192.1 mi into trip|~3h 29m 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
$31.88 one way
$63.77 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$34.90
$69.80
premium
$4.54
$37.67
$75.35
diesel
$5.61
$46.59
$93.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.3
0
$22.15
$10.13
Efficient EV
52.8
0
$18.46
$8.44
EV Truck/SUV
84.4
1
$29.54
$13.50
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Weatherford, TX
Night
in Weatherford on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Garland, TX
Night
in Garland on Saturday
Local time
11:24 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
14 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 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?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 97% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 132.6 miles primarily on the East R L Thornton Freeway, which means extended periods of consistent speed. The profile suggests a straightforward, highway-centric experience, minimizing complex navigation and focusing on covering ground efficiently. Expect this drive to feel like a typical, high-speed transit between two points within the state.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 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?
6/10
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 0.1 miles in near US 180 / Fort Worth Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 211 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 0.1 miles (US 180 / Fort Worth Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.8 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): 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.
On the drive from Weatherford, 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. Total distance: 211 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). 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 0.1 miles (US 180 / Fort Worth Highway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.8 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Garland, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
