Trip from Medina, 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 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 15m

Distance

333.1 mi

536 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

6h 2m ★

6 AM

6h 15m

8 AM

6h 40m

10 AM

6h 24m

12 PM

6h 21m

3 PM

6h 25m

5 PM

6h 39m

8 PM

6h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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Medina, TX

Mark Direen

city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embarking on a road trip from Medina, Texas, to Plano, Texas, covers 333.1 miles and is estimated to take about 6 hours and 15 minutes. This journey, primarily on the Purple Heart Trail, I-35E, and East US Highway 290, is best tackled as a single-day drive given its duration. You can anticipate a fuel cost of around $50 for this stretch. Since both Medina and Plano are located within the Great Plains region, you'll experience a consistent landscape throughout your travel. This route offers a practical way to cover ground between these two Texas locations efficiently.

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

166.5 miles from Medina, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	113 mi	1h 55m
I 35E	56.2 mi	58m
East US Highway 290	30.9 mi	38m
Ranch Road 473	20.7 mi	26m
North Central Expressway	16.6 mi	18m
RM 473	12.5 mi	16m
Express 1 Toll	10.2 mi	10m
Ranch Road 2828	9 mi	9m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 113 mi, about 1h 55m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,041 veh/hr typical · worst 4,779

Quietest

2 AM

~585 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 51 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 Medina, TX and Plano, TX.

Start on Newcomer Lane

65 ft · 9 sec · Newcomer Lane

Turn left onto TX 16

2.1 mi · 2 min · State Highway 16 North

Turn left onto RM 2828

9.0 mi · 9 min · Ranch Road 2828

At end of road, turn left onto TX 173

0.9 mi · 56 sec · State Highway 173 North

Continue on TX 173

1.8 mi · 1 min · Bandera Highway

Turn right onto RM 480

5.4 mi · 6 min · Ranch Road 480

Continue on RM 480

0.5 mi · 57 sec · San Antonio Street

Turn right onto FM 1350

0.5 mi · 1 min · China Street

Continue on FM 1350

1.5 mi · 2 min · Farm to Market Road 1350

At end of road, turn right onto TX 27

6.4 mi · 7 min · State Highway 27

Turn left onto RM 473

5.2 mi · 7 min · RM 473

Turn right onto RM 473

7.3 mi · 9 min · RM 473

Turn right onto RM 473; RM 1376

0.9 mi · 1 min · Sisterdale Road

Turn left onto RM 473

21 mi · 26 min · Ranch Road 473

Use the left lane.

At end of road, turn left onto US 281; RM 473

8.4 mi · 9 min · South US Highway 281

Continue on US 281

1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Continue on US 281

6.7 mi · 7 min · North US Highway 281

Turn right onto US 290

31 mi · 38 min · East US Highway 290

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 290

0.3 mi · 18 sec · West US Highway 290

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Continue on West US Highway 290

2.0 mi · 2 min · West US Highway 290

Continue on US 290; TX 71

1.6 mi · 1 min · US 290; TX 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward Loop 1 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto Loop 1

4.6 mi · 5 min · South Mopac Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll

10 mi · 10 min · Express 1 Toll

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto Loop 1

4.3 mi · 4 min · North Mopac Expressway

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward TX 45 Toll East Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Toward I 35 North, Toll 45 East

Merge onto TX 45 Toll

0.6 mi · 35 sec · State Highway 45 North

Take the exit

1.3 mi · 2 min

Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 35

80 mi · 1 hr 22 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

56 mi · 58 min · I 35E

Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec

Exit 427A Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

422 ft · 5 sec

Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec

Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center

Keep slight left at fork

385 ft · 6 sec

Toward I 30 East: Texarkana

Continue on I 30; US 67

0.8 mi · 1 min · East R L Thornton Freeway

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 45 sec

Exit 46 Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 26 sec

Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East

Merge onto US 75

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Julius Schepps Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 75

15 mi · 16 min · North Central Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

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

For this 6-hour and 15-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Medina to maximize daylight and arrive in Plano with ample time. With a single recommended stop, plan it strategically for a mid-drive break. The estimated fuel cost of $50 suggests keeping an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 113-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, where services might be less frequent. This is a manageable one-day trip, but flexibility with your departure time is key to a relaxed journey.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 166.5 miles from Medina, TX, or about 3h 18m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113 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 73 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 166.5 miles or 3h 18m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 8m

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 Medina, 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 Medina, TX

This is one driving day of about 333.1 miles and 6h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Medina, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 113 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Austin, TX

167 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.

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to Plano, TX

214.2 mi · 3h 48m

Pacing Suggestions

Canyon Lake, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jarrell, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 166.5 miles from Medina, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.5 mi from route

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour

Austin, Texas

Hours: 5 am–10 pm

+15129746700

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 32

5 decision points cluster between mile 133.4 and 330.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

133.4 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in

Keep slight right at fork toward TX 45 Toll East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward TX 45 Toll East

255.6 mi into trip | ~4h 50m 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

311.8 mi into trip | ~5h 48m 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...

313.5 mi into trip | ~5h 51m 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

330.7 mi into trip | ~6h 10m 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

$45.62 one way

$91.25 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 117 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$50.96	$101.92
premium	$4.23	$55.41	$110.81
diesel	$4.80	$62.90	$125.79

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

$46

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 116.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	99.9	1	$34.98	$15.99
Efficient EV	83.3	0	$29.15	$13.32
EV Truck/SUV	133.2	1	$46.63	$21.32

Gas CO2

117 kg

EV CO2

39 kg (67% 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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Medina, TX

Evening in Medina on Monday

Local time

6:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Partly Sunny

SSE 10 to 15 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:51AM CDT until July 22 at 8:36AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:45AM CDT until July 17 at 11:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Destination

Plano, TX

Evening in Plano on Monday

Local time

6:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Mostly Sunny

S 5 to 15 mph 10% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:51AM CDT until July 22 at 8:36AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:45AM CDT until July 17 at 11:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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.

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

6h 15m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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...

6 mi from route ~15 min detour Free near mile 218.2

View on nps.gov

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...

16 mi from route ~40 min detour Free near mile 80.4

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This drive presents a mixed experience, with nearly half of the 333.1 miles (49%) spent on highways. Expect to encounter approximately 113 miles on the Purple Heart Trail as one of the longest uninterrupted stretches, offering a different pace than the interstate. The transition to I-35E will likely bring a faster, more typical highway driving experience. While not exclusively an interstate grind, the blend of road types means you'll experience varying speeds and road conditions on your way from Medina to Plano.

49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

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

Longest single stretch: 113 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 133.4 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 32 significant decision points across 333.1 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 133.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 255.6 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 311.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,585 ft 518 ft

Total Climb

818 ft

Total Descent

1,593 ft

Highest Point

1,585 ft

~47.6 mi in

Elevation Range

1,067 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Medina, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1 North, Toll 45 East, Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center and Mckinney - among others.

Loop 1 North

113.6 mi in | ~2h 20m

Toll 45 East

133.9 mi in | ~2h 43m

Fort Worth

312.2 mi in | ~5h 49m

Texarkana

312.2 mi in | ~5h 49m

Convention Center

312.3 mi in | ~5h 49m

Mckinney

313.5 mi in | ~5h 51m

Bryan Street East

314.5 mi in | ~5h 53m

About the Cities

Starting in Medina, TX

Full guide →

Founded -900

Top landmarks

• Prophet's Mosque — mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia
• Hejaz Railway Museum — railway museum

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 6h 15m. Total distance: 333.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 113 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

Yes — we found about 28 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 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Medina, TX or browse trips ending in Plano, TX.

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Trip from Medina, TX to Plano, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

SoPac Trail Rest Area

Service Plaza

Rest Area

Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Rest Area

Dark Hour Haunted House

11th Hour Escape

Heritage Farmstead Museum

Austin Bat Tours

Botanical Gates of Paradise

NTER - The Great Escape

Cultural Activities Center

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Medina, TX

Plano, TX

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

6h 15m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Medina, TX

Arriving in Plano, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Plano, TX

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