Trip from Plano, TX to Wyldwood, 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 4m

Distance

231.1 mi

372 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 51m ★

6 AM

4h 4m

8 AM

4h 30m

10 AM

4h 13m

12 PM

4h 11m

3 PM

4h 15m

5 PM

4h 29m

8 PM

3h 56m

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

Wyldwood, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

Plano, TX to Wyldwood, TX is 231.1 miles and takes about 4 hours 4 minutes via South R L Thornton Freeway, Purple Heart Trail, and TX 130 Toll, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region for its entirety. Expect a largely highway-based experience, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. It's a practical route for getting from point A to B efficiently, especially if you're looking to cover ground without extensive sightseeing.

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

115.5 miles from Plano, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway	89.9 mi	1h 32m
Purple Heart Trail	37.9 mi	39m
TX 130 Toll	37 mi	35m
I 35	26.5 mi	26m
Central Expressway	16.8 mi	18m
Texas State Highway 71	9.5 mi	10m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
South Pope Bend Road	1.1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: South R L Thornton Freeway — 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,007 veh/hr typical · worst 4,783

Quietest

2 AM

~579 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 51 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 Wyldwood, 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

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec

Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

37 mi · 35 min · TX 130 Toll

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Exit 449 Toward TX 71: Austin, Houston, Barbara Jordan Terminal, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto State Highway 130

0.6 mi · 1 min · State Highway 130

Turn left onto TX 71

412 ft · 7 sec · East State Highway 71

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp onto TX 71

0.7 mi · 48 sec · East State Highway 71

Toward TX 71 East: Houston

Continue on TX 71

9.5 mi · 10 min · Texas State Highway 71

Turn right onto CR 241

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Pope Bend Road

Turn left onto Cedar Lane

346 ft · 15 sec · Cedar Lane

Arrive at destination

Cedar Lane

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour drive time, leaving Plano in the morning should allow you to reach Wyldwood with plenty of daylight remaining. The route is designed for a single day, so you don't need to plan for an overnight stay. Consider fueling up before you leave Plano, as the longest stretch on a single highway is nearly 90 miles. While there's only one recommended stop, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that long highway segment. The flexibility of this shorter drive means you can easily adjust your departure time if needed.

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 115.5 miles from Plano, TX, or about 2h 3m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 51 miles or 56m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 115.5 miles or 2h 3m 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 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wyldwood, 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 231.1 miles and 4h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 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 Denton County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Little Elm, TX

116 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 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Moody, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 115.5 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.5 mi from route

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 17.5 and 218.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

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

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

218.6 mi into trip | ~3h 47m in

Take the exit toward TX 71: Austin, Houston, Barbara Jordan Terminal, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 449 Toward TX 71: Austin, Houston, Barbara Jordan T...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.08 one way

$70.17 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$38.67	$77.34
premium	$4.58	$41.67	$83.34
diesel	$5.35	$48.68	$97.35

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

$35

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 80.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	69.3	0	$24.27	$11.09
Efficient EV	57.8	0	$20.22	$9.24
EV Truck/SUV	92.4	1	$32.35	$14.79

Gas CO2

81 kg

EV CO2

27 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 Jun 2, 2026

Origin

Plano, TX

Evening in Plano on Wednesday

Local time

5:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

96°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

ENE 10 mph 23% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 2 at 2:45PM CDT until June 2 at 3:15PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 2:43PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Destination

Wyldwood, TX

Evening in Wyldwood on Wednesday

Local time

5:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

93°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

ENE 5 to 10 mph 16% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued June 2 at 2:45PM CDT until June 2 at 3:15PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued June 2 at 2:43PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

73°F

Little Elm, TX

116 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 4m 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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 111.5

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is primarily on highways, with 82% of the total distance covered on these roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway, indicating extended periods of consistent highway cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur around the 189-mile mark, where you'll notice a change in traffic patterns and speed limits. The significant highway share means you'll deal with merging traffic and a steady flow of vehicles for most of the trip.

82% 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: 89.9 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and Purple Heart Trail. 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 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 231.1 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

708 ft 493 ft

Total Climb

365 ft

Total Descent

522 ft

Highest Point

708 ft

~198.1 mi in

Elevation Range

215 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 Wyldwood, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo, Houston and Barbara Jordan Terminal - among others.

Downtown

17.5 mi in | ~19m

Denton

19.5 mi in | ~23m

Waco

19.7 mi in | ~24m

Dallas Zoo

20.6 mi in | ~25m | via I 35E

Houston

218.6 mi in | ~3h 47m

Barbara Jordan Terminal

218.6 mi in | ~3h 47m

Austin–Bergstrom International Airport

218.6 mi in | ~3h 47m

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 Wyldwood, 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 4h 4m. Total distance: 231.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

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.

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 28 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 Wyldwood, 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 28 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 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Wyldwood, 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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Trip from Plano, TX to Wyldwood, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

Buc-ee's

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Circle K

Ascent Travel Center

Flying J Travel Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

SoPac Trail Rest Area

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Dark Hour Haunted House

11th Hour Escape

Heritage Farmstead Museum

City Park

Village of Salado Visitors Center

NTER - The Great Escape

Cultural Activities Center

Doris D Miller Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Plano, TX

Wyldwood, TX

Same local time

3 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 4m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

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 Wyldwood, 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?

Are there national parks near this route?

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

How this page is built

Explore More

More from Plano, TX