Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Gholson, TX to Plano, 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
2h 1m
Distance
106.7 mi
172 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 52m
★
6 AM
2h 1m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 7m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 8m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gholson, TX
Thomas balabaud
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Gholson to Plano is 106.7 miles and takes about 2 hours 1 minute via I 35E and Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two points within the Great Plains region of Texas. Given its relatively short duration and predominantly highway profile, it's ideal for a single-day trip. Expect a fairly direct path with minimal detours, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. This route won't require an overnight stay, allowing you to reach your destination with ample time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.4 miles from Gholson, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35E | 56.2 mi | 58m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 18 mi | 17m |
| North Central Expressway | 16.6 mi | 18m |
| Tokio Road | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| Gholson Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East R L Thornton Freeway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| North Interstate 35 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35E
— 56.2 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gholson, TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on FM 1858
54 ft
·
8 sec
·
Wildcat Circle
2
Turn left onto FM 933
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Gholson Road
3
Turn right onto FM 1858
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
Tokio Road
4
Turn left onto North Interstate 35
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Interstate 35
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 35 North, US 77 North
6
Merge onto I 35; US 77
18 mi
·
17 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
11
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
12
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
16
Merge onto US 75
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 75
15 mi
·
16 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 28A
Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto North Central Expressway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Trip Plan
For this roughly 2-hour drive, leaving in the morning is a good bet to avoid any potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to Plano. With only 106.7 miles, you won't need many stops, but it's wise to take a short break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $16, but it's always smart to start with a full tank. Since this is a short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits you best, but aim to be on the road by mid-morning for a smooth arrival.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 53.4 miles from Gholson, TX, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.2 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.4 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
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 Gholson, 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 Gholson, TX
This is one driving day of about 106.7 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Gholson, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35E for about 56.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.4 miles from Gholson, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 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
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 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 websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
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
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 29.3 and 104.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
29.3 mi into trip
|
~36m 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
85.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m 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
87.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m 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
7
87.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
8
104.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m 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
$16.12 one way
$32.25 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $17.65 | $35.30 |
| premium | $4.54 | $19.05 | $38.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.56 | $47.12 |
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
$16
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32 | 0 | $11.20 | $5.12 |
| Efficient EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.94 | $6.83 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Origin
Gholson, TX
Morning in Gholson on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Plano, TX
Morning in Plano on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 5 mph
62% 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
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
30 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
2h 1m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 70% of the 106.7 miles on major roads like I 35E and Purple Heart Trail. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 56.2 miles on I 35E, meaning you can settle in for a good period of consistent driving. The transition from highway to potentially more local roads will occur as you approach Plano. Be prepared for numerous exits and merges as you navigate the urban approach.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.2 mi on I 35E.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35E and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.3 miles in near I 35E.
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 17 significant decision points across 106.7 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 29.3 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Gholson, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center, Mckinney and Bryan Street East.
Fort Worth
85.9 mi in
|
~1h 35m
Texarkana
85.9 mi in
|
~1h 35m
Convention Center
85.9 mi in
|
~1h 35m
Mckinney
87.2 mi in
|
~1h 37m
Bryan Street East
88.1 mi in
|
~1h 39m
About the Cities
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 2h 1m. Total distance: 106.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.2 miles on I 35E. 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 13 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. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.3 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.2 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. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Plano, TX
More from Gholson, TX
More trips to Plano, TX
Explore more options from Gholson, TX or browse trips ending in Plano, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.