Medina County Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Brackettville, TX to Plano, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 35m
Distance
414.1 mi
666 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 26m
★
6 AM
7h 36m
8 AM
7h 56m
10 AM
7h 43m
12 PM
7h 41m
3 PM
7h 44m
5 PM
7h 55m
8 PM
7h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brackettville, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Brackettville, TX to Plano, TX is 414.1 miles and takes about 7h 35m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35E, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you from one part of the Great Plains region to another, remaining within the state of Texas. It's a fairly straightforward trip, mostly on major highways, making it a good option if you're looking for a direct route without too many detours. Consider this if you need to get from Southwest Texas to North Texas efficiently.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
207 miles from Brackettville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 188.3 mi | 3h 18m |
| East US Highway 90 | 75.2 mi | 1h 25m |
| I 35E | 56.2 mi | 58m |
| US Highway 90 East | 25.4 mi | 29m |
| Connally Loop | 19.8 mi | 22m |
| North Central Expressway | 16.6 mi | 18m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 188.3 mi, about 3h 18m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 96 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,090 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~671 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brackettville, TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on Loop 166
22 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Spring Street
2
Turn right onto RM 334
498 ft
·
17 sec
·
South Ann Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 90
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Military Highway
4
Continue on US 90
37 mi
·
42 min
·
East US Highway 90
5
Continue on US 90
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
West Main Street
6
Continue on US 90
38 mi
·
43 min
·
East US Highway 90
7
Continue on US 90
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
19th Street
8
Continue on US 90
25 mi
·
29 min
·
US Highway 90 East
9
Continue on US 90
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Cleto Rodriguez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 410 North, TX 16 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 410; TX 16
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 35 North: Austin
13
Merge onto I 35
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
24
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
25
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
26
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Use the slight right lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the slight left lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
29
Merge onto US 75
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on US 75
15 mi
·
16 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 28A
Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Turn straight onto North Central Expressway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
33
Turn right onto East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over seven hours, this is definitely a manageable one-day trip. Aim to depart Brackettville in the morning to give yourself ample daylight for the journey. You'll have about two planned stops, which should be sufficient for stretching your legs and refueling. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 188.3-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be more spread out than on the interstate. Given the manageable duration, you have flexibility, but planning your fuel stops around the transition to I-35E will be wise.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 207 miles from Brackettville, TX, or about 3h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 91 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 207 miles or 3h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 29m
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 Brackettville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brackettville, TX
This is one driving day of about 414.1 miles and 7h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Brackettville, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 188.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
207 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 207 miles from Brackettville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 188.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
SoPac Trail Rest Area
1.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Early stretch
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+18304024603
Visit websiteDark Hour Haunted House
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Plano, Texas
+14692980556
Visit website11th Hour Escape
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.9 mi from route
~2 min detour
Plano, Texas
Hours: 12–5:30 pm
+14692095978
Visit websiteHeritage Farmstead Museum
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Plano, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19728810140
Visit websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
2.4 mi from route
~6 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteToybrary Austin
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+15124343927
Visit websiteDenman Estate Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~9 min detour
Early stretch
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+12102077275
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 111.5 and 411.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
111.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 410 North, TX 16 North
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.
Toward I 410 North, TX 16 North
7
336.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 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
392.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 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...
8
394.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 12m 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
411.7 mi into trip
|
~7h 31m 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
$56.72 one way
$113.44 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
145 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $63.35 | $126.71 |
| premium | $4.23 | $68.88 | $137.76 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $78.19 | $156.38 |
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
$57
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 144.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 124.2 | 1 | $43.48 | $19.88 |
| Efficient EV | 103.5 | 1 | $36.23 | $16.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 165.6 | 2 | $57.97 | $26.50 |
Gas CO2
145 kg
EV CO2
48 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.
Origin
Brackettville, TX
Evening in Brackettville on Monday
Local time
7:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 10 mph
66% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT until July 17 at 4:46PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Plano, TX
Evening in Plano on Monday
Local time
7:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
30% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT until July 17 at 4:46PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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
4 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
7h 35m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 313
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 134.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a mixed drive, with 47% of the route on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Purple Heart Trail and East US Highway 90 before merging onto I-35E. Expect a longest stretch of 188.3 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which suggests a substantial segment of two-lane highway driving before transitioning to faster interstate speeds. The road will likely feel more open and rural initially, gradually becoming more urbanized as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 111.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 414.1 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 111.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 336.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 392.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,105 ft
483 ft
Total Climb
520 ft
Total Descent
958 ft
Highest Point
1,105 ft
Elevation Range
622 ft
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 Brackettville, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana and Convention Center.
Fort Worth
393.2 mi in
|
~7h 10m
Texarkana
393.2 mi in
|
~7h 10m
Convention Center
393.3 mi in
|
~7h 10m
About the Cities
Starting in Brackettville, TX
Full guide →Founded 1852
Brackettville is a city in the Hill Country River Region of Texas.
Top landmarks
- • Fort Clark — former military base near Brackettville, Texas
Arriving in Plano, TX
Full guide →Founded 1873
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.
Top landmarks
- • Heritage Farmstead Museum — building in Texas, United States
- • Plano Station, Texas Electric Railway — historic place in Plano, Collin County, Texas
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 35m. Total distance: 414.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes — we found about 31 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 111.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 336.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 392.8 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 and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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