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Trip from Raymondville, TX to Plano, 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 24m

Distance

500.2 mi

805 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$76

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
9h 16m ★
6 AM
9h 24m
8 AM
9h 41m
10 AM
9h 30m
12 PM
9h 29m
3 PM
9h 31m
5 PM
9h 40m
8 PM
9h 19m

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 and county seat of Willacy County, Texas, United States

Raymondville, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 500.2-mile journey from Raymondville, TX, to Plano, TX, is a long-distance drive that spans approximately 9 hours and 24 minutes. Given its length, splitting this trip over two recommended days is a practical approach to avoid fatigue. The route primarily utilizes Purple Heart Trail, U.S. Highway 77, and Pickle Parkway, with 74% of the drive on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $76 for this trip. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region for both your departure and arrival points, suggesting a consistent landscape for much of your travel.

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

250.1 miles from Raymondville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Purple Heart Trail 97.7 mi 1h 39m
U.S. Highway 77 91.1 mi 1h 42m
Pickle Parkway 58.5 mi 54m
I 35E 56.2 mi 58m
US Highway 181 South 40.2 mi 45m
State Highway 80 North 30.8 mi 35m
State Highway 80 23.6 mi 25m
I 37 19.7 mi 19m
Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 97.7 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Raymondville, TX and Plano, TX.

1

Start on this road

142 ft · 14 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto US 77 Business

149 ft · 6 sec · South 7th Street
3

Turn right onto TX 186

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Hidalgo Avenue
4

Turn left onto Interstate 69E Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Interstate 69E Frontage Road
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec
6

Merge onto I 69E; US 77

66 mi · 1 hr 15 min · U.S. Highway 77
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 14 sec
8

Merge onto I 69E; US 77

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 69E; US 77
9

Continue on U.S. Highway 77

12 mi · 12 min · U.S. Highway 77
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
11

Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road

485 ft · 17 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road
12

Turn right onto County Road 10

1.0 mi · 4 min · County Road 10
13

Turn left onto County Road 79

4.0 mi · 15 min · County Road 79
14

Turn left onto County Road 18

0.2 mi · 43 sec · County Road 18
15

Turn sharp right

1.1 mi · 2 min
16

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 57 sec
17

Merge onto US 77

2.3 mi · 2 min · Driscoll Bypass
18

Continue on US 77

13 mi · 14 min · U.S. Highway 77
19

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E
20

Keep slight left at fork

1.3 mi · 1 min
21

Continue on I 37

18 mi · 18 min · I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore
23

Turn right onto TX 359

12 mi · 16 min · State Highway 359
24

At end of road, turn left onto US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · South 8th Street
25

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · US Highway 181 South
26

Continue on US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
27

Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
28

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street
29

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road
30

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80
31

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue
32

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North
33

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
34

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street
35

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183
36

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
37

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
39

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

56 mi · 58 min · I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.
43

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Exit 427A Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street Use the slight right lane.
44

Keep slight left at fork

422 ft · 5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
45

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
46

Keep slight left at fork

385 ft · 6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
47

Continue on I 30; US 67

0.8 mi · 1 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
48

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 45 sec
Exit 46 Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney Use the slight right lane.
49

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left lane.
50

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
51

Merge onto US 75

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52

Continue on US 75

15 mi · 16 min · North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
53

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 28A Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54

Turn straight onto North Central Expressway

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Central Expressway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
55

Turn right onto East 15th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 15th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
56

Arrive at destination

East 15th Street

Trip Plan

For this nearly 10-hour drive, consider starting early to maximize daylight and break up the 500.2 miles. Splitting the journey over two days with two planned stops is highly recommended to make the drive more manageable. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent. With a fuel cost estimated at $76, budgeting ahead will ensure a smoother trip. Pacing your stops every 2-3 hours will help maintain energy and focus.

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 250.1 miles from Raymondville, TX, or about 5h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 110 miles or 2h 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 250.1 miles or 5h 2m 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 250.1 miles or 5h 2m

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 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plano, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Raymondville, 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 Raymondville, TX

Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Plano, TX

Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from Raymondville, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 97.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in Texas, United States, that is the seat of Comal County

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

New Braunfels, TX

165 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

New Braunfels, TX to Killeen, TX

114.9 mi · 2h 11m

city in Bell County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Killeen, TX

330 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 Killeen, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Austin, TX

250 mi · about 4.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 250 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Braunfels, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 250.1 miles from Raymondville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 250 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.

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.

Dark Hour Haunted House

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 500.2

Plano, Texas

+14692980556

Visit website

11th Hour Escape

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 500.2

Plano, Texas

Hours: 12–5:30 pm

+14692095978

Visit website

Dick Kleberg Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 71.5

Kingsville, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+13612218705

Visit website

Heritage Farmstead Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 500.2

Plano, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19728810140

Visit website

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 357.3

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 35

5 decision points cluster between mile 318 and 497.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
318 mi into trip | ~6h 11m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
422.7 mi into trip | ~7h 59m in | I 35E

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 35E: Dallas
8
478.9 mi into trip | ~8h 57m in

Take the exit toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street

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 427A Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Bouleva...
8
480.7 mi into trip | ~9h in

Take the exit toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney

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 46 Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
8
497.8 mi into trip | ~9h 19m in

Take the exit toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street

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 28A Toward Plano Parkway, 15th Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$75.58 one way

$151.16 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 175 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $82.73 $165.46
premium $4.54 $89.31 $178.61
diesel $5.61 $110.44 $220.88

Estimated Tolls: $1.32

Central Expressway (16.6 mi) $1.32

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

$76

Tolls

$1

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$207–$317

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 175 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 150.1 1 $52.52 $24.01
Efficient EV 125.1 1 $43.77 $20.01
EV Truck/SUV 200.1 2 $70.03 $32.01

Gas CO2

175 kg

EV CO2

59 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 18, 2026

Origin

Raymondville, TX

Late night in Raymondville on Sunday

Local time

2:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Plano, TX

Late night in Plano on Sunday

Local time

2:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°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

30 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

9h 24m 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...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour Free near mile 396.7
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island National Seashore

National Seashore

Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...

27 mi from route ~69 min detour $25 near mile 34.5
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

The drive offers a predominantly highway experience, with 74% of the 500.2 miles on faster roads. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 97.7 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, indicating significant periods of consistent driving. While much of the route is on main roads like U.S. Highway 77 and Pickle Parkway, the overall character is that of a substantial highway trek rather than a winding scenic byway. This means you'll likely be covering ground efficiently, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops along the way.

74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
56 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and U.S. Highway 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 318 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 35 significant decision points across 500.2 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 318 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 422.7 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 478.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Raymondville, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.

Skidmore

124.2 mi in | ~2h 34m

Waco

259.1 mi in | ~5h 16m

About the Cities

Arriving 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 97.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 250 miles on day one.

Expect about $1.32 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 Plano, 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 318 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 422.7 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 478.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.4 hours each way, a round trip means 18.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Plano, 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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