Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Knox City, TX to Plano, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 13m
Distance
224.5 mi
361 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 1m
★
6 AM
4h 14m
8 AM
4h 40m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 20m
3 PM
4h 24m
5 PM
4h 39m
8 PM
4h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knox City, TX
Thomas balabaud
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Knox City, TX to Plano, TX is 224.5 miles and takes about 4h 13m via US 277 and US Highway 380, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward drive for a single day. Most of the trip is on highways, making for efficient travel. With a relatively short duration and a manageable fuel cost, this is a convenient option for getting from West Texas to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
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
112.3 miles from Knox City, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 277 | 74.3 mi | 1h 21m |
| Central East Freeway | 71.9 mi | 1h 15m |
| West US Highway 380 | 21.8 mi | 25m |
| President George Bush Turnpike | 13.3 mi | 14m |
| State Highway 222 | 11.6 mi | 17m |
| South Stemmons Freeway | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| I 35E | 9.8 mi | 10m |
| West University Drive | 3.3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
US 277
— 74.3 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knox City, TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on TX 222
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
2
Continue on TX 222
12 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 222
3
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
4
Merge onto US 277
74 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
US 277
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 82
Toward US 82 East, US 281 South, US 287 South: Fort Worth
6
Merge onto US 82; US 281; US 287
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
Central East Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
1.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
70 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
Central East Freeway
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
10
Keep slight left at fork
147 ft
·
4 sec
11
Turn left onto US 380
22 mi
·
25 min
·
West US Highway 380
12
Continue on US 380
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West University Drive
13
Take the exit
288 ft
·
7 sec
14
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
North Interstate 35
15
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 35 South
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Merge onto I 35; US 77
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35; US 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35E; US 77
9.8 mi
·
10 min
·
I 35E; US 77
Toward I 35E South: Dallas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
10 mi
·
11 min
·
South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 445
Toward PGBT Toll: President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Toward PGBT Toll East: President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto PGBT
13 mi
·
14 min
·
President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the slight left lane.
24
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 29
Toward 15th Street
Use the slight right lane.
25
Turn straight onto Central Expressway
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn right onto East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 13m drive time, leaving Knox City in the morning is ideal to arrive in Plano with plenty of daylight. You can comfortably complete this trip in one day, so flexibility with your departure time is an advantage. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway mark, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, though the $33 fuel cost suggests you won't need to fill up multiple times. Keep an eye on traffic as you get closer to Plano, as congestion can increase in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
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 112.3 miles from Knox City, TX, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.3 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 49 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.3 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 27m
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 Knox City, 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 Knox City, TX
This is one driving day of about 224.5 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Knox City, 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 US 277 for about 74.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112.3 miles from Knox City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 277 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.3 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.
Wise County Northbound
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
1 mi from route
TA
2.2 mi from route
Texas Travel Information Center at Wichita Falls
2.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
2.2 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 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 websiteOak Hills Splash Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Carrollton, Texas
Hours: 9 am–8 pm
+19724663080
Visit websiteHistoric Downtown Carrollton
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.6 mi from route
~6 min detour
Carrollton, Texas
Hours: 10 am–6 pm
+19728809855
Visit websiteAndrew Brown Park West
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
Coppell, Texas
Hours: 7 am–11 pm
+19724625100
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 87.2 and 222.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
87.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
US 82
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82 toward US 82 East, US 281 South, US 287 South: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 82 East, US 281 South, US 287 South:...
6
185.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 35 South
7
206.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward PGBT Toll: President George Bush Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 445
Toward PGBT Toll: President George Bush Turnpik...
7
208 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PGBT Toll East: President George Bush Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward PGBT Toll East: President George Bush Tu...
7
222.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 10m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.70 one way
$67.40 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $37.29 | $74.58 |
| premium | $4.57 | $40.35 | $80.70 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $55.47 | $110.94 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
President George Bush Turnpike
(13.3 mi)
$1.06
Central Expressway
(0.4 mi)
$0.03
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
$34
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.57 | $10.78 |
| Efficient EV | 56.1 | 0 | $19.64 | $8.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.8 | 1 | $31.43 | $14.37 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Knox City, TX
Morning in Knox City on Friday
Local time
6:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Sunny
S 6 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Plano, TX
Morning in Plano on Friday
Local time
6:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 mph
0% chance
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
2 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
4h 13m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 96% highway, so expect mostly high-speed cruising. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 74.3 miles, primarily on US 277. You'll transition from US 277 to Central East Freeway and then to West US Highway 380. Given the high highway share, you'll notice a consistent pace with fewer interruptions until you approach the more urban areas near Plano.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.3 mi on US 277.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 277 and Central East Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 87.2 miles in near US 82.
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 21 significant decision points across 224.5 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 87.2 miles (US 82): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 185.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 206.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,529 ft
450 ft
Total Climb
371 ft
Total Descent
1,233 ft
Highest Point
1,529 ft
Elevation Range
1,080 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 Knox City, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Pgbt Toll: President George Bush Turnpike and Pgbt Toll East: President George Bush Turnpike.
Pgbt Toll: President George Bush Turnpike
206.7 mi in
|
~3h 52m
Pgbt Toll East: President George Bush Turnpike
208 mi in
|
~3h 54m
About the Cities
Starting in Knox City, 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 4h 13m. Total distance: 224.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.3 miles on US 277. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.09 in tolls one way, starting with President George Bush Turnpike. 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 87.2 miles (US 82): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 185.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 206.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Plano, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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