Origin
Red Lick, TX
Night in Red Lick on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Red Lick, 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
3h 2m
Distance
173 mi
278 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 51m
★
6 AM
3h 2m
8 AM
3h 25m
10 AM
3h 10m
12 PM
3h 8m
3 PM
3h 11m
5 PM
3h 24m
8 PM
2h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Red Lick, TX
SHVETS production
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a 173-mile journey from Red Lick, TX, to Plano, TX, this drive will take you approximately 3 hours and 2 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-30 and the President George Bush Turnpike, the route is almost entirely highway, making it an efficient day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $26, this is a budget-friendly option for travelers within the Great Plains region. Given its manageable length and highway focus, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel without the need for an overnight stop. It offers a straightforward transit through Texas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86.5 miles from Red Lick, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 30 | 151.3 mi | 2h 33m |
| President George Bush Turnpike | 14.7 mi | 15m |
| West New Boston Road | 2 mi | 2m |
| FM 3419 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| K Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| President George Bush Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| FM 2253 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Municipal Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 30
— 151.3 mi, about 2h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Lick, TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on FM 3419
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
FM 3419
2
Turn right onto US 82
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West New Boston Road
3
Turn right onto FM 2253
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
FM 2253
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
5
Merge onto I 30
151 mi
·
2 hr 33 min
·
I 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 61B
Toward PGBT: President George Bush Turnpike
Use the slight right lane.
7
Continue on PGBT
15 mi
·
15 min
·
President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward Avenue K, Plano Road
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto TX 190
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
President George Bush Highway
10
Turn right onto K Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
K Avenue
11
Continue on Municipal Avenue
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Municipal Avenue
12
Turn left onto East 15th Street
392 ft
·
7 sec
·
East 15th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 2-minute drive covering 173 miles, departing Red Lick, TX, in the morning is advisable to maximize your time upon arrival in Plano, TX. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $26, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The longest stretch on I-30 is substantial, so ensure you have adequate fuel before entering it, as services might be less frequent during that 151.3-mile segment.
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 86.5 miles from Red Lick, TX, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.3 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 38 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.5 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
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 Red Lick, 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 Red Lick, TX
This is one driving day of about 173 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Red Lick, 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 I 30 for about 151.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.5 miles from Red Lick, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 30 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.3 miles.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 172.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 82 / West New Boston Road
Turn right onto US 82 / West New Boston Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 30
Merge onto I 30
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
155.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward PGBT: President George Bush Turnpike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 61B
Toward PGBT: President George Bush Turnpike
7
170.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward Avenue K, Plano Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Avenue K, Plano Road
6
172.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 1m in
|
East 15th Street
Turn left onto East 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.14 one way
$52.28 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $28.61 | $57.23 |
| premium | $4.54 | $30.89 | $61.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.20 | $76.39 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.18
President George Bush Turnpike
(14.7 mi)
$1.18
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
$26
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.9 | 0 | $18.17 | $8.30 |
| Efficient EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.14 | $6.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.2 | 0 | $24.22 | $11.07 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Plano, TX
Night in Plano on Saturday
Local time
9:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Greenville, TX
87 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
20 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
3h 2m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 97% of the 173 miles on major roadways like I-30. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 151.3 miles on I-30, indicating a consistent, high-speed journey for the majority of your trip. While the profile suggests a highway-centric experience, expect some transition as you approach your destination, potentially involving local roads like West New Boston Road. The drive is characterized by its efficiency and directness, minimizing scenic detours in favor of covering ground.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.3 mi on I 30.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 30 and President George Bush Turnpike. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 82 / West New Boston Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 2m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 82 / West New Boston Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (I 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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 Red Lick, TX to Plano, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Pgbt: President George Bush Turnpike along the way.
Pgbt: President George Bush Turnpike
155.1 mi in
|
~2h 40m
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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 2m. Total distance: 173 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.3 miles on I 30. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.18 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.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 82 / West New Boston Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (I 30): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Plano, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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