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Trip from Indian Hills, TX to Plano, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 46m

Distance

526.2 mi

847 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$80

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
9h 38m ★
6 AM
9h 47m
8 AM
10h 4m
10 AM
9h 53m
12 PM
9h 51m
3 PM
9h 54m
5 PM
10h 4m
8 PM
9h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Indian Hills, TX, TX

Indian Hills, TX

Jeff Stapleton

city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 526.2-mile journey from Indian Hills, TX, to Plano, TX, is a long-distance drive best split over two days, taking approximately 9 hours and 46 minutes of driving time. You'll navigate primarily on I 69C, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with about 66% of the route being highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $80 and requiring two planned stops, this trip offers a straightforward path through the Great Plains region of Texas. Consider this route if you're looking for a manageable, two-day trip with a clear objective rather than a spontaneous day adventure.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

263.1 miles from Indian Hills, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 69C 141.7 mi 2h 35m
Purple Heart Trail 97.7 mi 1h 39m
Pickle Parkway 58.5 mi 54m
I 35E 56.2 mi 58m
King David Drive 31.8 mi 39m
State Highway 80 North 30.8 mi 35m
State Highway 80 23.6 mi 25m
North Central Expressway 16.6 mi 18m
Longest stretch: I 69C — 141.7 mi, about 2h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Indian Hills, TX and Plano, TX.

1

Start on 11N

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Mile 11 North Road
2

Continue on 11N

176 ft · 6 sec · Mile 11 North Road
3

Turn left onto FM 491

4.3 mi · 7 min · North Farm to Market Road 491
4

Keep slight left at fork onto FM 491

0.9 mi · 1 min · FM 491
5

Turn straight onto FM 491

1.1 mi · 1 min · FM 491
6

Turn left onto TX 107

1.0 mi · 1 min · Mile 16½ North Road
7

Continue on TX 107

9.1 mi · 13 min · East Santa Rosa Avenue
8

Turn right onto FM 2128

0.9 mi · 1 min · Richardson Road
9

Continue on FM 2128

0.5 mi · 40 sec · East Schunior Street
10

Continue on FM 2128

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Richardson Street
11

Continue on FM 2128

1.2 mi · 1 min · East Richardson Road
12

Turn right onto North Expressway 281

181 ft · 3 sec · North Expressway 281
13

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 69C North, US 281 North
14

Merge onto I 69C; US 281

71 mi · 1 hr 15 min · I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281

70 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 69C; US 281
16

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

11 mi · 14 min · Nueces Street
17

Turn right onto TX 72

32 mi · 39 min · King David Drive
18

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
19

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street
20

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road
21

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80
22

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue
23

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North
24

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
25

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street
26

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183
27

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
28

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
30

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

56 mi · 58 min · I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.
34

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Exit 427A Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street Use the slight right lane.
35

Keep slight left at fork

422 ft · 5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
36

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
37

Keep slight left at fork

385 ft · 6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
38

Continue on I 30; US 67

0.8 mi · 1 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
39

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 45 sec
Exit 46 Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney Use the slight right lane.
40

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left lane.
41

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
42

Merge onto US 75

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43

Continue on US 75

15 mi · 16 min · North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
44

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 28A Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45

Turn straight onto North Central Expressway

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
46

Turn right onto East 15th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
47

Arrive at destination

East 15th Street

Trip Plan

Given the 9-hour 46-minute duration, breaking this 526.2-mile drive into two days is highly recommended for a more relaxed experience. Aim to depart early to maximize daylight hours for your first leg. Plan your two stops strategically, perhaps one around the halfway point to refuel and stretch. Pay attention to the longest stretch of 141.7 miles on I 69C; ensure you have ample fuel before entering it. The $80 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices as you plan your overnight stay.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 263.1 miles from Indian Hills, TX, or about 5h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141.7 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 116 miles or 2h 16m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 263.1 miles or 5h 10m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 263.1 miles or 5h 10m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 40m

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 Indian Hills, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Indian Hills, TX

Aim for roughly 263 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Plano, TX

Aim for roughly 263 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 116 miles from Indian Hills, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 69C for about 141.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in Texas, United States, that is the seat of Comal County

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

New Braunfels, TX

174 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

New Braunfels, TX to Killeen, TX

114.9 mi · 2h 11m

city in Bell County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Killeen, TX

347 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Killeen, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Austin, TX

263 mi · about 4.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 263 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

San Diego, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 116 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Braunfels, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 263.1 miles from Indian Hills, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 69C if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 141.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 263 miles or 4.9 hours on the road.

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.

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 website

Doris D Miller Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

11th 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 website

Heritage 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 website

La Sal Del Rey

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour

Edinburg, Texas

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+19567847500

Visit website

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

Final third 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 26

5 decision points cluster between mile 344 and 523.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
344 mi into trip | ~6h 34m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
448.8 mi into trip | ~8h 22m 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
505 mi into trip | ~9h 20m 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
506.7 mi into trip | ~9h 23m 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
523.8 mi into trip | ~9h 42m 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

$79.51 one way

$159.02 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 184 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $87.03 $174.06
premium $4.54 $93.95 $187.90
diesel $5.61 $116.18 $232.36

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

$80

Tolls

$1

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$211–$321

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 184.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $55 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 157.9 1 $55.25 $25.26
Efficient EV 131.6 1 $46.04 $21.05
EV Truck/SUV 210.5 2 $73.67 $33.68

Gas CO2

184 kg

EV CO2

62 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.

Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026

Origin

Indian Hills, TX

Late night in Indian Hills on Tuesday

Local time

5:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Chance Rain Showers

ESE 6 to 9 mph 37% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 8:23PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 9:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Plano, TX

Late night in Plano on Tuesday

Local time

5:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 5 mph 62% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 8:23PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 9:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

11 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

9h 46m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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

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 ~11 min detour Free near mile 417.3
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 drive where a significant portion, 66%, is on highways, making for efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 141.7 miles on I 69C, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While much of the route utilizes major roadways, the inclusion of Purple Heart Trail and Pickle Parkway suggests a potential for varied scenery and road types beyond the typical interstate monotony. This mix means you'll experience both the efficiency of high-speed travel and potentially some more local road dynamics as you progress.

66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
47 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141.7 mi on I 69C.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

At 9h 46m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 344 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 26 significant decision points across 526.2 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 344 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 448.8 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 505 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 Indian Hills, TX to Plano, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Waco along the way.

Waco

285.1 mi in | ~5h 38m

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 141.7 miles on I 69C. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 263 miles on day one.

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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 344 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 448.8 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 505 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.8 hours each way, a round trip means 19.6 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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