Origin
Del Rio, TX
Morning in Del Rio on Wednesday
Local time
10:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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Drive Time
8h 5m
Distance
447.5 mi
720 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$68
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Del Rio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
This 447.5-mile journey from Del Rio, Texas, to Plano, Texas, is best split over two days, taking approximately 8 hours and 5 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing US 277 and I-20, with a short stint on the Jim Wright Freeway, this highway-focused drive covers 95% paved roads. With an estimated fuel cost of $68, it's a straightforward trip through the Great Plains region of Texas. Given the duration and the longest stretch of 225.3 miles on US 277, planning an overnight stop is highly recommended to avoid fatigue and allow for a more relaxed pace.
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
223.7 miles from Del Rio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 9m into the drive .
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Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 447.5-mile route, with 95% of the journey on paved roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 225.3 miles on US 277, followed by segments on I-20. This means you'll experience extended periods of consistent driving speeds. While the Great Plains region offers a consistent landscape, the prevalence of major highways suggests a practical, efficient travel experience rather than a winding, scenic tour. This drive is designed for covering ground.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 277 and I 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 383.2 miles in near I 30 / West Freeway.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 447.5 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 383.2 miles (I 30 / West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 388.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 402.5 miles (I 820 TEXpress): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30 / West Freeway toward I 30 East: Downtown Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 820 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 TEXpress toward I 820 Express East: DFW Airport Dallas Entrance
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 75 North, US 75 South: McKinney, Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Del Rio, TX and Plano, TX, road signs point toward Loop 306 East: Eden, Loop 306 North, Fm 1223 and Abilene.
Loop 306 East: Eden
Loop 306 North
Fm 1223
Abilene
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 277 | 225.3 mi | 4h 7m |
| I 20 | 137.1 mi | 2h 19m |
| Jim Wright Freeway | 12.6 mi | 14m |
| SH 183 TEXpress | 11.7 mi | 11m |
| I 820 TEXpress | 6.9 mi | 6m |
| North Central Expressway | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| South Loop 306 | 6.4 mi | 6m |
| West Freeway | 5.6 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Del Rio, TX and Plano, TX.
Start on Spur 297
Continue on US 90; US 277; US 377
Keep slight right at fork onto US 277; US 377
Turn left onto US 277; Loop 467
Take the exit onto US 277
Turn right onto US 87 Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 87; Loop 306
Continue on US 87; Loop 306
Take the exit onto Loop 306
Turn left onto Loop 306; FM 1223
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 67; US 277
Take the exit onto US 277
Turn left onto US 277
Take the ramp onto US 277
Merge onto US 83; US 84; US 277
Take the exit
Merge onto I 20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 30
Take the exit
Merge onto I 820
Continue on I 820
Keep slight left at fork onto I 820 TEXpress
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 12 TEXpress
Merge onto Loop 12
Merge onto I 35E
Take the exit
Merge onto I 635
Continue on I 635
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 75
Take the exit
Turn straight onto North Central Expressway
Turn right onto East 15th Street
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 8-hour, 5-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Del Rio to maximize daylight hours. With two recommended stops and a fuel cost around $68, plan your refueling strategically, especially before tackling the 225.3-mile segment on US 277. Breaking the trip into two days is advisable; a logical overnight point would be somewhere around the halfway mark or just past Abilene, where I-20 offers more services. This allows you to enjoy the drive without feeling rushed and ensures you arrive in Plano refreshed.
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.
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 98 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 223.7 miles or 4h 9m 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 223.7 miles or 4h 9m
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 6h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plano, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Del Rio, 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 Del Rio, TX
Aim for roughly 224 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Plano, TX
Aim for roughly 224 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 223.7 mi from Del Rio, TX · 4h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
224 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 Brownwood, TXNight 1
224 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Brownwood, TX after about 224 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 98 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 223.7 miles from Del Rio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 277 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 224 miles or 4 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Plano, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$67.62 one way
$135.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $74.01 | $148.03 |
| premium | $4.54 | $79.90 | $159.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $98.80 | $197.60 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.54
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
$68
Tolls
$1
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$198–$308
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 156.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 134.3 | 1 | $46.99 | $21.48 |
| Efficient EV | 111.9 | 1 | $39.16 | $17.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 179 | 2 | $62.65 | $28.64 |
Gas CO2
157 kg
EV CO2
52 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Del Rio on Wednesday
Local time
10:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Plano on Wednesday
Local time
10:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
76°F
Brownwood, TX
224 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.
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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