Origin
Plano, TX
Late night in Plano on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plano, TX to Irving, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
25 mi
40 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick commute or connection between Plano and Irving, you are looking at a straightforward 25-mile trip that typically takes about 30 minutes. This journey remains entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a simple, one-day affair that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is an economical route for solo travelers and families alike. Because the trip is so efficient, you can easily complete it in a single morning or afternoon without needing to account for long-distance fatigue. Expect a direct, no-fuss experience that gets you from point A to point B with minimal planning required.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Expressway | 7 mi | 7m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| North Walton Walker Boulevard | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| South Stemmons Freeway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| East Irving Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East 15th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East State Highway 356 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Central Expressway
— 7 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and Irving, TX.
1
Start on East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto Central Expressway
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Central Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 75 South
4
Merge onto US 75
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 21
Toward I 635
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 635 West
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 635
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 635
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 27C
Toward I 35E South: Dallas
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35E
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto North Walton Walker Boulevard
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Walton Walker Boulevard
Exit 436A
Toward Loop 12 South: Irving, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward TX 356
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto South Loop 12
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Loop 12
14
Turn right onto TX 356
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
East State Highway 356
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on TX 356
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Irving Boulevard
16
Continue on West Irving Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Irving Boulevard
17
Turn right onto North Ohio Street
58 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Ohio Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Ohio Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 18.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Central Expressway
Turn left onto Central Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
7.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 635
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 635
7
8.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 635 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 635 West
7
16.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 35E South: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Exit 27C
Toward I 35E South: Dallas
9
18.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
North Walton Walker Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto North Walton Walker Boulevard toward Loop 12 South: Irving, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 436A
Toward Loop 12 South: Irving, Dallas Fort Worth...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.78 one way
$7.56 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $4.13 | $8.27 |
| premium | $4.54 | $4.46 | $8.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.52 | $11.04 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.56
Central Expressway
(7 mi)
$0.56
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$1
Total
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.19 | $1.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Irving, TX
Late night in Irving on Sunday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
30m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused drive that utilizes the Central Expressway, the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway, and North Walton Walker Boulevard. Roughly 67% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on these major highways, keeping the pace steady and predictable. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 7 miles while navigating the Central Expressway, which dictates the flow of the initial leg. The transition between these arterial roads creates a functional, high-speed environment rather than a scenic tour. You should be prepared for a standard urban driving experience where the focus is on lane discipline and maintaining momentum through the metro area.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7 mi on Central Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central Expressway and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Central Expressway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 25 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Plano, TX and Irving, TX, road signs point toward Loop 12 South: Irving and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Loop 12 South: Irving
18.8 mi in
|
~21m
|
via North Walton Walker Boulevard
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
18.8 mi in
|
~21m
|
via North Walton Walker Boulevard
About the Cities
Starting 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.
Arriving in Irving, TX
Full guide →Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents. Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.
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 30m. Total distance: 25 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7 miles on Central Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.56 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 Irving, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Irving, 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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