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Trip from Plano, TX to Jacksonville, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 25m

Distance

127.8 mi

206 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 15m ★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m

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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city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Cherokee County, Texas, United States

Jacksonville, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Plano, TX to Jacksonville, TX covers 127.8 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on C F Hawn Freeway, US Highway 175 East, Lyndon B Johnson Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.5 miles on C F Hawn Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.54 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

63.9 miles from Plano, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
C F Hawn Freeway 58.5 mi 1h 3m
US Highway 175 East 20.8 mi 22m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway 18.5 mi 19m
US Highway 175 13.3 mi 14m
Central Expressway 7 mi 7m
West Corsicana Street 2.5 mi 4m
West Pine Street 2 mi 3m
North Jackson Street 0.7 mi <1m
Longest stretch: C F Hawn Freeway — 58.5 mi, about 1h 3m

Traffic on I-635

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~5,211 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~566 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.2×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 50 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 Plano, TX and Jacksonville, 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 left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 635 East Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 635 East
8

Merge onto I 635

0.3 mi · 17 sec · Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
9

Continue on I 635

19 mi · 19 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 479B Toward US 175 East: Kaufman Use the right lane.
11

Merge onto US 175

59 mi · 1 hr 3 min · C F Hawn Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on US 175 Bus

151 ft · 9 sec · US Highway 175 West
13

Turn left onto US 175 Bus; TX 31 Bus

2.5 mi · 4 min · West Corsicana Street
14

Continue on US 175 Bus

21 mi · 22 min · US Highway 175 East
15

Continue on US 175

2.0 mi · 3 min · West Pine Street
16

Continue on US 175

13 mi · 14 min · US Highway 175
17

Continue on US 175

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Frankston Highway
18

Continue on US 175

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Alexander Boulevard
19

At end of road, turn right onto US 69

0.7 mi · 52 sec · North Jackson Street
20

Arrive at destination

US 69

Trip Plan

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 63.9 miles from Plano, TX, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.5 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 28 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 63.9 miles or 1h 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 1h 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksonville, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Plano, 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 Plano, TX

This is one driving day of about 127.8 miles and 2h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Plano, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on C F Hawn Freeway for about 58.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Kaufman County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kemp, TX

64 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

Mesquite, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kemp, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.9 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour Inexpensiv

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14693876289

Visit website

Dark Hour Haunted House

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Plano, Texas

+14692980556

Visit website

11th Hour Escape

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

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 start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Plano, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19728810140

Visit website

Xcape Adventures

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Mesquite, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19729822073

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 28.2 — 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.
5
1 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 75 / Central Expressway

Merge onto US 75 / Central Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right 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 left at fork toward I 635 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 635 East
7
28.2 mi into trip | ~32m in

Take the exit toward US 175 East: Kaufman

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 479B Toward US 175 East: Kaufman

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.54 one way

$37.08 round trip

$3.69/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.08 $20.54 $41.09
premium $4.43 $22.30 $44.60
diesel $5.60 $28.17 $56.34

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.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.3 0 $13.42 $6.13
Efficient EV 32 0 $11.18 $5.11
EV Truck/SUV 51.1 0 $17.89 $8.18

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast as of Aug 30, 2026

Origin

Plano, TX

Afternoon in Plano on Friday

Local time

1:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Mostly Clear

SSE 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Jacksonville, TX

Afternoon in Jacksonville on Friday

Local time

1:19 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Mostly Clear

S 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

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

5 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 25m 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?

127.8 mi in 2h 25m, mostly highway — 58.5 mi of that is on C F Hawn Freeway.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.5 mi on C F Hawn Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on C F Hawn Freeway and US Highway 175 East. 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 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 127.8 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 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (US 75 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

668 ft 331 ft

Total Climb

298 ft

Total Descent

449 ft

Highest Point

668 ft

Elevation Range

337 ft

About the Cities

Starting 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

Arriving in Jacksonville, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1872

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 25m. Total distance: 127.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 58.5 miles on C F Hawn Freeway. 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 Jacksonville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (US 75 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jacksonville, 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, 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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