Origin
Dallas, TX
Afternoon in Dallas on Sunday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas, TX to Plano, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
18.7 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Dallas and Plano is a quick, straightforward journey covering 19.4 miles. You can expect to complete this trip in about 23 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Given the short duration, you will not need to plan for overnight stays or extensive logistical breaks. Budgeting approximately $3 for fuel should comfortably cover your gas needs for this route. Both cities are situated within the Great Plains region, ensuring the landscape remains consistent throughout your drive. It is a highly practical trip that fits easily into any schedule, whether you are commuting or heading out for a local visit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Central Expressway | 16.3 mi | 18m |
| East 15th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| McKinney Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Lamar Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Central Expressway
— 16.3 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas, TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on North Lamar Street
433 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Lamar Street
2
Turn right onto McKinney Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
McKinney Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 75 North
4
Merge onto Spur 366
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Hall Street, Lemmon Avenue
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto US 75
15 mi
·
16 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 28A
Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto North Central Expressway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 18.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney, Hall Street, Lemmon Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Hall Street, Lemm...
8
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 75 / North Central Expressway
Merge onto US 75 / North Central Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
16.3 mi into trip
|
~18m 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
18.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
East 15th Street
Turn right onto East 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.83 one way
$5.65 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $3.09 | $6.19 |
| premium | $4.54 | $3.34 | $6.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.13 | $8.26 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.30
Central Expressway
(16.3 mi)
$1.30
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.64 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.62 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Plano, TX
Afternoon in Plano on Sunday
Local time
2:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 mph
20% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 2:35PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 1:54PM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
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
23 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
23m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive functions as a turn-heavy local route rather than a long-distance interstate haul. You will navigate through city streets using McKinney Avenue and the Woodall Rodgers Freeway before transitioning to US 75 North. With a highway share of 0%, the experience is defined by urban maneuvering rather than sustained high-speed cruising. There is no significant uninterrupted stretch, as the longest portion of your drive occurs on McKinney Avenue. Expect a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention as you transition between these key local roads.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.3 mi on North Central Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Central Expressway and East 15th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 18.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 23m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 75 / North Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
668 ft
428 ft
Total Climb
347 ft
Total Descent
107 ft
Highest Point
668 ft
~18.7 mi in
Elevation Range
240 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Dallas, TX
Full guide →“Big D” · Founded 1841
Dallas, with a population of more than 1.3 million residents, is the ninth largest city in the United States and the third largest in the state of Texas. It is an impressive melting pot of culture and character. Boasting high-end luxury hotels, innumerable fine dining spots, and one of the busiest airports in the world, Dallas maintains an upscale ethos reflected by an affluent population, world-class museums, and a shimmering modern skyline. Its history was marred by the infamous assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, but there is more historic and contemporary heritage to be discovered in the city. As a center of the oil and cotton industries in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Dallas was a classic American boom town and remains one of the fastest growing cities in the nation.
Top landmarks
- • Dallas Museum of Art — art museum in Dallas, Texas
- • Texas School Book Depository — building in Dallas, Texas, United States
- • George W. Bush Presidential Center — Presidential library and museum for U.S. President George W. Bush, located in Da...
Arriving in Plano, TX
Full guide →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.
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 23m. Total distance: 18.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.3 miles on North Central Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.30 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.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 75 / North Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Plano, TX before heading back.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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