Trip from Plano, TX to Markham, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 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

Save up to 38 min

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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

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

Traffic on I-35

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

Peak

4 PM

~4,837 veh/hr typical · worst 5,660

Quietest

2 AM

~666 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 43 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 Markham, 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

17 mi · 17 min · Central Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

501 ft · 12 sec

Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway Use the slight left lane.

Continue on North Central Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Central Expressway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto Elm Street

304 ft · 10 sec · Elm Street

Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Pearl Expressway

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Young Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Young Street

Turn left onto South Harwood Street

315 ft · 8 sec · South Harwood Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Canton Street

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Canton Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 30 West

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 5 sec

Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the left / right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

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.

Continue on I 35; US 77

4.3 mi · 4 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 333A Toward Loop 396

Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway

0.1 mi · 24 sec · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Turn left onto Loop 396

0.1 mi · 19 sec · South Valley Mills Drive

Enter roundabout onto Robinson Drive

125 ft · 5 sec · Robinson Drive

Continue on Robinson Drive

29 mi · 33 min · Robinson Drive

Use the straight / left lanes.

Continue on US 77

19 mi · 21 min · US 77

Turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36

0.3 mi · 19 sec · East 4th Street

Continue on US 77; US 190; TX 36

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Kemp Street

Continue on US 77; US 190; TX 36

2.9 mi · 3 min · East 1st Street

Take the exit onto US 77

66 mi · 1 hr 18 min · US 77

Turn sharp left onto East State Highway 71 Bypass

0.3 mi · 36 sec · East State Highway 71 Bypass

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Merge onto TX 71

27 mi · 27 min · East State Highway 71 Bypass

Take the exit

365 ft · 8 sec

Toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Campo

Continue on TX 71

0.3 mi · 35 sec · TX 71

Toward TX 71 East, TX 71 BUS: Columbus, El Campo

Turn right onto TX 71

53 mi · 1 hr 11 min · State Highway 71 South

Turn left onto FM 1468

9.9 mi · 17 min · FM 1468

Use the left lane.

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

Troy, TX

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

Midlothian, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, TX

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

2.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

2.4 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

2.5 mi from route

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

El Campo, Texas

5 of 27

5 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.

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | Central Expressway

Turn left onto Central Expressway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

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

18.4 mi into trip | ~21m in | North Pearl Expressway

Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

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

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

$49.20 one way

$98.40 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 113 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$54.23	$108.46
premium	$4.58	$58.44	$116.88
diesel	$5.35	$68.27	$136.53

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

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$76–$101

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, 2026-06-01.

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.

Forecast as of May 29, 2026

Origin

Plano, TX

Afternoon in Plano on Wednesday

Local time

3:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear

SE 0 to 5 mph 31% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 28 at 8:53PM CDT until May 28 at 9:30PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 28 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Destination

Markham, TX

Afternoon in Markham on Wednesday

Local time

3:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Mostly Clear then Patchy Fog

S 0 to 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 28 at 8:53PM CDT until May 28 at 9:30PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 28 at 8:15PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

73°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

1 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

735 ft 53 ft

Total Climb

295 ft

Total Descent

910 ft

Highest Point

735 ft

~69.5 mi in

Elevation Range

682 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 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 →

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 Markham, TX

Full guide →

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.

Yes — we found about 20 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 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. There are 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Plano, TX to Markham, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

TA

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

290 Travel Plaza

Flying J Travel Center

SoPac Trail Rest Area

Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area

Colorado County Westbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Dark Hour Haunted House

11th Hour Escape

Heritage Farmstead Museum

NTER - The Great Escape

Legacy Park

Zlotnik Park at Legacy Fields

Friendship Park

El Campo Lost Lagoon

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Plano, TX

Markham, TX

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

6h 19m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

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 Markham, 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?

Are there national parks near this route?

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

How this page is built

Explore More

More from Plano, TX

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