Garland
Introduction
Garland sits in Dallas County, Texas, with portions reaching into Collin and Rockwall counties. It lies northeast of Dallas and forms part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area, making it a practical base for exploring the wider region.
You can reach downtown Dallas by public transportation, thanks to two DART Blue Line stations and bus service. That connection makes Garland easy to visit without a car, whether you are passing through the metro area or settling in for a longer stay.
Getting around
Garland sits in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and is served by a public transportation network of bus and tram routes. These routes connect various parts of the city, with stops along several key streets: North Glenbrook Drive, North 1st Street, North 5th Street, West Avenue B / TX 78, and South 5th Street. If you're staying near one of these corridors, public transport can be a convenient way to reach other parts of Garland. Because the network is made up of individual routes rather than a single unified system, plan for possible transfers to complete your trip, and check the specific route and stop nearest your starting point and destination.
- Identify the nearest bus or tram stop to your accommodation before you arrive, using the street names above as a guide.
- Walking is a practical way to reach stops if you are already near one of the served corridors, but coverage is concentrated on particular roads, so walking may be less convenient for longer trips if your accommodation or destination is not near a served street.
- Ride-hailing apps and traditional taxi services are commonly available in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, but confirm availability and pricing through the relevant app or service before relying on them.
- DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field both serve the region; from either, you would typically use a combination of rental car, taxi, ride-hailing, or regional public transport to reach Garland, so confirm schedules and options with the relevant providers in advance.
- Keep the America/Chicago timezone in mind when checking schedules; Daylight Saving Time begins in March and ends in November.
Three days in Garland
Day one: Start by getting your bearings in Garland, which spreads across Dallas County with a portion reaching into Collin and Rockwall counties. Use the DART Blue Line to move between districts rather than fighting traffic, and keep in mind that the city runs on Central time, shifting with Daylight Saving Time in March and November. If you arrive by air, DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field are both within reach of the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Day two: Spend the morning walking a commercial stretch such as North Glenbrook Drive, then head toward the downtown core where West Avenue and the surrounding numbered streets give you a sense of the older grid. Ride the Blue Line north or south to see how the city connects to Dallas and the wider region. Because the Texas summer is hot and humid, plan your outdoor walking for the cooler early hours and save the middle of the day for indoor stops.
Day three: Branch out toward the edges of the metroplex, using Garland as your base for day trips into Dallas or Fort Worth. Identify what interests you most — whether that is the urban core or the quieter residential streets — and build the day around it. Keep your schedule loose, since distances across the Dallas–Fort Worth area are long and the weather can turn from mild to bitterly cold or oppressively hot depending on the season.