Origin
La Paloma, TX
Night in La Paloma on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Paloma, 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
10h 4m
Distance
535 mi
861 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$81
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 55m
★
6 AM
10h 4m
8 AM
10h 22m
10 AM
10h 11m
12 PM
10h 9m
3 PM
10h 12m
5 PM
10h 22m
8 PM
9h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Paloma, TX
Andrew Patrick Photo
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 535-mile journey from La Paloma, TX to Plano, TX spans approximately 10 hours of driving time, making it a substantial undertaking best split over two days. The route primarily utilizes U.S. Highway 77, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with 75% of the drive on highways. You'll navigate through the familiar landscape of the Great Plains for the entirety of this trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $81 and a planned two stops, this long-distance drive requires some planning to enjoy comfortably. Consider breaking this trip in half to make the most of your time on the road.
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
267.5 miles from La Paloma, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 22m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 120.9 mi | 2h 13m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 97.7 mi | 1h 39m |
| Pickle Parkway | 58.5 mi | 54m |
| I 35E | 56.2 mi | 58m |
| US Highway 181 South | 40.2 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 80 North | 30.8 mi | 35m |
| State Highway 80 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| I 37 | 19.7 mi | 19m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Highway 77
— 120.9 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Paloma, TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on Old Military Highway
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Old Military Highway
2
Turn left onto FM 732
5.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Narlisco Martinez Highway
3
Turn left onto East Expressway 83
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Expressway 83
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
5
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83
96 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
7
Merge onto I 69E; US 77
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 69E; US 77
8
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
12 mi
·
12 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
10
Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road
485 ft
·
17 sec
·
US Highway 77 Frontage Road
11
Turn right onto County Road 10
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road 10
12
Turn left onto County Road 79
4.0 mi
·
15 min
·
County Road 79
13
Turn left onto County Road 18
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
County Road 18
14
Turn sharp right
1.1 mi
·
2 min
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
16
Merge onto US 77
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Driscoll Bypass
17
Continue on US 77
13 mi
·
14 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
18
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 37; US 77; I 69E
19
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi
·
1 min
20
Continue on I 37
18 mi
·
18 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore
22
Turn right onto TX 359
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 359
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 181
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
South 8th Street
24
Continue on US 181
40 mi
·
45 min
·
US Highway 181 South
25
Continue on US 181
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sunset Strip Drive
26
Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
27
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
28
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Helena Road
29
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 80
30
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Nixon Avenue
31
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 80 North
32
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
33
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Colorado Street
34
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
United States Highway 183
35
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
36
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi
·
54 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
38
Merge onto I 35
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
42
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Use the slight right lane.
43
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
44
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
45
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
46
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
47
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Use the slight right lane.
48
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the slight left lane.
49
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
50
Merge onto US 75
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Continue on US 75
15 mi
·
16 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
52
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 28A
Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Turn straight onto North Central Expressway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
54
Turn right onto East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
55
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Trip Plan
To manage this 10-hour drive effectively, consider departing early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. With two recommended stops and a longest stretch of over 120 miles, plan for at least one overnight stay to avoid fatigue. The estimated fuel cost of $81 means you'll want to keep an eye on gas prices as you travel. A practical tip for this route: U.S. Highway 77 is a significant portion of your drive, so ensure your vehicle is in good condition before you set off, as you'll be covering a substantial distance on it.
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 267.5 miles from La Paloma, TX, or about 5h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.9 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 118 miles or 2h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 267.5 miles or 5h 22m 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 267.5 miles or 5h 22m
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 57m
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 La Paloma, 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 La Paloma, TX
Aim for roughly 268 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Plano, TX
Aim for roughly 268 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 118 miles from La Paloma, 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 U.S. Highway 77 for about 120.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
177 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.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
353 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, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
268 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 268 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 118 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 267.5 miles from La Paloma, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 268 miles or 5 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 355 decision points cluster between mile 352.9 and 532.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
352.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 51m 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
457.6 mi into trip
|
~8h 39m 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
513.8 mi into trip
|
~9h 38m 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
515.5 mi into trip
|
~9h 40m 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
532.6 mi into trip
|
~9h 59m 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
$80.84 one way
$161.68 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
187 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $88.49 | $176.97 |
| premium | $4.54 | $95.52 | $191.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $118.12 | $236.24 |
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
$81
Tolls
$1
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$212–$322
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 187.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 160.5 | 1 | $56.18 | $25.68 |
| Efficient EV | 133.8 | 1 | $46.81 | $21.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 214 | 2 | $74.90 | $34.24 |
Gas CO2
187 kg
EV CO2
63 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.
Destination
Plano, TX
Night in Plano on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph
4% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 16 at 4:14AM CDT until April 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 4:13AM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo 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
3 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
10h 4m 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
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 424.3
View on nps.gov
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 8, 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Although the two countries have deve...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$25
near mile 73.8
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 predominantly highway experience on this 535-mile route, with 75% of your travel time spent on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 120.9 miles on U.S. Highway 77, offering a significant period of consistent driving. While much of the journey follows well-traveled highways, the inclusion of routes like Pickle Parkway suggests you'll experience a mix of driving conditions. This drive is characterized by its steady pace, allowing for efficient travel across the state.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
55 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.9 mi on U.S. Highway 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 352.9 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 35 significant decision points across 535 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 352.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 457.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 513.8 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between La Paloma, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.
Skidmore
159.1 mi in
|
~3h 15m
Waco
293.9 mi in
|
~5h 56m
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 120.9 miles on U.S. Highway 77. 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 268 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 352.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 457.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 513.8 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, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.1 hours each way, a round trip means 20.1 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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