Origin
Gainesville, TX
Morning in Gainesville on Tuesday
Local time
9:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gainesville, TX to Frisco, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
55.2 mi
89 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gainesville, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 55.2-mile drive from Gainesville to Frisco, Texas, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just over an hour. You'll primarily be on I-35 and US Highway 380 East, with a portion on North Loop 288. Given its short duration and highway-focused profile, it's a convenient option for getting between these two points in the Great Plains region. The estimated fuel cost is around $8, making it an economical journey. This route is best suited for those looking for an efficient and direct passage without needing to break it up.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 24.6 mi | 24m |
| US Highway 380 East | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| North Loop 288 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| West University Drive | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Dallas North Tollway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| East University Drive | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| East California Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 24.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gainesville, TX and Frisco, TX.
1
Start on FM 372
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Grand Avenue
2
Turn right onto FM 51
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East California Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left
351 ft
·
9 sec
4
Continue on South Interstate 35
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Interstate 35
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
6
Merge onto I 35
25 mi
·
24 min
·
I 35
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 471
Toward US 77, FM 1173, Loop 288: Denton, Krum
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on North Interstate 35
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Interstate 35
9
Turn left onto Spur 77
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Elm Street
10
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Loop 288 East
Use the left lane.
11
Merge onto Loop 288; US 380 Truck
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
North Loop 288
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 380, US 377: Decatur, McKinney
13
Keep slight right at fork
204 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 377, US 380: McKinney
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto US 380
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
East University Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on US 377; US 380
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 380 East
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 380
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
West University Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward DNT: Dallas North Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on University Drive
392 ft
·
7 sec
·
University Drive
19
Turn slight right
231 ft
·
11 sec
Use the right lane.
20
Turn straight onto Dallas Parkway
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Dallas Parkway
21
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward DNT Toll South
22
Merge onto DNT
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Dallas North Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
24
Turn straight onto Dallas Parkway
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Dallas Parkway
25
Turn left onto Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Turn left onto 5th Street
395 ft
·
20 sec
·
5th Street
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto Oak Street
356 ft
·
17 sec
·
Oak Street
28
Turn right onto 6th Street
355 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
29
Turn right onto Main Street
268 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
30
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from Gainesville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 48.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
FM 51 / East California Street
Turn right onto FM 51 / East California Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
26.2 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward US 77, FM 1173, Loop 288: Denton, Krum
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 471
Toward US 77, FM 1173, Loop 288: Denton, Krum
6
27.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Turn left toward Loop 288 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Loop 288 East
9
33 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 377, US 380: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Toward US 377, US 380: McKinney
6
48.5 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward DNT: Dallas North Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward DNT: Dallas North Tollway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.34 one way
$16.68 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $9.13 | $18.26 |
| premium | $4.54 | $9.86 | $19.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.19 | $24.37 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.33
Dallas North Tollway
(4.1 mi)
$0.33
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Frisco, TX
Morning in Frisco on Tuesday
Local time
9:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 5 mph
64% chance
Live forecast
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 20 at 11:56PM CDT until April 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 20 at 11:56PM CDT until April 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
85°F
Denton, TX
28 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 11m 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?
Expect a drive that is predominantly highway, with 61% of the route utilizing faster roads like I-35. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 24.6 miles on I-35, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the overall profile is highway-focused, you'll transition between major interstates and significant US highways, providing some variation. This isn't a winding backroad adventure, but rather a direct and functional transit through the Texas landscape.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.6 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US Highway 380 East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near FM 51 / East California Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.2 miles you will encounter 21 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 0.1 miles (FM 51 / East California Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
778 ft
559 ft
Total Climb
234 ft
Total Descent
289 ft
Highest Point
778 ft
~3.9 mi in
Elevation Range
219 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 Gainesville, TX and Frisco, TX, road signs point toward Fm 1173, Loop 288: Denton, Krum, Loop 288 East, Mckinney and Dnt: Dallas North Tollway - among others.
Fm 1173
26.2 mi in
|
~28m
Loop 288: Denton
26.2 mi in
|
~28m
Krum
26.2 mi in
|
~28m
Loop 288 East
27.6 mi in
|
~30m
Mckinney
32.7 mi in
|
~37m
Dnt: Dallas North Tollway
48.5 mi in
|
~1h
Dnt Toll South
49.3 mi in
|
~1h 2m
About the Cities
Starting in Gainesville, TX
Full guide →Gainesville is a city in the state of Texas. It is the county seat of Cooke County.
Top landmarks
- • Gainesville — rail station in Gainesville, Texas
- • Cooke County Courthouse — historic place in Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas
Arriving in Frisco, TX
Full guide →Founded 1904
Frisco is a suburb of Dallas and part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Top landmarks
- • Videogame History Museum — computer museum in Texas, USA
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 1h 11m. Total distance: 55.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.6 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.33 in tolls one way, starting with Dallas North Tollway. 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 3 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 Frisco, 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 0.1 miles (FM 51 / East California Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Frisco, 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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