Origin
Plano, TX
Afternoon in Plano on Sunday
Local time
2:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plano, TX to Hillsboro, TX
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
80.5 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
Plano, TX
Thomas balabaud
Hillsboro, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Plano, TX to Hillsboro, TX covers 80.5 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Central Expressway, US 75 South, Downtown for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.30 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from Plano, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 29m drive with frequent turns across 80.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Central Expressway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Plano, TX to Hillsboro, TX is easy. At 1h 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Plano, TX to Hillsboro, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 75 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Downtown | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Central Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Elm Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Pearl Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Young Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Harwood Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Central Expressway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and Hillsboro, TX.
1
Start on East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
2
Turn left onto Central Expressway
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Central Expressway
3
Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 South
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 75 South
4
Merge slight left onto Central Expressway
17 mi
·
17 min
·
Central Expressway
5
Take the exit slight left toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
502 ft
·
12 sec
·
Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
6
Continue on North Central Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Expressway
7
Turn right onto Elm Street
305 ft
·
11 sec
·
Elm Street
8
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Pearl Expressway
9
Turn right onto Young Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Young Street
10
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
315 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Harwood Street
11
Turn right onto Canton Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Canton Street
12
Take the ramp slight left toward I 30 West
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 30 West
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
220 ft
·
5 sec
·
I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South: Waco
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 35E South: Waco
16
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
17
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
56 mi
·
58 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward US 77 North, Spur 579: Hillsboro
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 77 North, Spur 579: Hillsboro
19
Keep slight left to continue on US 77 North
276 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 77 North
20
Turn right onto Old Highway 77 North
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Old Highway 77 North
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 40.2 miles from Plano, TX, or about 44m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hillsboro, 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 80.5 miles and 1h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Plano, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.2 mi from Plano, TX · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.2 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hillsboro, TX
The final approach into Hillsboro, 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 Hillsboro, 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
$12.30 one way
$24.59 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $13.48 | $26.95 |
| premium | $4.59 | $14.55 | $29.10 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.88 | $35.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.45 | $3.86 |
| Efficient EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.04 | $3.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.27 | $5.15 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Hillsboro, TX
Afternoon in Hillsboro on Sunday
Local time
2:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
1h 29m 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 Plano, TX to Hillsboro, TX covers 80.5 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Expressway, US 75 South, Downtown. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.2 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 $12.30 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.
The drive from Plano, TX to Hillsboro, TX is easy. At 1h 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Plano, TX to Hillsboro, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Plano, TX to Hillsboro, 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 Hillsboro, TX
More trips to Hillsboro, TX
Explore more options from Plano, TX or browse trips ending in Hillsboro, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
Explore maps for Plano, TX or Hillsboro, TX on MapSof.net.