Origin
Plano, TX
Night in Plano on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plano, TX to Markham, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 19m
Distance
324.1 mi
522 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 7m
★
6 AM
6h 20m
8 AM
6h 45m
10 AM
6h 29m
12 PM
6h 26m
3 PM
6h 30m
5 PM
6h 44m
8 PM
6h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Markham, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
Embarking from Plano, TX, to Markham, TX, this 324.1-mile journey is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 6 hours and 19 minutes. The drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 89% of the route utilizing major roadways like South R L Thornton Freeway and US 77. With an estimated fuel cost of $49, this trip offers a straightforward drive through the Great Plains region of Texas. It's a practical option for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
162.1 miles from Plano, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| US 77 | 85.4 mi | 1h 40m |
| State Highway 71 South | 53.3 mi | 1h 11m |
| Robinson Drive | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| East State Highway 71 Bypass | 27.4 mi | 28m |
| Central Expressway | 16.8 mi | 18m |
| FM 1468 | 9.9 mi | 17m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and Markham, 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
17 mi
·
17 min
·
Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
501 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Use the slight left lane.
6
Continue on North Central Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn right onto Elm Street
304 ft
·
10 sec
·
Elm Street
8
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Pearl Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Young Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Young Street
10
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
315 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Harwood Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Canton Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Canton Street
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 30 West
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
14
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
17
Continue on I 35E
89 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35; US 77
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 333A
Toward Loop 396
20
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
21
Turn left onto Loop 396
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Valley Mills Drive
22
Enter roundabout onto Robinson Drive
125 ft
·
5 sec
·
Robinson Drive
23
Continue on Robinson Drive
29 mi
·
33 min
·
Robinson Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Continue on US 77
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US 77
25
Turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
East 4th Street
26
Continue on US 77; US 190; TX 36
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Kemp Street
27
Continue on US 77; US 190; TX 36
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East 1st Street
28
Take the exit onto US 77
66 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
US 77
29
Turn sharp left onto East State Highway 71 Bypass
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East State Highway 71 Bypass
30
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
31
Merge onto TX 71
27 mi
·
27 min
·
East State Highway 71 Bypass
32
Take the exit
365 ft
·
8 sec
Toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Campo
33
Continue on TX 71
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
TX 71
Toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Campo
34
Turn right onto TX 71
53 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
State Highway 71 South
35
Turn left onto FM 1468
9.9 mi
·
17 min
·
FM 1468
Use the left lane.
36
Arrive at destination
FM 1468
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour and 19-minute duration, starting your drive in Plano early in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for a comfortable pace. With only one suggested stop, you can be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 89.9-mile stretch on South R L Thornton Freeway, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $49 makes budgeting straightforward for this single-day adventure.
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 162.1 miles from Plano, TX, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 71 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.1 miles or 2h 57m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Markham, 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 324.1 miles and 6h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 162.1 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 275 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 19.7 — 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.
8
17.5 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
6
18.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
North Pearl Expressway
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
19.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
19.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Waco
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.97 one way
$97.94 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
113 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $53.60 | $107.21 |
| premium | $4.54 | $57.87 | $115.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $71.56 | $143.11 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.40
Central Expressway
(17.5 mi)
$1.40
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
$49
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.2 | 1 | $34.03 | $15.56 |
| Efficient EV | 81 | 0 | $28.36 | $12.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.6 | 1 | $45.37 | $20.74 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Markham, TX
Night in Markham on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Troy, TX
162 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
16 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 19m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 111.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, designed for efficient travel. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, covering 89% of the distance on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While primarily highway, the transition to US 77 and State Highway 71 South will introduce you to slightly different road personalities as you get closer to Markham.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and US 77. 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
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 27 significant decision points across 324.1 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 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles (North Pearl Expressway): 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 Markham, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo, Loop 396 and El Campo.
Downtown
17.5 mi in
|
~19m
Denton
19.5 mi in
|
~23m
Waco
19.7 mi in
|
~24m
Dallas Zoo
20.6 mi in
|
~25m
|
via I 35E
Loop 396
114.2 mi in
|
~2h 2m
El Campo
260.7 mi in
|
~4h 50m
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.
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 19m. Total distance: 324.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 19m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.40 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Markham, 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. 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 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles (North Pearl Expressway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Markham, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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