Trip from Plano, TX to Schulenburg, 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

4h 42m

Distance

250.7 mi

403 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 29m ★

6 AM

4h 42m

8 AM

5h 9m

10 AM

4h 51m

12 PM

4h 49m

3 PM

4h 53m

5 PM

5h 8m

8 PM

4h 34m

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

city in Fayette County, Texas, United States

Schulenburg, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Plano to Schulenburg is 250.7 miles and takes about 4h 42m via US 77, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and ending in the same area. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip, making it a practical choice for a single-day drive. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, with a relatively short travel time that allows for flexibility in your departure and arrival.

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

125.4 miles from Plano, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 77	103.1 mi	2h
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
Robinson Drive	29.5 mi	33m
Central Expressway	16.8 mi	18m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	4.3 mi	4m
East 1st Street	2.9 mi	3m
North Central Expressway	0.7 mi	1m
East 15th Street	0.6 mi	1m

Longest stretch: US 77 — 103.1 mi, about 2h

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 Schulenburg, 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

84 mi · 1 hr 38 min · US 77

Turn left onto US 90

105 ft · 2 sec · Summit Street

Arrive at destination

US 90

Trip Plan

Given the 4h 42m drive time, leaving Plano in the morning should allow you to reach Schulenburg with plenty of daylight remaining. The route has one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the total distance is just over 250 miles and the fuel cost is estimated at $37, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 103.1-mile stretch on US 77, as services might be more spread out during that section.

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 125.4 miles from Plano, TX, or about 2h 15m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.1 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 55 miles or 1h in

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

Halfway reset

Around 125.4 miles or 2h 15m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Schulenburg, 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 250.7 miles and 4h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 US 77 for about 103.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Moody, TX

125 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

Red Oak, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Moody, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 125.4 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.4 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

2.5 mi from route

5 of 22

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

$38.06 one way

$76.12 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 88 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$41.95	$83.90
premium	$4.58	$45.20	$90.41
diesel	$5.35	$52.80	$105.61

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

$38

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	75.2	0	$26.32	$12.03
Efficient EV	62.7	0	$21.94	$10.03
EV Truck/SUV	100.3	1	$35.10	$16.04

Gas CO2

88 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 31, 2026

Origin

Plano, TX

Afternoon in Plano on Wednesday

Local time

4:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Partly Cloudy

S 5 to 10 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 30 at 7:08PM CDT until May 30 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued May 30 at 7:00PM CDT until May 30 at 9:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Destination

Schulenburg, TX

Afternoon in Schulenburg on Wednesday

Local time

4:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 0 to 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 30 at 7:08PM CDT until May 30 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued May 30 at 7:00PM CDT until May 30 at 9:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

74°F

Moody, TX

125 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

3 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

4h 42m 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.

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 ~12 min detour Free near mile 112.4

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 predominantly highway driving, with 86% of the trip on high-speed roads. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on US 77, covering 103.1 miles. The transition to surface roads will occur after this main highway segment. Expect to notice a significant number of exits and merging traffic as you navigate through different segments of the drive.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 103.1 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 22 significant decision points across 250.7 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

687 ft 341 ft

Total Climb

420 ft

Total Descent

722 ft

Highest Point

687 ft

~71.6 mi in

Elevation Range

346 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 Schulenburg, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo and Loop 396.

Downtown

17.5 mi in | ~19m

Denton

19.5 mi in | ~23m

Waco

19.7 mi in | ~24m

Final third 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Cameron, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Tu-Fr 06:30-14:30; Sa-Su 08:00-14:30

Visit website

The Olive Branch Bakery & Cafe

Restaurant

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Waco, TX

Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-20:00; Fr 07:00-15:00; Sa-Su...

Visit website

The Brazos Landing

Restaurant

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

waco, TX

Cuisine: american;seafood

Ninfa's

Restaurant

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Cuisine: mexican

Hours: Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:00

Visit website

Rokhat Grill

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Plano, TX

Cuisine: Uzbek

Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-22:00

Visit website

Chipotle

Fast_food

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Waco, TX

Cuisine: mexican

Visit website

Schlotzsky's

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Hotel 1928

Hotel

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Waco, TX

Hours: 24/7

Visit website

Days Inn

Hotel

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour

Waco, TX

Visit website

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

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 Schulenburg, TX

Full guide →

Schulenburg is a city in Fayette County in the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas. It bills itself as halfway to everywhere, since it's halfway between Houston and San Antonio on I-10 and halfway from Austin to Victoria north-south.

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 4h 42m. Total distance: 250.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 103.1 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.

Yes — we found about 19 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 Schulenburg, 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 19 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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Schulenburg, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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