Trip from Marfa, TX to Plano, TX

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

Drive Time

9h 48m

Distance

544.9 mi

877 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$75

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

9h 39m ★

6 AM

9h 48m

8 AM

10h 6m

10 AM

9h 54m

12 PM

9h 53m

3 PM

9h 55m

5 PM

10h 5m

8 PM

9h 43m

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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Marfa, TX

Thomas balabaud

city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Marfa, TX to Plano, TX is 544.9 miles and takes about 9h 48m via I 20 and TX 17, with a fuel budget near $79 and an overnight recommendation. This drive takes you from the vast landscapes of the Great Plains in West Texas across to the same region in North Texas. It's a long-haul trip, best broken into two days to avoid fatigue. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward, albeit lengthy, transit.

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

272.5 miles from Marfa, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 8m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	398.3 mi	6h 38m
TX 17	35.4 mi	44m
FM 2903	22.1 mi	38m
North Dean Street	22.1 mi	29m
Jim Wright Freeway	12.6 mi	14m
SH 183 TEXpress	11.7 mi	11m
I 820 TEXpress	6.9 mi	6m
North Central Expressway	6.7 mi	8m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 398.3 mi, about 6h 38m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~1,511 veh/hr typical · worst 1,850

Quietest

2 AM

~212 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on this road

190 ft · 19 sec · this road

Turn left onto TX 17

0.2 mi · 37 sec · South Highland Street

At end of road, turn right onto TX 17

483 ft · 21 sec · East Lincoln Street

Turn left onto TX 17

22 mi · 29 min · North Dean Street

Turn right onto TX 17

31 mi · 37 min · TX 17

At end of road, turn right onto TX 17

4.5 mi · 6 min · TX 17

Turn left onto I 10 Business

2.0 mi · 3 min · Fort Worth Street

Continue on FM 2903

22 mi · 38 min · FM 2903

Turn right

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec

Toward I 20 East: Odessa, Midland

Merge onto I 20

398 mi · 6 hr 38 min · I 20

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30

5.6 mi · 5 min · West Freeway

Exit 421 Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 5B Toward I 820 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 820

13 mi · 14 min · Jim Wright Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 820

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Northeast Loop

Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 TEXpress

6.9 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress

Toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas Entrance Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

4.4 mi · 4 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 183 TEXpress

12 mi · 11 min · SH 183 TEXpress

Toward TX 183 Express East Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 12 TEXpress

2.6 mi · 2 min · Loop 12 TEXpress

Toward I 35E Toll North Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto Loop 12

0.8 mi · 53 sec · North Walton Walker Boulevard

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Stemmons Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 50 sec

Exit 440B Toward I 635 East Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 635

4.4 mi · 4 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 635

2.6 mi · 2 min · Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway

Use the right lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec

Exit 19A Toward US 75 North, US 75 South: McKinney, Dallas Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min

Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 75

5.3 mi · 5 min · North Central Expressway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Exit 28A Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Central Expressway

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Central Expressway

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Turn right onto East 15th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 15th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Arrive at destination

East 15th Street

Trip Plan

Given the 9h 48m duration, this trip is best split over two days. Aim to depart Marfa in the morning, covering roughly half the distance on day one, perhaps finding a stopping point around the Abilene area. This allows for a more relaxed second day into Plano. Keep an eye on fuel, especially on the earlier rural stretches of TX 17, as services can be spaced out. Plan your overnight stop to be roughly halfway, around the 5-hour mark of driving time.

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 272.5 miles from Marfa, TX, or about 5h 8m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 398.3 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 120 miles or 2h 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 272.5 miles or 5h 8m 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 272.5 miles or 5h 8m

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 41m

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 Marfa, 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 Marfa, TX

Aim for roughly 272 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Plano, TX

Aim for roughly 272 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 120 miles from Marfa, 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 20 for about 398.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

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

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Stanton, TX

180 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

Stanton, TX to Plano, TX

328.2 mi · 5h 38m

city in and the county seat of Erath County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Stephenville, TX

360 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 Stephenville, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Sweetwater, TX

272 mi · about 4.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Sweetwater, TX after about 272 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Wink, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 120 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Roscoe, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 272.5 miles from Marfa, 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 398.3 miles.

Overnight split

1.6 mi from route

QuikTrip

1.9 mi from route

Mr. Fuel Travel Center

2.4 mi from route

Permian Basin Petroleum Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Early stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Midland, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14326834403

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Midland, Texas

Hours: Closed

+14324005911

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 25

5 decision points cluster between mile 480.6 and 542.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

480.6 mi into trip | ~8h 36m in | I 30 / West Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 421 Toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth

486.2 mi into trip | ~8h 42m in

Take the exit toward I 820 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 5B Toward I 820 North

500 mi into trip | ~8h 59m in | I 820 TEXpress

Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 TEXpress toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas Entrance

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas E...

536 mi into trip | ~9h 36m in

Take the exit toward US 75 North, US 75 South: McKinney, Dallas

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 North, US 75 South: McKinney, Dall...

542.5 mi into trip | ~9h 43m 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

$74.63 one way

$149.27 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 191 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$83.37	$166.73
premium	$4.23	$90.64	$181.28
diesel	$4.80	$102.89	$205.77

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

$75

Tolls

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$205–$315

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 190.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	163.5	2	$57.21	$26.16
Efficient EV	136.2	1	$47.68	$21.80
EV Truck/SUV	218	2	$76.29	$34.87

Gas CO2

191 kg

EV CO2

64 kg (66% less)

Plan for 2 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.

Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Marfa, TX

Morning in Marfa on Sunday

Local time

10:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

NE 5 to 10 mph 44% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:33PM CDT until July 16 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Destination

Plano, TX

Morning in Plano on Sunday

Local time

10:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

90°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 36% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:33PM CDT until July 16 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

101°F

Stanton, TX

180 mi in

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

10 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

9h 48m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is 94% highway, with a significant 398.3-mile stretch on I 20. Expect to transition from TX 17 and FM 2903 to I 20, where you'll encounter more consistent high-speed cruising. The latter part of the drive involves merging onto or off of major interstates, typical for a long-distance Texas traverse.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 398.3 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and TX 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 480.6 miles in near I 30 / West Freeway.

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 25 significant decision points across 544.9 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 480.6 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 486.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 500 miles (I 820 TEXpress): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

4,693 ft 579 ft

Total Climb

283 ft

Total Descent

4,308 ft

Highest Point

4,693 ft

Elevation Range

4,114 ft

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 Marfa, TX to Plano, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Midland along the way.

Midland

82.2 mi in | ~1h 57m

About the Cities

Starting in Marfa, TX

Full guide →

Marfa is a town of 1,600 people (2019) in the Big Bend Country region of Texas. It's known for two things: innovative art and mysterious lights.

Top landmarks

• Chinati Foundation — contemporary art museum in Marfa, Texas
• El Paisano Hotel — historic place in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas
• Presidio County Courthouse — historic place in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 398.3 miles on I 20. 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 272 miles on day one.

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.

Yes — we found about 56 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 56 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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