Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Hill Country Village, TX to Plano, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 15m
Distance
289.3 mi
466 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 2m
★
6 AM
5h 15m
8 AM
5h 42m
10 AM
5h 25m
12 PM
5h 22m
3 PM
5h 26m
5 PM
5h 41m
8 PM
5h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hill Country Village, TX
Mark Direen
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 301.9-mile drive from Hill Country Village, TX, to Plano, TX, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 48 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via Winding Way, San Pedro Avenue, and US 281 North. With a fuel cost estimated at $46, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Great Plains region of Texas. Consider this a practical, turn-heavy local drive that requires your attention throughout, making it a manageable one-day trip rather than requiring an overnight stop.
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
144.7 miles from Hill Country Village, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 188.3 mi | 3h 18m |
| I 35E | 56.2 mi | 58m |
| North Central Expressway | 16.6 mi | 18m |
| Anderson Loop | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| San Pedro Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 188.3 mi, about 3h 18m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 96 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,999 veh/hr typical · worst 4,742
Quietest
2 AM
~661 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 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 Hill Country Village, TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on Tomahawk Trail
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Tomahawk Trail
2
At end of road, turn left onto Winding Way
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Winding Way
3
Turn left onto San Pedro Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
San Pedro Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 281 North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Merge onto US 281
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward Loop 1604
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward Loop 1604 East
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto Loop 1604
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 35 North, I 35 South: Austin, San Antonio
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North: Austin
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 35
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
23
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
24
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
25
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the slight left lane.
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
28
Merge onto US 75
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on US 75
15 mi
·
16 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 28A
Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn straight onto North Central Expressway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
32
Turn right onto East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour and 48-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially as you transition through various local areas. With only one planned stop suggested, you have flexibility to pace yourself, but keep an eye on your fuel as you'll be on local roads for the entirety of the 301.9 miles. The estimated fuel cost is around $46, so budget accordingly. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for frequent turns and potential traffic light delays, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile indicates a consistent need for navigation adjustments.
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 144.7 miles from Hill Country Village, TX, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 64 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.7 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 16m
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 Hill Country Village, 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 Hill Country Village, TX
This is one driving day of about 289.3 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Hill Country Village, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 188.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
145 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 144.7 miles from Hill Country Village, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 188.3 miles.
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.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.4 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
Cultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Halfway reset
0.6 mi from route
~1 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteDark 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 websiteGet Out of My Escape Room
5.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Hill Country Village, Texas
Hours: Closed
+12104753174
Visit websiteCity Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
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 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 websitePioneer Farms
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+15128371215
Visit websiteVillage of Salado Visitors Center
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Salado, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12549478634
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 245 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 287 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Loop 1604 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Loop 1604 East
7
12.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
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.
Toward I 35: San Antonio, Austin
8
268.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 49m 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
269.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 51m 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
8
287 mi into trip
|
~5h 10m 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
$43.43 one way
$86.86 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $48.05 | $96.11 |
| premium | $4.57 | $51.99 | $103.99 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $71.48 | $142.96 |
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
$43
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.8 | 1 | $30.38 | $13.89 |
| Efficient EV | 72.3 | 0 | $25.31 | $11.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.7 | 1 | $40.50 | $18.52 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Hill Country Village, TX
Afternoon in Hill Country Village on Thursday
Local time
1:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
ENE 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Plano, TX
Afternoon in Plano on Thursday
Local time
1:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Cloudy
ESE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
76°F
Troy, TX
145 mi in
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
27 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
5h 15m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 179.6
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
19 mi from route
~48 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating numerous local roads and intersections for the entire 301.9 miles. The absence of long highway stretches means you'll be constantly engaged with your surroundings, requiring consistent attention to navigation and traffic. While the data doesn't specify a longest uninterrupted stretch, the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent adjustments and city driving conditions throughout the journey.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
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 24 significant decision points across 289.3 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 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
951 ft
407 ft
Total Climb
498 ft
Total Descent
780 ft
Highest Point
951 ft
Elevation Range
544 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 Hill Country Village, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center, Mckinney and Bryan Street East.
Fort Worth
268.5 mi in
|
~4h 49m
Texarkana
268.5 mi in
|
~4h 49m
Convention Center
268.6 mi in
|
~4h 49m
Mckinney
269.8 mi in
|
~4h 51m
Bryan Street East
270.7 mi in
|
~4h 53m
About the Cities
Starting in Hill Country Village, TX
Full guide →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 5h 15m. Total distance: 289.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 31 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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 268.1 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 and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Plano, TX before the return drive.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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