Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 26m
Distance
335.6 mi
540 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pampa, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Frisco, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Pampa to Frisco is 335.6 miles and takes about 6h 26m via US Highway 287, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive cuts across the Texas Panhandle and into North Texas, staying within the Great Plains region for its entirety. You'll primarily be on US Highway 287, a straightforward path that makes this a predictable and manageable trip. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct, single-day journey with minimal complexity.
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
167.8 miles from Pampa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 12m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 287 | 81.8 mi | 1h 27m |
| Central East Freeway | 72.5 mi | 1h 16m |
| US Highway 287 East | 40.5 mi | 42m |
| State Highway 70 | 40.1 mi | 52m |
| West 2nd Street | 27.8 mi | 30m |
| West US Highway 380 | 21.8 mi | 25m |
| I 35E | 8.3 mi | 8m |
| Northwest Freeway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~442 veh/hr typical · worst 553
Quietest
3 AM
~107 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 36 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Pampa, TX and Frisco, TX.
Start on South Ballard Street
Turn right onto East Atchison Avenue
Turn left onto South Cuyler Street
Turn right onto US 60; TX 152
Turn left onto TX 70
Continue on SH 70
Continue on TX 70
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 40; TX 70
Take the exit onto TX 70
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto TX 70
At end of road, turn left onto US 287; TX 70
Turn slight right onto US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 287
Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287
Continue on US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
Continue on US 281; US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto US 380
Continue on US 380
Take the exit
Turn straight onto North Interstate 35
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35; US 77
Continue on I 35E; US 77
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Interstate 35E
Turn left onto West Swisher Road
Continue on LLTB
Continue on West Eldorado Parkway
Continue on FM 720
Turn right onto Witt Road
Turn left onto King Road
Continue on Main Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Turn right onto Oak Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 6.5-hour drive, consider leaving Pampa in the morning to arrive in Frisco with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and 85% highway, you can easily complete this in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major town could be over 80 miles on US Highway 287. The estimated fuel cost of $49 is a good budget to plan around for gas alone. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time and stop planning.
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 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 74 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 167.8 miles or 3h 12m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frisco, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Pampa, 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 Pampa, TX
This is one driving day of about 335.6 miles and 6h 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
168 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.
A short stop after about 74 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 167.8 miles from Pampa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 287 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Near the start, right off the route
Pampa, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19499452000
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
Denton, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19403205444
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Wichita Falls, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+19402575543
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Wichita Falls, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+19403227628
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Frisco, Texas
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+19722925250
Visit websiteNear the end, ~12 min detour
The Colony, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
+19726251106
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 335.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto East Atchison Avenue
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the ramp toward I 35 South
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward FM 2181: Swisher Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$45.97 one way
$91.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $51.34 | $102.69 |
| premium | $4.23 | $55.82 | $111.65 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $63.37 | $126.74 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.15
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
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.4 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 | 100.7 | 1 | $35.24 | $16.11 |
| Efficient EV | 83.9 | 0 | $29.37 | $13.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 134.2 | 1 | $46.98 | $21.48 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Pampa on Sunday
Local time
3:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:25AM CDT until July 20 at 6:32PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:25AM CDT until July 18 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Afternoon in Frisco on Sunday
Local time
3:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:25AM CDT until July 20 at 6:32PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:25AM CDT until July 18 at 4:45PM 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.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 85% of the 335.6 miles spent on main roads like US Highway 287. You'll experience a longest stretch of 81.8 miles on US Highway 287, offering a good opportunity for consistent cruising. Expect to transition from highway to surface roads as you approach your destination, though the majority of the trip is on high-speed arteries. The drive is mostly rural until you get closer to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 287 and Central East Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Atchison Avenue.
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 26 significant decision points across 335.6 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 0.1 miles (East Atchison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 207.6 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
68 ft
Total Descent
2,608 ft
Highest Point
3,237 ft
Elevation Range
2,548 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pampa, TX to Frisco, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Texas 70 South: Clarendon along the way.
Texas 70 South: Clarendon
Founded 1888
Pampa is the second largest city in the High Plains region of the Texas Panhandle. Pampa hosts the Top o' Texas Rodeo each year in July, which brings competitors from Texas and the surrounding states to Gray County. The White Deer Land Company Museum, which showcases ranching exhibits, is in downtown Pampa. In 2020, it was home to 17,000 people.
Founded 1904
Frisco is a suburb of Dallas and part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 26m. Total distance: 335.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 26m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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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