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Trip from Plano, TX to New London, TX

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 33m

Distance

141.2 mi

227 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 23m ★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Collin and Denton counties in Texas, United States

Plano, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Rusk County, Texas, United States

New London, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Plano, TX to New London, TX covers 141.2 miles and takes about 2h 33m 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, I 635 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.34 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

70.6 miles from Plano, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 141.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 33m drive with frequent turns across 141.2 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 New London, TX is easy. At 2h 33m 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 New London, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Central Expressway
US 75 South
I 635
I 635 East
Lyndon B
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
US 80 East
TX 135

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Central Expressway — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and New London, 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

6.8 mi · 7 min · Central Expressway
5

Take the exit slight right toward I 635

0.3 mi · 32 sec · I 635
6

Keep slight left to continue on I 635 East

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 635 East
7

Keep slight left to continue on I 635 East

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 635 East
8

Merge slight left onto Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway

0.3 mi · 17 sec · Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
9

Continue on Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

11 mi · 12 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
10

Take the exit slight right toward US 80 East: Terrell

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 80 East: Terrell
11

Keep slight left to continue on US 80 East: Terrell

0.3 mi · 33 sec · US 80 East: Terrell
12

Merge slight left

15 mi · 16 min
13

Continue straight

4.5 mi · 4 min
14

Merge slight left

84 mi · 1 hr 23 min
15

Take the exit slight right toward TX 135: Kilgore, Gladewater

0.2 mi · 22 sec · TX 135: Kilgore, Gladewater
16

Continue on I 20 Frontage Road

0.3 mi · 51 sec · I 20 Frontage Road
17

Turn right onto State Highway 135 North

4.2 mi · 5 min · State Highway 135 North
18

Keep slight right

11 mi · 15 min
19

Turn left onto Phillips Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Phillips Street
20

Turn left onto Burnett Street

295 ft · 13 sec · Burnett Street
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.6 miles from Plano, TX, or about 1h 16m 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 31 miles or 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 70.6 miles or 1h 16m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New London, 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 141.2 miles and 2h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 70.6 mi from Plano, TX · 1h 16m into the drive

Downtown Wills Point, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wills Point, TX

71 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

Rowlett, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wills Point, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70.6 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in New London, TX

The final approach into New London, 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 New London, 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

$21.34 one way

$42.67 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $23.35 $46.71
premium $4.54 $25.21 $50.42
diesel $5.61 $31.18 $62.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.4 0 $14.83 $6.78
Efficient EV 35.3 0 $12.35 $5.65
EV Truck/SUV 56.5 0 $19.77 $9.04

Gas CO2

49 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Plano, TX

Morning in Plano on Thursday

Local time

7:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New London, TX

Morning in New London on Thursday

Local time

7:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°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

13 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

2h 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 Plano, TX to New London, TX covers 141.2 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Expressway, US 75 South, I 635. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.6 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 $21.34 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Plano, TX to New London, TX is easy. At 2h 33m 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 New London, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Plano, TX to New London, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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