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Trip from New London, 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

2h 33m

Distance

141.1 mi

227 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 23m ★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m

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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city in Rusk County, Texas, United States

New London, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

New London, TX to Plano, TX is 141.1 miles and takes about 2h 33m via I 20 and US 80, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey through Texas. It's a fairly direct route, primarily utilizing major highways, making it a practical option for a quick trip. Consider this if you're looking for an uncomplicated drive with minimal time commitment, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently. This route is best suited for a single-day trip, fitting comfortably within a few hours.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

70.6 miles from New London, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 20 83.8 mi 1h 23m
US 80 15.3 mi 16m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway 11.4 mi 12m
Main Street 11.1 mi 15m
North Central Expressway 6.7 mi 8m
State Highway 135 North 4.7 mi 5m
Spur 557 4.4 mi 4m
East 15th Street 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 20 — 83.8 mi, about 1h 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Burnett Street

295 ft · 15 sec · Burnett Street
2

Turn right onto Phillips Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Phillips Street
3

Turn right onto TX 42

11 mi · 15 min · Main Street
4

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 135

228 ft · 5 sec · TX 135
5

Enter roundabout onto TX 135

217 ft · 3 sec · State Highway 135 North
6

Continue on TX 135

4.6 mi · 5 min · State Highway 135 North
7

Turn left onto I-20 Access Road

94 ft · 2 sec · I-20 Access Road
8

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 20 West: Dallas
9

Merge onto I 20

84 mi · 1 hr 23 min · I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 557

4.4 mi · 4 min · Spur 557
Exit 499A Toward Dallas Use the slight right lane.
11

Continue on US 80

15 mi · 16 min · US 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 635 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 635

11 mi · 12 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 635

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
15

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 19A Toward US 75 South, US 75 North: Dallas, McKinney Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 54 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17

Merge onto US 75

5.3 mi · 5 min · North Central Expressway
18

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 28A Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn straight onto North Central Expressway

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20

Turn right onto East 15th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Arrive at destination

East 15th Street

Trip Plan

With a drive time under 3 hours, this trip offers great flexibility for when you depart. Leaving in the morning allows ample time for an early arrival, while an afternoon departure lets you enjoy a leisurely start. You'll only need one stop, so plan it strategically along the 83.8-mile stretch on I 20 for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before the longest stretch, as service areas can be spaced out on interstates. Given the short duration, you won't need to split this drive, making it ideal for a single-day adventure.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.6 miles from New London, TX, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.8 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 31 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 70.6 miles or 1h 16m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 2m

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 New London, 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 New London, TX

This is one driving day of about 141.1 miles and 2h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from New London, 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 I 20 for about 83.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Wills Point, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wills Point, TX

71 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

Hawkins, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Canton, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70.6 miles from New London, 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 83.8 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.

Cultivar Coffee Roasting Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour Inexpensiv

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14693876289

Visit website

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

Xcape Adventures

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Mesquite, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19729822073

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

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.3 and 138.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
11.3 mi into trip | ~15m in | TX 135 / State Highway 135 North

Enter roundabout onto TX 135 / State Highway 135 North

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

8
100.2 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | Spur 557

Keep slight right at fork onto Spur 557 toward Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 499A Toward Dallas
8
131.9 mi into trip | ~2h 20m in

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

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 South, US 75 North: Dallas, McKinn...
7
132.8 mi into trip | ~2h 22m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 75 North: McKinney
8
138.8 mi into trip | ~2h 28m 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

$21.32 one way

$42.64 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $23.34 $46.67
premium $4.54 $25.19 $50.38
diesel $5.61 $31.15 $62.31

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

$21

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.3 0 $14.82 $6.77
Efficient EV 35.3 0 $12.35 $5.64
EV Truck/SUV 56.4 0 $19.75 $9.03

Gas CO2

49 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (65% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 18, 2026

Origin

New London, TX

Afternoon in New London on Tuesday

Local time

12:23 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Plano, TX

Afternoon in Plano on Tuesday

Local time

12:23 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

W 15 mph 81% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 2:27AM CDT by NWS Norman OK

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 2:21AM 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

25 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

2h 33m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the route on major roads like I 20 and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 83.8 miles on I 20, which means consistent speed and minimal traffic diversions for a significant portion of the trip. Expect a mostly consistent driving experience, typical of interstates, with straightforward navigation. While the majority is highway, be aware that the initial and final segments might involve some city surface streets as you enter and exit your starting and ending points.

87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.8 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.3 miles in near TX 135 / State Highway 135 North.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 16 significant decision points across 141.1 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 11.3 miles (TX 135 / State Highway 135 North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 100.2 miles (Spur 557): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.9 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 New London, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Dallas and Mckinney.

Dallas

100.2 mi in | ~1h 46m | via Spur 557

Mckinney

131.9 mi in | ~2h 20m

About the Cities

Starting in New London, 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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 141.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 83.8 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 11.3 miles (TX 135 / State Highway 135 North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 100.2 miles (Spur 557): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Plano, TX before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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