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Trip from Plano, TX to Port O'Connor, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 8m

Distance

362.7 mi

584 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$55

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
6h 57m ★
6 AM
7h 8m
8 AM
7h 30m
10 AM
7h 16m
12 PM
7h 14m
3 PM
7h 17m
5 PM
7h 29m
8 PM
7h 2m

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

Downtown Port O'Connor, TX, TX

Port O'Connor, TX

Nate Biddle

Trip Overview

This 362.7-mile drive from Plano, TX, to Port O'Connor, TX, is a manageable one-day adventure, taking approximately 7 hours and 8 minutes to complete. Primarily following US 77 and the South R L Thornton Freeway, the route is heavily highway-focused, with 83% of it being on major roadways. With an estimated fuel cost of $55 and a plan for 2 stops, this trip offers a straightforward journey across the Great Plains region of Texas. It's a practical option for those looking to reach the coast without a multi-day commitment, allowing for flexibility in departure times and pacing.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

181.3 miles from Plano, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 20m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 77 120.2 mi 2h 20m
South R L Thornton Freeway 89.9 mi 1h 32m
United States Highway 77 44.5 mi 53m
Robinson Drive 29.5 mi 33m
Port Lavaca Drive 21.3 mi 25m
Central Expressway 16.8 mi 18m
FM 1289 11.2 mi 19m
State Highway 185 East 6.9 mi 12m
Longest stretch: US 77 — 120.2 mi, about 2h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and Port O'Connor, 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

101 mi · 1 hr 58 min · US 77
29

Turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt

0.3 mi · 20 sec · West 4th Street
30

Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Fairwinds Street
31

Turn left onto US 77

45 mi · 53 min · United States Highway 77
Use the straight / left lanes.
32

Turn left onto US 87

0.3 mi · 30 sec · East Goodwin Avenue
Use the left lane.
33

Continue on US 87

21 mi · 25 min · Port Lavaca Drive
34

Keep slight left at fork onto US 87

4.1 mi · 4 min · US 87
35

Turn right onto FM 1090

0.8 mi · 1 min · Alcoa Drive
36

Turn right onto TX 238

3.1 mi · 5 min · West Austin Street
37

Continue on TX 238

1.0 mi · 1 min · TX 238
38

Turn left onto FM 1289

11 mi · 19 min · FM 1289
39

At end of road, turn left onto TX 185

6.9 mi · 12 min · State Highway 185 East
40

Continue on TX 185

1.0 mi · 1 min · Adams Avenue
41

Turn right onto TX 185

91 ft · 2 sec · 2nd Street
42

Arrive at destination

TX 185

Trip Plan

Given the 7-hour duration, starting your trip from Plano early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow ample time for your two planned stops. The longest stretch without a major road change is over 120 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. With a fuel cost estimated at $55, keeping an eye on your gauge is a good idea, especially during the longer stretches on US 77. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, so you have the advantage of flexibility; however, ensure you're comfortable with extended highway driving.

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.3 miles from Plano, TX, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.2 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 80 miles or 1h 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 181.3 miles or 3h 20m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port O'Connor, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Plano, TX

This is one driving day of about 362.7 miles and 7h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Plano, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 77 for about 120.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Brazos County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

College Station, TX

181 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

West, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

College Station, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 181.3 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.2 miles.

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.

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

Easter Island Heads

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Victoria, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+13614853000

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 30

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.

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

$54.80 one way

$109.61 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 127 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $59.99 $119.98
premium $4.54 $64.76 $129.52
diesel $5.61 $80.08 $160.16

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

$55

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$81–$106

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 126.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 108.8 1 $38.08 $17.41
Efficient EV 90.7 1 $31.74 $14.51
EV Truck/SUV 145.1 1 $50.78 $23.21

Gas CO2

127 kg

EV CO2

42 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 Apr 21, 2026

Origin

Plano, TX

Late night in Plano on Tuesday

Local time

3:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 5 mph 62% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 8:23PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 9:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Port O'Connor, TX

Late night in Port O'Connor on Tuesday

Local time

3:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

ESE 15 mph 37% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 8:23PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 20 at 9:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

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

14 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

7h 8m 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

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 ~12 min detour Free near mile 112.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this route, with 83% of the journey on main roads like US 77 and South R L Thornton Freeway. The character of the drive is largely defined by these efficient roadways, designed for covering distance. You'll encounter one significant stretch of uninterrupted driving, lasting 120.2 miles on US 77, so be prepared for extended periods on this particular highway. While primarily a fast-paced journey, the transition between these main arteries is smooth, maintaining a consistent driving experience for most of the 7-hour trip.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.2 mi on US 77.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 77 and South R L Thornton 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 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 362.7 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.

Between Plano, TX and Port O'Connor, TX, road signs point toward Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo and Loop 396.

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

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 7h 8m. Total distance: 362.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 120.2 miles on US 77. 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 Port O'Connor, 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 2 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 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Port O'Connor, 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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