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Trip from Kilgore, TX to Plano, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 18m

Distance

130 mi

209 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 9m ★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m

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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city in the state of Texas, United States

Kilgore, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 130-mile drive from Kilgore, TX to Plano, TX is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in a single day. You'll spend about 2 hours and 18 minutes on the road, with the bulk of your journey on I 20 and US 80, before connecting to the Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. With a fuel cost estimated around $20, this route is budget-friendly for a day trip. Both Kilgore and Plano are located within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape throughout your drive. This trip is ideal for a quick transit between these East Texas and North Texas locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

65 miles from Kilgore, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 20 83.8 mi 1h 23m
US 80 15.3 mi 16m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway 11.4 mi 12m
North Central Expressway 6.7 mi 8m
Spur 557 4.4 mi 4m
State Highway 135 North 4.2 mi 4m
East 15th Street 0.6 mi 1m
Gladewater Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 20 — 83.8 mi, about 1h 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Main Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · East Main Street
2

Turn left onto Gladewater Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Gladewater Street
3

Turn right onto TX 135

4.2 mi · 4 min · State Highway 135 North
4

Turn left onto I-20 Access Road

94 ft · 2 sec · I-20 Access Road
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 20 West: Dallas
6

Merge onto I 20

84 mi · 1 hr 23 min · I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 557

4.4 mi · 4 min · Spur 557
Exit 499A Toward Dallas Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on US 80

15 mi · 16 min · US 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 635 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 635

11 mi · 12 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 635

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
12

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 19A Toward US 75 South, US 75 North: Dallas, McKinney Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 54 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14

Merge onto US 75

5.3 mi · 5 min · North Central Expressway
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 28A Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Turn straight onto North Central Expressway

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17

Turn right onto East 15th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Arrive at destination

East 15th Street

Trip Plan

Given its short 2-hour duration, this 130-mile trip offers excellent flexibility. Aim to depart in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With no specific stops recommended, you can choose to fuel up before you leave Kilgore or wait until you reach Plano. The longest stretch on I 20 is over 80 miles, so ensure you have enough fuel for that segment. Consider a brief stop midway if needed, though the drive is easily manageable without one.

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 65 miles from Kilgore, TX, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.8 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 29 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 65 miles or 1h 7m 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 50m

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 Kilgore, 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 Kilgore, TX

This is one driving day of about 130 miles and 2h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Kilgore, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 83.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Kaufman County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kaufman, TX

65 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

Tyler, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Canton, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65 miles from Kilgore, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.8 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Cultivar Coffee Roasting Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour Inexpensiv mile 111.4

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14693876289

Visit website

Dark Hour Haunted House

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 130

Plano, Texas

+14692980556

Visit website

11th Hour Escape

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 130

Plano, Texas

Hours: 12–5:30 pm

+14692095978

Visit website

Heritage Farmstead Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 130

Plano, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19728810140

Visit website

Xcape Adventures

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 111.4

Mesquite, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19729822073

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 89 and 127.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
89 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | Spur 557

Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 557 toward Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 499A Toward Dallas
6
108.7 mi into trip | ~1h 52m 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
120.7 mi into trip | ~2h 5m 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
121.6 mi into trip | ~2h 7m 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
127.6 mi into trip | ~2h 14m 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

$19.64 one way

$39.29 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $21.50 $43.00
premium $4.54 $23.21 $46.42
diesel $5.61 $28.70 $57.40

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

$20

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 39 0 $13.65 $6.24
Efficient EV 32.5 0 $11.38 $5.20
EV Truck/SUV 52 0 $18.20 $8.32

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (67% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Kilgore, TX

Late night in Kilgore on Sunday

Local time

2:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Plano, TX

Late night in Plano on Sunday

Local time

2:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

4 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 18m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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 94% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 20 and US 80. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 83.8 miles on I 20, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While primarily a highway experience, the transition to the Lyndon B Johnson Freeway indicates you're nearing a more urban environment. The road's personality is geared towards efficient travel rather than scenic detours.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.8 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 89 miles in near Spur 557.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 130 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 89 miles (Spur 557): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 120.7 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.

Between Kilgore, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Dallas and Mckinney.

Dallas

89 mi in | ~1h 31m | via Spur 557

Mckinney

120.7 mi in | ~2h 5m

About the Cities

Starting in Kilgore, TX

Full guide →

“Home of the Rangerettes” · Founded 1872

Kilgore is in the Central Piney Woods region of East Texas. Home to slightly less than 14,000 residents (2025), Kilgore is often identified as the "Oil Capital of East Texas", due to its proximity near the center of the vast East Texas Oilfield. Residents are proud of their heritage, and evidence of the city's prominence in petroleum production is widespread and accentuated throughout Kilgore.

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 18m. Total distance: 130 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 83.8 miles on I 20. 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 89 miles (Spur 557): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 120.7 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.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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