The drive from Plano, TX to Anson, TX covers 220.5 miles and takes about 3h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, US 83, SH 183 TEXpress for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 134.9 miles on I 20.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
110.2 miles from Plano, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 220.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 52m highway drive covering 220.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and US 83. The longest continuous stretch is about 134.9 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 134.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 83. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.8 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 23 significant decision points across 220.5 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 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
7.8 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 635
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 635
7
8.1 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 635 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 635 West
7
16.1 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 35E South: Dallas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Exit 27C
Toward I 35E South: Dallas
7
18.8 mi into trip|~21m in|North Walton Walker Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto North Walton Walker Boulevard toward Loop 12 South: Irving, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 436A
Toward Loop 12 South: Irving, Dallas Fort Worth...
7
58.1 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 30 West: Weatherford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3A
Toward I 30 West: Weatherford
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Plano, TX and Anson, TX, road signs point toward Loop 12 South: Irving and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
Loop 12 South: Irving
18.8 mi in|~21m|via North Walton Walker Boulevard
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
18.8 mi in|~21m|via North Walton Walker Boulevard
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
134.9 mi
2h 17m
US 83
18.6 mi
20m
SH 183 TEXpress
13.6 mi
13m
Jim Wright Freeway
12.8 mi
14m
Central Expressway
7 mi
7m
I 820 TEXpress
6.9 mi
6m
West Freeway
6 mi
6m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 134.9 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and Anson, TX.
1
Start on East 15th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East 15th Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto Central Expressway
0.2 mi·17 sec·Central Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward US 75 South
4
Merge onto US 75
6.8 mi·7 min·Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 21Toward I 635Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·55 sec
Toward I 635 WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 635
2.4 mi·2 min·Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 635
4.8 mi·5 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Exit 27CToward I 35E South: DallasUse the left / straight lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35E
2.2 mi·2 min·South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto North Walton Walker Boulevard
0.6 mi·39 sec·North Walton Walker Boulevard
Exit 436AToward Loop 12 South: Irving, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto Loop 12 TEXpress
2.2 mi·2 min·Loop 12 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto TX 183 TEXpress
13 mi·13 min·SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
2.0 mi·2 min·SH 121/183 TEXpress
16
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
0.1 mi·7 sec·SH 183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
0.7 mi·42 sec·SH 121/183 TEXpress
18
Continue on I 820 TEXpress
6.9 mi·6 min·I 820 TEXpress
Toward I 820 Express West TollUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 820
0.4 mi·24 sec·Northeast Loop
20
Continue on I 820
13 mi·14 min·Jim Wright Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Exit 3AToward I 30 West: WeatherfordUse the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto I 30
6.0 mi·6 min·West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 20
135 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 20
Use the slight right lane.
24
Take the exit
151 ft·6 sec
Exit 286AToward US 83 Business: Abilene
25
Turn slight right
0.2 mi·41 sec
Exit 286AToward US 83 Business: Abilene
26
At end of road, turn left onto US 83 Bus
1.7 mi·2 min·Pine Street
27
Take the ramp onto US 83 Bus
0.6 mi·45 sec·Pine Street
28
Continue on US 83; US 277
19 mi·20 min·US 83; US 277
29
Turn slight right onto US 83; US 277
80 ft·1 sec·East Court Plaza
30
Turn right onto 12th Street
130 ft·11 sec·12th Street
31
Turn left
172 ft·7 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 110.2 miles from Plano, TX, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 134.9 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 49 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.2 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anson, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Plano, 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 Plano, TX
This is one driving day of about 220.5 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Plano, 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 20 for about 134.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110.2 mi from Plano, TX
· 1h 57m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.15
$10.58
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.29
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.87
$14.11
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Plano, TX
Night
in Plano on Friday
Local time
10:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph69% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 8:45PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 7:58PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Anson, TX
Night
in Anson on Friday
Local time
10:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 15 to 25 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 8:45PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 7:58PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
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 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 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Plano, TX to Anson, TX covers 220.5 miles and takes about 3h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, US 83, SH 183 TEXpress. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110.2 miles from Plano, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.32 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 220.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Plano, TX and Anson, TX, road signs point toward Loop 12 South: Irving and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
