Trip from Colorado City, TX to Plano, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 40m

Distance

268.7 mi

432 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 27m ★

6 AM

4h 41m

8 AM

5h 8m

10 AM

4h 50m

12 PM

4h 48m

3 PM

4h 52m

5 PM

5h 6m

8 PM

4h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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Colorado City, TX

Thomas balabaud

city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 268.7 miles across the Great Plains, this drive from Colorado City to Plano is a straightforward journey typically taking 4 hours and 40 minutes. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, you likely won't need an overnight stay, making it an efficient way to cross the state. You should budget approximately $41 for fuel to cover the distance. The route transitions from the more rural stretches of West Texas toward the dense urban environment of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. It is a practical, highway-centric trip that prioritizes speed and direct navigation over scenic detours.

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

134.4 miles from Colorado City, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	201.5 mi	3h 23m
Jim Wright Freeway	12.6 mi	14m
SH 183 TEXpress	11.7 mi	11m
I 820 TEXpress	6.9 mi	6m
North Central Expressway	6.7 mi	8m
West Freeway	5.6 mi	5m
SH 121/183 TEXpress	4.4 mi	4m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway	4.4 mi	4m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 201.5 mi, about 3h 23m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,497 veh/hr typical · worst 1,923

Quietest

2 AM

~194 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.7×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Colorado City, TX and Plano, TX.

Start on TX 163

96 ft · 5 sec · Chestnut Street

Turn right onto I 20 Bus

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 2nd Street

Turn straight onto I 20 Bus; TX 208 Bus

1.2 mi · 2 min · Westpoint Avenue

Continue on I 20 Bus

0.9 mi · 1 min · East I-20 Business

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Toward I 20 East: Sweetwater

Merge onto I 20

201 mi · 3 hr 23 min · I 20

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30

5.6 mi · 5 min · West Freeway

Exit 421 Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 5B Toward I 820 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 820

13 mi · 14 min · Jim Wright Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 820

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Northeast Loop

Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 TEXpress

6.9 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress

Toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas Entrance Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

4.4 mi · 4 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 183 TEXpress

12 mi · 11 min · SH 183 TEXpress

Toward TX 183 Express East Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 12 TEXpress

2.6 mi · 2 min · Loop 12 TEXpress

Toward I 35E Toll North Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto Loop 12

0.8 mi · 53 sec · North Walton Walker Boulevard

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Stemmons Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 50 sec

Exit 440B Toward I 635 East Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 635

4.4 mi · 4 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 635

2.6 mi · 2 min · Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway

Use the right lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec

Exit 19A Toward US 75 North, US 75 South: McKinney, Dallas Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min

Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 75

5.3 mi · 5 min · North Central Expressway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Exit 28A Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Central Expressway

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Central Expressway

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Turn right onto East 15th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 15th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Arrive at destination

East 15th Street

Trip Plan

Plan for a single, well-timed stop along the way to break up the nearly five hours of driving. Since the majority of your time is spent on I-20, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before entering the more congested traffic patterns near the Jim Wright Freeway and SH 183. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid the peak traffic density that often builds up as you transition into the Plano area. Because this is a high-speed route, maintaining a steady pace helps you manage the fuel costs effectively. Use the flexibility of this one-day itinerary to adjust your departure time based on real-time traffic reports for the final urban leg of your trip.

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 134.4 miles from Colorado City, TX, or about 2h 18m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 201.5 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 59 miles or 1h 2m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 134.4 miles or 2h 18m 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 47m

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 Colorado City, 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 Colorado City, TX

This is one driving day of about 268.7 miles and 4h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Colorado City, 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 20 for about 201.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Palo Pinto and Parker Counties, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mineral Wells, TX

134 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

Tye, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Stephenville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.4 miles from Colorado City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.4 mi from route

iFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Worth

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Hurst, Texas

Hours: 10:30 am–6:30 pm

+18178184359

Visit website

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

White Settlement, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+18172469719

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 204.4 and 266.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

204.4 mi into trip | ~3h 29m 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

210 mi into trip | ~3h 35m in

Take the exit toward I 820 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 5B Toward I 820 North

223.8 mi into trip | ~3h 51m in | I 820 TEXpress

Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 TEXpress toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas Entrance

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas E...

259.8 mi into trip | ~4h 29m in

Take the exit toward US 75 North, US 75 South: McKinney, 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. Exit 19A Toward US 75 North, US 75 South: McKinney, Dall...

266.3 mi into trip | ~4h 36m 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

$36.80 one way

$73.61 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$41.11	$82.22
premium	$4.23	$44.70	$89.39
diesel	$4.80	$50.74	$101.47

Estimated Tolls: $0.54

Central Expressway (6.7 mi) $0.54

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

$37

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 94 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	80.6	0	$28.21	$12.90
Efficient EV	67.2	0	$23.51	$10.75
EV Truck/SUV	107.5	1	$37.62	$17.20

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Jul 20, 2026

Origin

Colorado City, TX

Evening in Colorado City on Monday

Local time

6:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Mostly Clear

S 5 mph 5% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 10:14PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 10:09PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

Destination

Plano, TX

Evening in Plano on Monday

Local time

6:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Clear

SSW 5 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 10:14PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 10:09PM CDT by NWS Lubbock 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

7 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

4h 40m 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?

This is a highway-focused drive with 97% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-20, which accounts for a 201.5-mile stretch of the journey, offering a consistent and fast-paced experience. As you approach your destination, the road transitions into the Jim Wright Freeway and SH 183 TEXpress, shifting from open plains to the busier infrastructure of North Texas. Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy grind that requires sustained focus rather than technical maneuvering. The environment remains consistent for most of the trip, providing a reliable and predictable path behind the wheel.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 201.5 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Jim Wright Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 204.4 miles in near I 30 / West Freeway.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 268.7 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 204.4 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 210 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 223.8 miles (I 820 TEXpress): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,393 ft 424 ft

Total Climb

952 ft

Total Descent

2,350 ft

Highest Point

2,393 ft

~19.2 mi in

Elevation Range

1,969 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Colorado City, TX

Full guide →

Colorado City is a city of 4,900 people (2018) straddling the Utah/Arizona border, although most of the city is on the Arizona side. The Utah portion is known as Hildale. Colorado City is the largest and best-known polygamist community in the United States, and there are few facilities for travelers.

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 4h 40m. Total distance: 268.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 40m 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 201.5 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.54 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 28 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Plano, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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Explore more options from Colorado City, TX or browse trips ending in Plano, TX.

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Trip from Colorado City, TX to Plano, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-20

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Picnic Area

I-20 Westbound Picnic Area

I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area

Eastland County Westbound Rest Area

Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Petro Stopping Centers

Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area

Callahan County Westbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

QuikTrip

Mr. Fuel Travel Center

iFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Worth

Dark Hour Haunted House

11th Hour Escape

Heritage Farmstead Museum

White Settlement Museum

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Colorado City, TX

Plano, TX

Same local time

7 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 40m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Colorado City, TX

Arriving in Plano, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Plano, TX

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