Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from China, TX to Plano, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 26m
Distance
304.6 mi
490 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 13m
★
6 AM
5h 26m
8 AM
5h 53m
10 AM
5h 36m
12 PM
5h 33m
3 PM
5h 37m
5 PM
5h 52m
8 PM
5h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
China, TX
Thomas balabaud
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
China, TX to Plano, TX is 304.6 miles and takes about 5h 26m via I 45, US 90, and East Grand Parkway North, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape for its duration. Most of the drive is on major highways, making it a straightforward run. With only one recommended stop and a single-day drive, it's a practical option for getting between these two Texas points without much fuss.
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
152.3 miles from China, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 212.6 mi | 3h 39m |
| US 90 | 33.9 mi | 38m |
| East Grand Parkway North | 32.5 mi | 34m |
| North Central Expressway | 16.6 mi | 18m |
| West Clayton Street | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Interstate 45 North Frontage Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| East 15th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Cleveland Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 45
— 212.6 mi, about 3h 39m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,985 veh/hr typical · worst 2,601
Quietest
2 AM
~289 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 88 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 China, TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on North Broadway
189 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Broadway
2
Turn right onto US 90
34 mi
·
38 min
·
US 90
3
Turn right onto TX 321
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Cleveland Street
4
Turn left onto FM 1960
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
West Clayton Street
5
Turn right onto East Grand Parkway North
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Grand Parkway North
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
7
Merge onto TX 99 Toll
32 mi
·
34 min
·
East Grand Parkway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward Houston, Dallas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
Use the right lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
Toward I 45 North
11
Merge onto I 45
213 mi
·
3 hr 39 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 75
15 mi
·
16 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 28A
Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto North Central Expressway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Trip Plan
For this 5.5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid potential evening traffic, especially as you get closer to Plano. While the route is manageable in one day, consider breaking it up with your single recommended stop around the halfway point if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $43 estimate is based on current prices; it's always wise to fill up before embarking on longer highway stretches. The transition from I 45 to US 90 and then East Grand Parkway North will be your primary navigational shift, so be prepared for those changes.
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 152.3 miles from China, TX, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.6 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 67 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.3 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
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 China, 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 China, TX
This is one driving day of about 304.6 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from China, 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 I 45 for about 212.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
152 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 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 152.3 miles from China, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 212.6 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.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.4 mi from route
TA
1.6 mi from route
SoPac Trail Rest Area
1.9 mi from route
Dark 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 websiteCandy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
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 websiteCity Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.6 mi from route
~6 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websiteCarl Barton Jr Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
3.3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 6 am–8:30 pm
+19365223000
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 39.5 and 304 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
39.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
TX 99 Toll / East Grand Parkway North
Merge onto TX 99 Toll / East Grand Parkway North
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
72 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward Houston, Dallas
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 Houston, Dallas
5
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
Turn right onto Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
302.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 21m 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
6
304 mi into trip
|
~5h 25m in
|
East 15th Street
Turn right onto East 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.73 one way
$91.45 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
107 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $50.59 | $101.19 |
| premium | $4.57 | $54.74 | $109.49 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $75.26 | $150.53 |
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
$46
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 91.4 | 1 | $31.98 | $14.62 |
| Efficient EV | 76.2 | 0 | $26.65 | $12.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 121.8 | 1 | $42.64 | $19.49 |
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Origin
China, TX
Afternoon in China on Friday
Local time
2:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Plano, TX
Afternoon in Plano on Friday
Local time
2:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Clear
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
58°F
Italy, TX
152 mi in
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
1 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
5h 26m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 98% of this drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 212.6 miles on I 45. Expect a predominantly highway experience until you near your destination, where you'll transition to surface roads. The high highway percentage means you'll encounter frequent exits and potentially dense traffic merging as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 212.6 mi on I 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and US 90. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 39.5 miles in near TX 99 Toll / East Grand Parkway North.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 304.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 39.5 miles (TX 99 Toll / East Grand Parkway North): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.3 miles (Interstate 45 North Frontage Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
668 ft
43 ft
Total Climb
911 ft
Total Descent
286 ft
Highest Point
668 ft
~311.7 mi in
Elevation Range
625 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 China, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Houston and Dallas.
Houston
72 mi in
|
~1h 21m
Dallas
72 mi in
|
~1h 21m
About the Cities
Starting in China, TX
Full guide →China is a city in Jefferson County, in the Gulf Coast region of 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 5h 26m. Total distance: 304.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 212.6 miles on I 45. 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 23 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.
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. There are 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.5 miles (TX 99 Toll / East Grand Parkway North): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.3 miles (Interstate 45 North Frontage Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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