Trip from Wellington, TX to Plano, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 11m

Distance

277.1 mi

446 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 58m ★

6 AM

5h 12m

8 AM

5h 39m

10 AM

5h 21m

12 PM

5h 18m

3 PM

5h 23m

5 PM

5h 37m

8 PM

5h 4m

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 Collingsworth County, Texas, United States

Wellington, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Wellington, TX to Plano, TX is 277.1 miles and takes about 5h 11m via US Highway 287, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Texas, crossing the Great Plains region. You'll find yourself on mostly highway for this drive, making it a straightforward dash across the state. It's a practical option if you need to get from the Wellington area to Plano efficiently. Plan for a single day of travel, as it’s well within a day's driving.

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

138.5 miles from Wellington, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Central East Freeway	72.5 mi	1h 16m
US Highway 287	54.4 mi	58m
US Highway 287 East	40.5 mi	42m
Houston Street	29.2 mi	40m
West US Highway 380	21.8 mi	25m
President George Bush Turnpike	13.3 mi	14m
South Stemmons Freeway	10.5 mi	11m
I 35E	9.8 mi	10m

Longest stretch: Central East Freeway — 72.5 mi, about 1h 16m

Traffic on I-44

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,816 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~229 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

12.3×

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 Wellington, TX and Plano, TX.

Start on 8th Street

130 ft · 10 sec · 8th Street

Turn left onto West Avenue

378 ft · 15 sec · West Avenue

Turn left onto 9th Street

326 ft · 11 sec · 9th Street

Turn right onto Loop 204

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Avenue

Turn left onto FM 338

0.5 mi · 51 sec · FM 338

Turn right onto US 83

29 mi · 40 min · Houston Street

Turn left onto US 287

2.2 mi · 2 min · Avenue F Northwest

Continue on US 287

54 mi · 58 min · US Highway 287

Continue on US 287

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287

41 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 287

4.6 mi · 4 min · Northwest Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 287

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Northwest Freeway

Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls

Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287

2.5 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287

1.8 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287

70 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Central East Freeway

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec

Keep slight left at fork

147 ft · 4 sec

Turn left onto US 380

22 mi · 25 min · West US Highway 380

Continue on US 380

3.3 mi · 4 min · West University Drive

Take the exit

288 ft · 7 sec

Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

0.1 mi · 11 sec · North Interstate 35

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward I 35 South Use the straight / left lanes.

Merge onto I 35; US 77

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 35; US 77

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35E; US 77

9.8 mi · 10 min · I 35E; US 77

Toward I 35E South: Dallas Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

10 mi · 11 min · South Stemmons Freeway

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

1.2 mi · 1 min

Exit 445 Toward PGBT Toll: President George Bush Turnpike Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

1.2 mi · 1 min

Toward PGBT Toll East: President George Bush Turnpike Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto PGBT

13 mi · 14 min · President George Bush Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward US 75 North: McKinney Use the slight left lane.

Turn slight right

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Exit 29 Toward 15th Street Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Central Expressway

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Central Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto East 15th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 15th Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Arrive at destination

East 15th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider leaving Wellington in the morning to avoid any late-day traffic as you get closer to Plano. With a total duration of just over 5 hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day without needing an overnight stop. You'll pass through a few towns, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated fuel cost is around $40, but it's always wise to top off before leaving Wellington. Watch for the shift in traffic patterns as you enter the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

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 138.5 miles from Wellington, TX, or about 2h 38m 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 61 miles or 1h 16m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 138.5 miles or 2h 38m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 14m

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 Wellington, 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 Wellington, TX

This is one driving day of about 277.1 miles and 5h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Wellington, 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 Central East Freeway for about 72.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Henrietta, TX

139 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

Eldorado, OK

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wichita Falls, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 138.5 miles from Wellington, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

2.2 mi from route

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour

Coppell, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+19723043581

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 25

5 decision points cluster between mile 136 and 275.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

136 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in | US 287 / Northwest Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, U...

237.9 mi into trip | ~4h 27m in

Take the ramp toward I 35 South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes. Toward I 35 South

259.3 mi into trip | ~4h 50m in

Take the exit toward PGBT Toll: President George Bush Turnpike

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 445 Toward PGBT Toll: President George Bush Turnpik...

260.5 mi into trip | ~4h 51m in

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

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward PGBT Toll East: President George Bush Tu...

275.2 mi into trip | ~5h 7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 75 North: McKinney

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.95 one way

$75.91 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$42.39	$84.79
premium	$4.23	$46.09	$92.18
diesel	$4.80	$52.32	$104.64

Estimated Tolls: $1.09

President George Bush Turnpike (13.3 mi) $1.06

Central Expressway (0.4 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

$38

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 97 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	83.1	1	$29.10	$13.30
Efficient EV	69.3	0	$24.25	$11.08
EV Truck/SUV	110.8	1	$38.79	$17.73

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

32 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 Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Wellington, TX

Late night in Wellington on Monday

Local time

12:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Mostly Clear

S 10 to 15 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Plano, TX

Late night in Plano on Monday

Local time

12:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 5 to 10 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 6:17PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:59PM CDT until July 19 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

102°F

Henrietta, TX

139 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

8 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

5h 11m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is 84% highway, meaning you’ll spend most of your time on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a 72.5-mile stretch on Central East Freeway, which is the longest continuous highway segment. Expect a good amount of highway driving until you approach Plano, where the highway density will likely increase with more exits and urban merging. The transition from the open highway to more local roads will be noticeable as you near your destination.

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

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

Longest single stretch: 72.5 mi on Central East Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central East Freeway and US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 136 miles in near US 287 / Northwest Freeway.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 25 significant decision points across 277.1 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 136 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 237.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 259.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,032 ft 474 ft

Total Climb

310 ft

Total Descent

1,675 ft

Highest Point

2,032 ft

Elevation Range

1,558 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Wellington, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Pgbt Toll: President George Bush Turnpike and Pgbt Toll East: President George Bush Turnpike.

Pgbt Toll: President George Bush Turnpike

259.3 mi in | ~4h 50m

Pgbt Toll East: President George Bush Turnpike

260.5 mi in | ~4h 51m

About the Cities

Starting in Wellington, TX

Full guide →

Wellington is a small town of 1,900 people (2020) in the southeastern High Plains of Texas. It provides a glimpse of early 20th-century, small-town Texas flavor and is a pleasant place to visit if you're traveling across the Panhandle of northern Texas.

Arriving 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

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 5h 11m. Total distance: 277.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 72.5 miles on Central East Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.09 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 19 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 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Wellington, TX to Plano, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-44

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

Wise County Northbound

Wichita County Southbound Rest Area

Texas Travel Information Center at Wichita Falls

Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Northbound

Safety Rest Areas: Hardeman County Southbound

Rest Area

Wichita County Northbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Rest Area

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

Flying J Travel Center

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Dark Hour Haunted House

Maniac’s Mansion (TAG’s)

Museum of North Texas History

11th Hour Escape

Heritage Farmstead Museum

Explorium Denton Children's Museum a Program of Denton County Friends of The Family.

Andrew Brown Park West

Coppell Nature Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Wellington, TX

Plano, TX

Same local time

8 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 11m 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 Wellington, TX

Arriving in Plano, 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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