Spanning 119.7 miles, this drive from Hawkins to Plano takes approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily tackle this route as a single-day trip without needing to book an overnight stay. Your journey will take you primarily along Front Street, US 80 West, and I-635 North, keeping you within the Great Plains region of Texas the entire time. Budgeting around $18 for fuel should adequately cover your needs for the trip. Since you won't necessarily need to schedule formal stops, this route offers a straightforward path between the two locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.4 miles from Hawkins, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 80
69.6 mi
1h 21m
Front Street
15.9 mi
17m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
11.4 mi
12m
North Central Expressway
6.7 mi
8m
East 15th Street
0.6 mi
1m
Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
0.1 mi
<1m
Green Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 80
— 69.6 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawkins, TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on Green Street
437 ft·21 sec·Green Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 80
16 mi·17 min·Front Street
3
Continue on US 80
54 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 80
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit onto US 80
16 mi·16 min·US 80
Toward US 80 West: DallasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 635 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 635
11 mi·12 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 635
0.1 mi·9 sec·Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 19AToward US 75 South, US 75 North: Dallas, McKinneyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·54 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinneyUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 75
5.3 mi·5 min·North Central Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 28AToward Plano Parkway, 15th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto North Central Expressway
1.4 mi·2 min·North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto East 15th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Trip Plan
Given the total travel time of under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time. Since there are no scheduled stops required for this 119.7-mile trek, you can comfortably drive straight through without worrying about fatigue. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy local route, it is wise to keep your navigation system active to avoid missing any critical transitions on Front Street or US 80 West. If you prefer to avoid the heaviest traffic, try to time your arrival in Plano to miss local rush hours. Make sure your fuel tank is ready for the roughly $18 expense before you head out, as local roads can lead to more frequent stops and starts than highway driving.
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 Hawkins, TX, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.6 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 23 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.4 miles or 1h 2m 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 41m
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 Hawkins, 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 Hawkins, TX
This is one driving day of about 106.8 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Hawkins, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 80 for about 69.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 70 and 104.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
70 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|US 80
Take the exit onto US 80 toward US 80 West: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 80 West: Dallas
6
85.5 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 635 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 635 North
8
97.5 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 75 South, US 75 North: Dallas, McKinney
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 South, US 75 North: Dallas, McKinn...
7
98.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
8
104.4 mi into trip|~2h 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
$16.14 one way
$32.28 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$17.66
$35.33
premium
$4.54
$19.07
$38.14
diesel
$5.61
$23.58
$47.16
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
$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: 37.4 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
$11.21
$5.13
Efficient EV
26.7
0
$9.34
$4.27
EV Truck/SUV
42.7
0
$14.95
$6.84
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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Hawkins, TX
Late night
in Hawkins on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Plano, TX
Late night
in Plano on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 15 to 20 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 11:53AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 18 at 11:49AM CDT until April 18 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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
14 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 4m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads that demand more attention than a straight highway sprint. The personality of this drive is defined by frequent transitions between surface streets, requiring you to stay alert behind the wheel. Because the route relies on local infrastructure, you will not encounter long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed driving. Prepare for a more hands-on experience as you transition from the quiet roads of Hawkins toward the more densely populated landscape of Plano.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.6 mi on US 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 80 and Front Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 70 miles in near US 80.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 106.8 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 70 miles (US 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.5 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.
On the drive from Hawkins, TX to Plano, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Mckinney along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 106.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.6 miles on US 80. 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 70 miles (US 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Plano, TX before heading back.
