Origin
Anna, TX
Afternoon in Anna on Sunday
Local time
2:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anna, TX to Plano, TX
Drive Time
33m
Distance
26.3 mi
42 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Anna, TX
Victor Gavela
Plano, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Anna to Plano, you can expect a straightforward 26.3-mile trip that takes approximately 33 minutes to complete. Because this journey is entirely contained within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the drive. It is a highly efficient route that serves perfectly as a one-day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. With a fuel cost estimated at just $4, this is an incredibly budget-friendly way to travel between these two points. Since there are no required stops along the way, you can easily manage the entire distance in a single, seamless stretch.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
13.2 miles from Anna, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
This highway-focused drive is built for speed and efficiency, with 77% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating Central Expressway, McKinney Street, and South Powell Parkway, which keep the momentum high. The longest uninterrupted portion of your trip occurs on the Central Expressway, where you can cover 17.8 miles without needing to change your route. Expect a functional, interstate-style experience rather than a winding scenic tour. The transition between these roads is designed to keep traffic moving, making it a predictable experience for anyone behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Central Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central Expressway and McKinney Street. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near FM 2862 / West 4th Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.3 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (FM 2862 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles (US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
FM 2862 / West 4th Street
Turn left onto FM 2862 / West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
8
6.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
5
7.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway
Merge onto US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
24.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward Park Boulevard, 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 29
Toward Park Boulevard, 15th Street
4
25.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
West 15th Street
Turn left onto West 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Expressway | 17.8 mi | 19m |
| McKinney Street | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| South Powell Parkway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Sam Rayburn Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| West 15th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West 4th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Sherley Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 15th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Central Expressway
— 17.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anna, TX and Plano, TX.
1
Start on South Sherley Road
35 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Sherley Road
2
Turn left onto FM 2862
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
West 4th Street
3
Turn left onto TX 5
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Powell Parkway
4
Continue on TX 5
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
McKinney Street
5
Turn right onto TX 121
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Sam Rayburn Highway
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto US 75; TX 121
17 mi
·
18 min
·
Central Expressway
Use the none lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 29
Toward Park Boulevard, 15th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto Central Expressway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
10
Turn left onto West 15th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 15th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
East 15th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 33-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for rest stops, as the direct nature of the route allows you to reach your destination quickly and comfortably. To ensure a smooth experience, keep an eye on your fuel levels before you leave Anna, as the $4 cost is minimal but you will want to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the heavy reliance on the Central Expressway, checking for traffic flow before you head out is your best strategy for a stress-free trip. This route’s simplicity is its greatest asset, allowing you to focus on your arrival in Plano without any complicated travel planning.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 13.2 miles from Anna, TX, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.8 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 26.3 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.2 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 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 Anna, 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 Anna, TX
This is one driving day of about 26.3 miles and 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Anna, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Central Expressway for about 17.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.2 mi from Anna, TX · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 26.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.2 miles from Anna, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Plano, TX
The final approach into Plano, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Plano, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.02 one way
$8.03 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $4.40 | $8.81 |
| premium | $4.59 | $4.75 | $9.51 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.84 | $11.69 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.43
Central Expressway
(17.8 mi)
$1.43
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
$4
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.76 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.30 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Afternoon in Plano on Sunday
Local time
2:48 PM
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.
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
33m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Anna, TX to Plano, TX covers 26.3 miles and takes about 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Expressway, McKinney Street, South Powell Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.2 miles from Anna, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 26.3 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (FM 2862 / West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles (US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Anna, TX to Plano, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Plano, TX
More trips to Plano, TX
Explore more options from Anna, TX or browse trips ending in Plano, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
Explore maps for Anna, TX or Plano, TX on MapSof.net.