Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 30m
Distance
348.7 mi
561 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
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
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Pampa, TX to Plano, TX is 348.7 miles and takes about 6h 30m via US Highway 287 East, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive mostly stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward path from the Texas panhandle toward the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. You'll spend the majority of your time on well-maintained highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. Plan for this to be a functional transit rather than a scenic tour, with most of the driving on major arteries.
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
174.3 miles from Pampa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m 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 |
| President George Bush Turnpike | 13.3 mi | 14m |
| South Stemmons Freeway | 10.5 mi | 11m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 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 Plano, 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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto PGBT
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto Central Expressway
Turn right onto East 15th Street
Arrive at destination
For this 6.5-hour drive, leaving Pampa in the morning will allow you to reach Plano with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 81.8-mile stretch on US Highway 287, as services can be more spread out in rural areas. Budget around $51 for fuel, and consider filling up before leaving Pampa or at a larger town along US Highway 287 East to ensure competitive prices.
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 77 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.3 miles or 3h 19m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plano, 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 348.7 miles and 6h 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
174 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 77 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 174.3 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, right off the route
Plano, Texas
+14692980556
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Plano, Texas
Hours: 12–5:30 pm
+14692095978
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Plano, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19728810140
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Flower Mound, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+19728746000
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 207.6 and 346.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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 PGBT Toll: President George Bush Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward PGBT Toll East: President George Bush Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$47.76 one way
$95.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $53.35 | $106.70 |
| premium | $4.23 | $58.00 | $116.00 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $65.84 | $131.68 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.09
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
$48
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.6 | 1 | $36.61 | $16.74 |
| Efficient EV | 87.2 | 0 | $30.51 | $13.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 139.5 | 1 | $48.82 | $22.32 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Pampa on Monday
Local time
1:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:02AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:03AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Late night in Plano on Monday
Local time
1:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:02AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:03AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM 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
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 87% of the total distance covered on major roads like US Highway 287. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway cruising at 81.8 miles along US Highway 287. The transition to more urban environments will become noticeable as you approach Plano, with increased traffic and more frequent exits. The Central East Freeway marks a significant portion of the route as you move between highway segments.
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 207.6 miles in near US 287 / Northwest Freeway.
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 27 significant decision points across 348.7 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 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; at 330.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
213 ft
Total Descent
2,783 ft
Highest Point
3,237 ft
Elevation Range
2,679 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pampa, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Texas 70 South: Clarendon and Pgbt Toll: President George Bush Turnpike.
Texas 70 South: Clarendon
Pgbt Toll: President George Bush Turnpike
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 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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 30m. Total distance: 348.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 30m 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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