Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Plano, TX to San Leon, TX

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

Drive Time

5h 23m

Distance

295.7 mi

476 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

19 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 10m ★
6 AM
5h 23m
8 AM
5h 50m
10 AM
5h 32m
12 PM
5h 30m
3 PM
5h 34m
5 PM
5h 49m
8 PM
5h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown San Leon, TX, TX

San Leon, TX

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

The drive from Plano, TX to San Leon, TX covers 295.7 miles and takes about 5h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Julius Schepps Freeway, Gulf Freeway, Central Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 237.6 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.68 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

147.9 miles from Plano, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway 237.6 mi 4h 9m
Gulf Freeway 28.6 mi 33m
Central Expressway 16.8 mi 18m
41st Street East 4.2 mi 6m
FM 517 2.8 mi 5m
Avenue S 1.6 mi 2m
Pine Drive 1.5 mi 2m
South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Julius Schepps Freeway — 237.6 mi, about 4h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and San Leon, 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

Continue on I 45

3.4 mi · 3 min · Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 45

234 mi · 4 hr 5 min · Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 45

29 mi · 33 min · Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 19 Toward FM 517: Dickinson
9

Turn straight onto South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
10

Turn left onto FM 517

1.5 mi · 2 min · Pine Drive
11

Continue on FM 517

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Pine Street
12

Continue on FM 517

0.4 mi · 40 sec · Main Street
13

Turn slight right onto FM 517

4.2 mi · 6 min · 41st Street East
14

Continue on FM 517

1.6 mi · 2 min · Avenue S
15

Turn slight right onto FM 517

2.8 mi · 5 min · FM 517
16

Arrive at destination

Avenue I

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 147.9 miles from Plano, TX, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237.6 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 65 miles or 1h 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 147.9 miles or 2h 36m 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Leon, 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 295.7 miles and 5h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 Julius Schepps Freeway for about 237.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Palestine, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palestine, TX

148 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

Corsicana, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Madisonville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 147.9 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 Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 237.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Houston, Texas

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 253.5

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 253.5

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 253.5

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13462417524

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

Dennis Johnston Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 232.4

Spring, Texas

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+17132740930

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

City Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 21.1

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19724823055

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

Lone Star Flight Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 274.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13467082517

Visit website

Frankie Carter Randolph Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 274.6

Friendswood, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+12814826055

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 253.5

Houston, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17137520314

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 283.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East 15th Street

Depart onto East 15th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
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.
6
20.9 mi into trip | ~23m in | I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
283.7 mi into trip | ~5h 3m in

Take the exit toward FM 517: Dickinson

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 19 Toward FM 517: Dickinson

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.68 one way

$89.36 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $48.91 $97.81
premium $4.54 $52.80 $105.59
diesel $5.61 $65.29 $130.57

Estimated Tolls: $1.34

Central Expressway (16.8 mi) $1.34

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

$45

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 103.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

19 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Plano, TX

Tesla

16 DCFC

Village on the Parkway - Tesla Supercharger

Dallas, TX

Tesla

16 DCFC

Walmart EV Charging

Plano, TX

WALMART

12 DCFC

Plano, TX Rechargery Relay - N Central Expy

Plano, TX

IONNA

10 DCFC

Walmart EV Charging

Murphy, TX

WALMART

8 DCFC

CityLine Market - Tesla Supercharger

Richardson, TX

Tesla

8 DCFC

Chase Bank - 2000 W 15th St

Plano, TX

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

901 W Park Blvd

Plano, TX

HYPERFUEL

6 DCFC

eVgo Network: 5 GRAVITI_ENERGY: 4 Tesla: 3 WALMART: 2 Blink Network: 2 IONNA: 1 HYPERFUEL: 1 7CHARGE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 88.7 1 $31.05 $14.19
Efficient EV 73.9 0 $25.87 $11.83
EV Truck/SUV 118.3 1 $41.40 $18.92

Gas CO2

103 kg

EV CO2

35 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Plano, TX

Evening in Plano on Sunday

Local time

6:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Leon, TX

Evening in San Leon on Sunday

Local time

6:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Palestine, TX

148 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

7 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

5h 23m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

295.7 mi in 5h 23m, mostly highway — 237.6 mi of that is on Julius Schepps Freeway.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 237.6 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Gulf Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 15th Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 23m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 15th Street): Lane positioning matters here; 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.

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.

Arriving in San Leon, 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 5h 23m. Total distance: 295.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 237.6 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.34 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.

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: near the start (East 15th Street): Lane positioning matters here; 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Leon, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From San Leon, TX

Arlington, TX 294.4 mi · 5h 24m Dallas, TX 278.3 mi · 5h 4m Houston, TX 40.2 mi · 54m

More from Plano, TX

Scissors, TX 546.9 mi · 9h 33m Los Fresnos, TX 535.9 mi · 9h 46m Rio Hondo, TX 523.5 mi · 9h 34m Zapata, TX 495.9 mi · 8h 52m Rio Bravo, TX 459.7 mi · 8h 15m McCamey, TX 420.6 mi · 7h 15m

More trips to San Leon, TX

El Paso, TX 785 mi Lubbock, TX 573.2 mi Corpus Christi, TX 240.6 mi Austin, TX 201.8 mi
Escape planner: Plano, TX Scenic drives in TX

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.