Alton North to Plano is 516.5 miles and takes about 9h 33m via I 69C, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with a fuel budget near $78 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive spans the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward path between two points. While you can technically cover this distance in a single day, it's recommended to split it over two days for a more comfortable pace. Consider this route if you prefer minimal navigation and a focus on reaching your destination efficiently.
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
258.2 miles from Alton North (historical), TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69C
138.2 mi
2h 31m
Purple Heart Trail
97.7 mi
1h 39m
Pickle Parkway
58.5 mi
54m
I 35E
56.2 mi
58m
King David Drive
31.8 mi
39m
State Highway 80 North
30.8 mi
35m
State Highway 80
23.6 mi
25m
North Central Expressway
16.6 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
I 69C
— 138.2 mi, about 2h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alton North (historical), TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on Mayberry Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Mayberry Road
2
Turn right onto TX 107
8.6 mi·12 min·TX 107
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107
400 ft·12 sec·North 10th Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107
377 ft·13 sec·West McIntyre Street
5
Turn left onto US 281 Business
3.3 mi·5 min·North Closner Boulevard
6
Turn straight onto North Expressway 281
0.7 mi·1 min·North Expressway 281
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 69C North, US 281 North
8
Merge onto I 69C; US 281
68 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281
70 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 69C; US 281
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
11 mi·14 min·Nueces Street
11
Turn right onto TX 72
32 mi·39 min·King David Drive
12
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
13
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
14
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi·10 min·Helena Road
15
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi·25 min·State Highway 80
16
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi·2 min·South Nixon Avenue
17
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi·35 min·State Highway 80 North
18
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
19
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·South Colorado Street
20
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi·16 sec·United States Highway 183
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
22
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi·54 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 35 North: WacoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto I 35
65 mi·1 hr 6 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi·58 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 427AToward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin StreetUse the slight right lane.
29
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
31
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft·6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
32
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi·1 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
33
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 46Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinneyUse the slight right lane.
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinneyUse the slight left lane.
35
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
36
Merge onto US 75
0.7 mi·49 sec·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on US 75
15 mi·16 min·North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 28AToward Plano Parkway, 15th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Turn straight onto North Central Expressway
1.4 mi·2 min·North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
40
Turn right onto East 15th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
41
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 9h 33m estimated drive time, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to leave early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight hours. You'll have two recommended stops along the way, so plan these around your halfway point or a desired rest time. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longer stretches on I 69C, as services can be spaced out in some sections. Splitting the 516.5-mile trip over two days will allow for a more relaxed experience and better enjoyment of the drive.
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 258.2 miles from Alton North (historical), TX, or about 5h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.2 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 114 miles or 2h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 258.2 miles or 5h 2m 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 258.2 miles or 5h 2m
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 8h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plano, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alton North (historical), 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 Alton North (historical), TX
Aim for roughly 258 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Plano, TX
Aim for roughly 258 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 114 miles from Alton North (historical), 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 I 69C for about 138.2 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 10 and 514.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
10 mi into trip|~16m in|US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
334.3 mi into trip|~6h 20m 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
8
495.2 mi into trip|~9h 6m 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...
8
497 mi into trip|~9h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
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 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
8
514.1 mi into trip|~9h 28m in
Take the exit toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street
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 28A
Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.04 one way
$156.09 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg181 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$85.43
$170.85
premium
$4.54
$92.22
$184.44
diesel
$5.61
$114.04
$228.07
Estimated Tolls: $1.32
Central Expressway
(16.6 mi)$1.32
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Tolls
$1
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$209–$319
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 180.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
155
1
$54.23
$24.79
Efficient EV
129.1
1
$45.19
$20.66
EV Truck/SUV
206.6
2
$72.31
$33.06
Gas CO2
181 kg
EV CO2
60 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 18, 2026
Origin
Alton North (historical), TX
Morning
in Alton North (historical) on Sunday
Local time
9:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Plano, TX
Morning
in Plano on Sunday
Local time
9:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
31 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
9h 33m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 409.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 68% of this drive is on highways, including a continuous stretch of 138.2 miles on I 69C. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads, which can involve more frequent stops and varied speed limits. Expect a mix of rural and suburban driving as you cover the 516.5 miles. The drive concludes after approximately 9 hours and 33 minutes of travel time.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.2 mi on I 69C.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 9h 33m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10 miles in near US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
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 26 significant decision points across 516.5 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 10 miles (US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 334.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 495.2 miles: 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.
On the drive from Alton North (historical), TX to Plano, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.
Plano is a city of 285,000 people (2020) in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex region of Texas and is north of Dallas. It is home to the headquarters of several large corporations.
The longest stretch is about 138.2 miles on I 69C. 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 258 miles on day one.
Expect about $1.32 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Plano, 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 10 miles (US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 334.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 495.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.6 hours each way, a round trip means 19.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Plano, TX before the return drive.
