Trip from Plano, TX to Lamesa, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 2m

Distance

351.1 mi

565 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 50m ★

6 AM

6h 3m

8 AM

6h 29m

10 AM

6h 12m

12 PM

6h 9m

3 PM

6h 13m

5 PM

6h 27m

8 PM

5h 55m

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 and county seat of Dawson County, Texas, United States

Lamesa, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Plano to Lamesa is 351.1 miles and takes about 6h 2m via I 20 and US 87, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward drive across the state. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll spend most of your time on major highways. Plan for a straightforward drive with minimal distractions, ideal for a quick transit between these two Texas locations.

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

175.6 miles from Plano, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	243.1 mi	4h 5m
South US Highway 87	18.1 mi	18m
North US Highway 87	17.5 mi	18m
SH 183 TEXpress	13.6 mi	13m
Jim Wright Freeway	12.8 mi	14m
Central Expressway	7 mi	7m
I 820 TEXpress	6.9 mi	6m
West Freeway	6 mi	6m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 243.1 mi, about 4h 5m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,369 veh/hr typical · worst 1,769

Quietest

2 AM

~188 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Lamesa, TX.

Start on East 15th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 15th Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto Central Expressway

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Central Expressway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Toward US 75 South

Merge onto US 75

6.8 mi · 7 min · Central Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Exit 21 Toward I 635 Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.9 mi · 55 sec

Toward I 635 West Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 635

2.4 mi · 2 min · Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 635

4.8 mi · 5 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 31 sec

Exit 27C Toward I 35E South: Dallas Use the left / straight lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

2.2 mi · 2 min · South Stemmons Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto North Walton Walker Boulevard

0.6 mi · 39 sec · North Walton Walker Boulevard

Exit 436A Toward Loop 12 South: Irving, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto Loop 12 TEXpress

2.2 mi · 2 min · Loop 12 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto TX 183 TEXpress

13 mi · 13 min · SH 183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

2.0 mi · 2 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Continue on TX 183 TEXpress

0.1 mi · 7 sec · SH 183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

0.7 mi · 42 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Continue on I 820 TEXpress

6.9 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress

Toward I 820 Express West Toll Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 820

0.4 mi · 24 sec · Northeast Loop

Continue on I 820

13 mi · 14 min · Jim Wright Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 1 min

Exit 3A Toward I 30 West: Weatherford Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 30

6.0 mi · 6 min · West Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 20

243 mi · 4 hr 5 min · I 20

Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 27 sec

Exit 177 Toward US 87: San Angelo, Lamesa

Turn slight left onto West Interstate 20

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West Interstate 20

Turn right onto US 87 Bus

2.3 mi · 3 min · North US Highway 87

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Merge onto US 87

0.4 mi · 25 sec · William B Crooker Memorial Highway

Continue on US 87

15 mi · 15 min · North US Highway 87

Continue on US 87

4.3 mi · 4 min · William Crooker Highway

Continue on US 87

18 mi · 18 min · South US Highway 87

Continue on US 87; US 180

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Dallas Avenue

Continue on US 87; US 180

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Lynn Avenue

Turn left

160 ft · 11 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 6-hour drive time, departing Plano in the morning should allow you to reach Lamesa with plenty of daylight remaining. The longest stretch without a significant break is 243.1 miles on I 20, so consider a fuel and rest stop before or during that segment. With a single recommended day for this trip, you have flexibility in your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels as the route is predominantly highway, and services might be more spaced out in certain stretches.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 175.6 miles from Plano, TX, or about 3h 3m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 243.1 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 77 miles or 1h 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 175.6 miles or 3h 3m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lamesa, 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 351.1 miles and 6h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Plano, 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 243.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dublin, TX

176 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

Weatherford, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 77 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Albany, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 175.6 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

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

Paramount Theatre

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Abilene, Texas

+13256769620

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

Halfway reset 3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Hours: 1–5 pm

+13256735050

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 7.8 and 58.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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

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

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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 436A Toward Loop 12 South: Irving, Dallas Fort Worth...

58.1 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Take the exit toward I 30 West: Weatherford

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 3A Toward I 30 West: Weatherford

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.09 one way

$96.18 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 123 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$53.72	$107.43
premium	$4.23	$58.40	$116.80
diesel	$4.80	$66.29	$132.59

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

$48

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 122.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	105.3	1	$36.87	$16.85
Efficient EV	87.8	1	$30.72	$14.04
EV Truck/SUV	140.4	1	$49.15	$22.47

Gas CO2

123 kg

EV CO2

41 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Plano, TX

Afternoon in Plano on Sunday

Local time

4:01 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 5 mph 7% chance Live forecast

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

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:02AM CDT until July 17 at 6:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Destination

Lamesa, TX

Afternoon in Lamesa on Sunday

Local time

4:01 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 5 mph 28% chance Live forecast

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

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:02AM CDT until July 17 at 6:45AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

98°F

Dublin, TX

176 mi in

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

10 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

6h 2m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll be on highways for 96% of this drive, covering a substantial 243.1 miles primarily on I 20. Expect a consistent highway experience for the majority of your trip. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the route as you approach Lamesa. The extensive highway mileage suggests a predominantly rural cruising feel with fewer urban complexities.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 243.1 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and South US Highway 87. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.8 miles in.

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 21 significant decision points across 351.1 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 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; at 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,993 ft 541 ft

Total Climb

2,853 ft

Total Descent

529 ft

Highest Point

2,993 ft

~351.1 mi in

Elevation Range

2,451 ft

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 Lamesa, 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 →

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 Lamesa, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1903

Lamesa is a city in the Llano Estacado region of Texas. It is heavy on the agriculture sector and gives off an authentic feel of provincial Texan life.

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 6h 2m. Total distance: 351.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 243.1 miles on I 20. 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.

Yes — we found about 33 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Lamesa, 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. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lamesa, TX before the return drive.

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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Explore more options from Plano, TX or browse trips ending in Lamesa, TX.

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Trip from Plano, TX to Lamesa, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-20

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Mitchell County Westbound Rest Area

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

US-87 Knotts Picnic Area

I-20 Westbound Picnic Area

I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Howard County Eastbound Rest Area

Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area

Eastland County Westbound Rest Area

Nolan County Eastbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Road Ranger

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Petro Stopping Centers

Callahan County Eastbound Rest Area

Callahan County Westbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Picnic Area

QuikTrip

Mr. Fuel Travel Center

Dark Hour Haunted House

11th Hour Escape

Heritage Farmstead Museum

Paramount Theatre

Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

12th Armored Division Memorial

Fort Worth Herd

The Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Plano, TX

Lamesa, TX

Same local time

10 degrees cooler at arrival

6h 2m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Plano, TX

Arriving in Lamesa, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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