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Trip from Plano, TX to Scissors, TX

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

Drive Time

9h 33m

Distance

546.9 mi

880 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$83

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
9h 25m ★
6 AM
9h 33m
8 AM
9h 50m
10 AM
9h 39m
12 PM
9h 38m
3 PM
9h 40m
5 PM
9h 50m
8 PM
9h 28m

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

hand-operated cutting instrument

Scissors, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embarking on the 546.9-mile journey from Plano, TX, to Scissors, TX, will take approximately 9 hours and 33 minutes of driving time. This long-distance drive, primarily utilizing the South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll, is best split over two days, especially considering its substantial length. With an estimated fuel cost of $83 and requiring around 2 stops, this trip offers a straightforward transit through the Great Plains region of Texas. While it's possible to complete in a single, very long day, breaking it up will make for a more comfortable experience.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

273.5 miles from Plano, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 37m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway 89.9 mi 1h 32m
TX 130 Toll 86.1 mi 1h 19m
South Nueces Street 66.2 mi 1h 10m
I 37 60.5 mi 1h 1m
Falfurrias Expressway 55.8 mi 58m
Purple Heart Trail 37.9 mi 39m
I 10 32.5 mi 33m
I 69C 27.9 mi 30m
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 Scissors, 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

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec
Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.
22

Continue on TX 130 Toll

86 mi · 1 hr 19 min · TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
24

Merge onto I 10; TX 130

11 mi · 11 min · I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130

9.4 mi · 9 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

12 mi · 12 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Keep slight right at fork onto I 410

1.4 mi · 1 min · Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Merge onto I 410; TX 130

6.7 mi · 7 min · Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
31

Merge onto I 37

60 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Take the exit onto US 281 South

15 mi · 19 min · US 281 South
Toward US 281 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street
34

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

9.5 mi · 10 min · I 69C; US 281
35

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

56 mi · 58 min · Falfurrias Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
36

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

18 mi · 20 min · I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37

Merge onto I 2 East; US 83 East

0.5 mi · 33 sec · I 2 East; US 83 East
38

Continue on I 2; US 83

7.4 mi · 8 min · I 2; US 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 155A Toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
40

Turn straight onto Expressway 83

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Expressway 83
41

Turn right onto FM 493

2.8 mi · 4 min · North Salinas Boulevard
42

Turn right onto Lott Road

0.2 mi · 57 sec · Lott Road
43

Turn left onto Grande Street

362 ft · 17 sec · Grande Street
44

Turn right onto Cortez Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Cortez Street
45

Arrive at destination

Cortez Street

Trip Plan

To maximize your comfort on this 9.5-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to beat potential traffic and make the most of daylight hours. With two recommended stops, plan your breaks strategically to coincide with the longest stretches on the South R L Thornton Freeway, ensuring you stay refreshed. Given the 546.9-mile distance, splitting the drive over two days is highly advisable; aim to complete about half the distance on your first day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $83, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially before longer stretches.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 273.5 miles from Plano, TX, or about 4h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 120 miles or 2h 8m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 273.5 miles or 4h 37m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 273.5 miles or 4h 37m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scissors, 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.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Plano, TX

Aim for roughly 273 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Scissors, TX

Aim for roughly 273 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 120 miles from Plano, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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.

city in Bell County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Killeen, TX

180 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

Killeen, TX to San Antonio, TX

145.5 mi · 2h 44m

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

361 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in San Antonio, TX

Popular next leg

San Antonio, TX to Scissors, TX

246.3 mi · 4h 28m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Round Rock, TX

273 mi · about 4.8h in

A practical overnight split lands near Round Rock, TX after about 273 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Killeen, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 120 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Braunfels, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 273.5 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 South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 273 miles or 4.8 hours on the road.

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 36

5 decision points cluster between mile 17.5 and 309 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
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
7
180.9 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
8
309 mi into trip | ~5h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 41 Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$82.64 one way

$165.28 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 191 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $90.45 $180.91
premium $4.54 $97.65 $195.29
diesel $5.61 $120.75 $241.50

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

$83

Tolls

$1

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$214–$324

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 191.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 164.1 2 $57.42 $26.25
Efficient EV 136.7 1 $47.85 $21.88
EV Truck/SUV 218.8 2 $76.57 $35.00

Gas CO2

191 kg

EV CO2

64 kg (66% less)

Plan for 2 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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Plano, TX

Late night in Plano on Sunday

Local time

2:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

87°F

Mostly Sunny

S 10 to 15 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Freeze Watch

Freeze Watch issued April 16 at 4:14AM CDT until April 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 4:13AM CDT until April 16 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Destination

Scissors, TX

Late night in Scissors on Sunday

Local time

2:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

4 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

9h 33m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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 ~13 min detour Free near mile 113.2
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

9 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 301.8
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 substantial highway experience on this route, with 78% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 89.9 miles on the South R L Thornton Freeway, which sets the pace for much of the journey. The road is characterized by its efficient, long-distance travel feel, largely staying on well-maintained freeways and toll roads. While not particularly winding or technically challenging, its character is defined by consistent speed and forward momentum.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
45 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?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and TX 130 Toll. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 36 significant decision points across 546.9 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 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

On the drive from Plano, TX to Scissors, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.

Corpus Christi

309 mi in | ~5h 14m

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).

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.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 273 miles on day one.

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 Scissors, 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 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.6 hours each way, a round trip means 19.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Scissors, 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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