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Trip from Los Indios, 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

10h

Distance

534.3 mi

860 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$81

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

19 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
9h 52m ★
6 AM
10h 1m
8 AM
10h 19m
10 AM
10h 7m
12 PM
10h 5m
3 PM
10h 8m
5 PM
10h 18m
8 PM
9h 56m

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 Los Indios, TX, TX

Los Indios, TX

Jeff Stapleton

city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 534.3-mile journey from Los Indios, TX, to Plano, TX, is a substantial trek, best tackled over two days. Expect the drive to take around 10 hours, so attempting it as a single day trip is not recommended. You'll primarily navigate U.S. Highway 77, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with highway driving making up about 75% of the route. Budget approximately $81 for fuel for this long-distance drive across the Great Plains region of Texas. With two planned stops, you'll have opportunities to break up the mileage effectively.

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

267.1 miles from Los Indios, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 19m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Highway 77 117 mi 2h 9m
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 — 117 mi, about 2h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Robertson Street

0.2 mi · 47 sec · Robertson Street
2

At end of road, turn right onto US 281

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Military Highway
3

Turn left onto FM 509

8.5 mi · 10 min · FM 509
4

Turn left onto West Expressway 83

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West Expressway 83
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North
6

Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83

92 mi · 1 hr 42 min · U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 14 sec
8

Merge onto I 69E; US 77

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 69E; US 77
9

Continue on U.S. Highway 77

12 mi · 12 min · U.S. Highway 77
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
11

Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road

485 ft · 17 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road
12

Turn right onto County Road 10

1.0 mi · 4 min · County Road 10
13

Turn left onto County Road 79

4.0 mi · 15 min · County Road 79
14

Turn left onto County Road 18

0.2 mi · 43 sec · County Road 18
15

Turn sharp right

1.1 mi · 2 min
16

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 57 sec
17

Merge onto US 77

2.3 mi · 2 min · Driscoll Bypass
18

Continue on US 77

13 mi · 14 min · U.S. Highway 77
19

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E
20

Keep slight left at fork

1.3 mi · 1 min
21

Continue on I 37

18 mi · 18 min · I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore
23

Turn right onto TX 359

12 mi · 16 min · State Highway 359
24

At end of road, turn left onto US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · South 8th Street
25

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · US Highway 181 South
26

Continue on US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
27

Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
28

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street
29

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road
30

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80
31

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue
32

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North
33

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
34

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street
35

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183
36

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
37

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
39

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

56 mi · 58 min · I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.
43

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Exit 427A Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street Use the slight right lane.
44

Keep slight left at fork

422 ft · 5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
45

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
46

Keep slight left at fork

385 ft · 6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
47

Continue on I 30; US 67

0.8 mi · 1 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
48

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 45 sec
Exit 46 Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney Use the slight right lane.
49

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left lane.
50

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
51

Merge onto US 75

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52

Continue on US 75

15 mi · 16 min · North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
53

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 28A Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54

Turn straight onto North Central Expressway

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
55

Turn right onto East 15th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
56

Arrive at destination

East 15th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 10-hour, 534.3-mile drive, consider splitting it into two days. This approach will allow you to enjoy the journey without feeling rushed. Aim to start your driving days early to maximize daylight hours, especially since you'll be covering a considerable distance. Keep an eye on your fuel levels; the longest stretch without services is 117 miles on U.S. Highway 77, so ensure you refuel before reaching that point. With an estimated fuel cost of $81, factor this into your budget.

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 267.1 miles from Los Indios, TX, or about 5h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117 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 267.1 miles or 5h 19m 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 267.1 miles or 5h 19m

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 54m

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 Los Indios, 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 Los Indios, TX

Aim for roughly 267 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Plano, TX

Aim for roughly 267 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 118 miles from Los Indios, 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 117 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

176 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

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, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Austin, TX

267 mi · about 5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 267 miles or 5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 118 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Braunfels, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 267.1 miles from Los Indios, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 117 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 267 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.

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

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

Doris D Miller Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 36

5 decision points cluster between mile 352.1 and 531.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
352.1 mi into trip | ~6h 48m 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
456.9 mi into trip | ~8h 36m 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 mi into trip | ~9h 34m 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
514.8 mi into trip | ~9h 37m 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
531.9 mi into trip | ~9h 56m 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

$80.73 one way

$161.47 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 187 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $88.37 $176.74
premium $4.54 $95.40 $190.79
diesel $5.61 $117.97 $235.93

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: 186.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

19 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

ABIA Retail Center - Tesla Supercharger

Austin, TX

Tesla

20 DCFC

Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger

Robstown, TX

Tesla

16 DCFC

Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger

Luling, TX

Tesla

16 DCFC

Stuart Place Crossing - Tesla Supercharger

Harlingen, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

Fuel America - Tesla Supercharger

Kingsville, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

Burger King - Tesla Supercharger

Kenedy, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

Circle K - Tesla Supercharger

Austin, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kingsville - Tesla Supercharger

Kingsville, TX

Tesla

8 DCFC

Tesla: 10 EV Connect: 4 ChargePoint Network: 3 Blink Network: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 160.3 1 $56.10 $25.65
Efficient EV 133.6 1 $46.75 $21.37
EV Truck/SUV 213.7 2 $74.80 $34.20

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.

Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026

Origin

Los Indios, TX

Late night in Los Indios on Tuesday

Local time

3:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

93°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Plano, TX

Late night in Plano on Tuesday

Local time

3:05 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

37 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 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 ~10 min detour Free near mile 430.8
View on nps.gov
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

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...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore

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 74.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route offers a significant portion of highway driving, accounting for 75% of the total mileage, which means you'll cover ground efficiently. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 117 miles along U.S. Highway 77, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. While much of this drive is on major thoroughfares, the inclusion of roads like Purple Heart Trail and Pickle Parkway suggests a varied driving experience that moves you through the heart of Texas.

75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
56 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117 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 352.1 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 36 significant decision points across 534.3 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 352.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 456.9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 513 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 Los Indios, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.

Skidmore

158.4 mi in | ~3h 11m

Waco

293.2 mi in | ~5h 52m

About the Cities

Starting in Los Indios, TX

Full guide →

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 117 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 267 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 352.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 456.9 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 513 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 10.0 hours each way, a round trip means 20.0 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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