Trip from Plano, TX to Tulia, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 48m

Distance

345.2 mi

556 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

6h 37m ★

6 AM

6h 49m

8 AM

7h 12m

10 AM

6h 57m

12 PM

6h 55m

3 PM

6h 58m

5 PM

7h 11m

8 PM

6h 42m

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

Best Time

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city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Tulia, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

Plano to Tulia is 345.2 miles and takes about 6h 48m via North US Highway 287, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, taking you from the Great Plains region near Plano to the Great Plains near Tulia. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's well within the scope of a single day's travel. You'll find the landscape consistent throughout, making it a predictable and efficient route.

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

172.6 miles from Plano, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 8m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North US Highway 287	72.5 mi	1h 15m
State Highway 86	72 mi	1h 46m
US Highway 287 East	40.5 mi	42m
East 11th Street	28.7 mi	32m
US Highway 287 West	25.7 mi	26m
US Highway 380 West	21.5 mi	24m
South Stemmons Freeway	20.9 mi	22m
US Highway 287	13.8 mi	14m

Longest stretch: North US Highway 287 — 72.5 mi, about 1h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and Tulia, 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

0.3 mi · 17 sec · Central Expressway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Exit 28B Toward President George Bush Turnpike Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 50 sec

Toward PGBT West: President George Bush Turnpike Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto PGBT

14 mi · 14 min · President George Bush Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.6 mi · 1 min

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

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 26 sec

Toward I 35E North: Denton Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 35E

21 mi · 22 min · South Stemmons Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

0.1 mi · 9 sec · I 35; US 77

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Exit 469 Toward US 380: University Drive

Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

0.4 mi · 47 sec · North Interstate 35

Turn left onto US 380

3.4 mi · 4 min · West University Drive

Use the straight / left lanes.

Continue on US 380

22 mi · 24 min · US Highway 380 West

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Merge onto US 81; US 287

72 mi · 1 hr 15 min · North US Highway 287

Continue on US 281; US 287

0.8 mi · 58 sec · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287

2.4 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 287

5.3 mi · 5 min · Northwest Freeway

Exit 3A Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Continue on US 287

40 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287

4.1 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 287

26 mi · 26 min · US Highway 287 West

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 287

29 mi · 32 min · East 11th Street

Continue on US 287

2.8 mi · 3 min · Avenue F Northeast

Continue on US 287

14 mi · 14 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Burnett Street

Turn left onto TX 86

0.6 mi · 1 min · Harper Street

Continue on TX 86

30 mi · 44 min · State Highway 86

Turn right onto TX 86

9.1 mi · 13 min · Main Street

Continue on TX 86

1.3 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Continue on TX 86

16 mi · 23 min · State Highway 86

Continue on TX 86

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lone Star Street

Continue on TX 86; TX 207

26 mi · 39 min · State Highway 86

Arrive at destination

TX 86

Trip Plan

For this 6h 48m drive, leaving Plano in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Tulia before dark. Since the route is manageable in one day, you have flexibility with your stop timing. While there's one recommended stop, you can easily add more as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 72.5-mile stretch on North US Highway 287, as services might be more spread out in that section. The $50 fuel estimate is a good starting point for budgeting.

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 172.6 miles from Plano, TX, or about 3h 8m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.5 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 76 miles or 1h 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 172.6 miles or 3h 8m 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 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tulia, 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 345.2 miles and 6h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 North US Highway 287 for about 72.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county sear of Wilbarger County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Vernon, TX

173 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

Plainview, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Vernon, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 172.6 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

1 mi from route

TA

2.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

2.2 mi from route

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Flower Mound, Texas

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+19728746000

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 140.1 — 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.

1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the exit toward President George Bush Turnpike

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 28B Toward President George Bush Turnpike

1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight right at fork toward PGBT West: President George Bush Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward PGBT West: President George Bush Turnpik...

17.3 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North: Denton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 35E North: Denton

140.1 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in | US 287 / Northwest Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 3A Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.85 one way

$105.71 round trip

$3.89/gal 25.4 MPG avg 121 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.29	$58.33	$116.66
premium	$4.64	$63.03	$126.07
diesel	$6.18	$83.98	$167.95

Estimated Tolls: $1.12

President George Bush Turnpike (13.7 mi) $1.09

Central Expressway (0.5 mi) $0.03

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

$53

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 120.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	103.6	1	$36.25	$16.57
Efficient EV	86.3	0	$30.21	$13.81
EV Truck/SUV	138.1	1	$48.33	$22.09

Gas CO2

121 kg

EV CO2

40 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 Oct 17, 2026

Origin

Plano, TX

Morning in Plano on Saturday

Local time

9:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Clear

N 10 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK

Destination

Tulia, TX

Morning in Tulia on Saturday

Local time

9:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

31°F

Patchy Frost

NNW 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK

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

16 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

6h 48m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is primarily on highways, with 84% of the route utilizing them. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 72.5 miles on North US Highway 287. The remaining 16% will be on surface roads as you transition between highways. Expect a good amount of rural cruising, with fewer exits and more open stretches as you head west.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 72.5 mi on North US Highway 287.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North US Highway 287 and State Highway 86. 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 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 17 significant decision points across 345.2 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 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

3,482 ft 562 ft

Total Climb

2,987 ft

Total Descent

174 ft

Highest Point

3,482 ft

~345.2 mi in

Elevation Range

2,920 ft

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 Tulia, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Amarillo along the way.

Amarillo

140.1 mi in | ~2h 34m | via US 287

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 Tulia, 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 48m. Total distance: 345.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 72.5 miles on North US Highway 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.12 in tolls one way, starting with President George Bush Turnpike. 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 Tulia, 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tulia, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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

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Trip from Plano, TX to Tulia, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Texas Travel Information Center at Wichita Falls

Rest Area

Rest Area

Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Southbound

Wise County Northbound

Rest Area

Wichita County Northbound Rest Area

Wichita County Southbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Rest Area

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Northbound

QuikTrip

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Dark Hour Haunted House

11th Hour Escape

Heritage Farmstead Museum

Jake's Hilltop Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Plano, TX

Tulia, TX

Same local time

16 degrees cooler at arrival

6h 48m on the road

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 Tulia, 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?

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

How this page is built

Explore More

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