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Trip from Plano, TX to Sunray, TX

Drive Time

7h 37m

Distance

425.7 mi

685 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$65

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
7h 28m ★
6 AM
7h 37m
8 AM
7h 57m
10 AM
7h 44m
12 PM
7h 42m
3 PM
7h 45m
5 PM
7h 56m
8 PM
7h 31m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Plano, TX, TX

Plano, TX

Thomas balabaud

Downtown Sunray, TX, TX

Sunray, TX

Pixabay

Trip Overview

The drive from Plano, TX to Sunray, TX covers 425.7 miles and takes about 7h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US Highway 287, North US Highway 287, US 87 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.4 miles on US Highway 287. At current regular gas prices, budget about $65.03 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

212.9 miles from Plano, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 49m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 7h 37m highway drive covering 425.7 miles, with most of the trip on US Highway 287 and North US Highway 287. The longest continuous stretch is about 75.4 miles on US Highway 287.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US Highway 287 is the longest continuous segment at about 75.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 287 and North US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Central Expressway.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 425.7 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 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | Central Expressway

Turn left onto Central Expressway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
7
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the exit toward President George Bush Turnpike

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 28B Toward President George Bush Turnpike
7
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in

Keep slight right at fork toward PGBT West: President George Bush Turnpike

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward PGBT West: President George Bush Turnpik...
7
17.3 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North: Denton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 35E North: Denton
9
140.1 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in | US 287 / Northwest Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 3A Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Plano, TX to Sunray, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Amarillo along the way.

Amarillo

140.1 mi in | ~2h 34m | via US 287

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US Highway 287 75.4 mi 1h 17m
North US Highway 287 72.5 mi 1h 15m
US 87 47 mi 48m
US Highway 287 East 40.5 mi 42m
East 11th Street 28.7 mi 32m
Boykin Drive 26.2 mi 28m
US Highway 287 West 25.7 mi 26m
US Highway 380 West 21.5 mi 24m
Longest stretch: US Highway 287 — 75.4 mi, about 1h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and Sunray, 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

0.3 mi · 17 sec · Central Expressway
5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Exit 28B Toward President George Bush Turnpike Use the slight right lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward PGBT West: President George Bush Turnpike Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto PGBT

14 mi · 14 min · President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

1.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 35E North: Denton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 35E North: Denton Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto I 35E

21 mi · 22 min · South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 35; US 77

0.1 mi · 9 sec · I 35; US 77
12

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Exit 469 Toward US 380: University Drive
13

Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

0.4 mi · 47 sec · North Interstate 35
14

Turn left onto US 380

3.4 mi · 4 min · West University Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
15

Continue on US 380

22 mi · 24 min · US Highway 380 West
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
17

Merge onto US 81; US 287

72 mi · 1 hr 15 min · North US Highway 287
18

Continue on US 281; US 287

0.8 mi · 58 sec · Lloyd Ruby Overpass
19

Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287

2.4 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway
Use the straight lane.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto US 287

5.3 mi · 5 min · Northwest Freeway
Exit 3A Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo Use the slight left / straight lanes.
21

Continue on US 287

40 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22

Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287

4.1 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Continue on US 287

26 mi · 26 min · US Highway 287 West
Use the straight lane.
24

Continue on US 287

29 mi · 32 min · East 11th Street
25

Continue on US 287

2.8 mi · 3 min · Avenue F Northeast
26

Continue on US 287

14 mi · 14 min · US Highway 287
27

Continue on US 287

0.7 mi · 1 min · Burnett Street
28

Continue on US 287

14 mi · 13 min · US Highway 287
29

Turn straight onto US 287

26 mi · 28 min · Boykin Drive
30

Continue on US 287

1.6 mi · 1 min · East 2nd Street
31

Continue on US 287

28 mi · 28 min · US Highway 287
32

Continue on US 287; FM 1151

1.1 mi · 2 min · East 1st Street
33

Continue on US 287

20 mi · 20 min · US Highway 287
34

Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive

329 ft · 8 sec · East Interstate Drive
Toward East 3rd Avenue
35

Keep slight right at fork onto Southeast 3rd Avenue

2.6 mi · 3 min · Southeast 3rd Avenue
36

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
37

Merge onto Loop 335

4.1 mi · 4 min · North Lakeside Drive
38

Continue on Loop 335

0.6 mi · 36 sec · East Loop 335 North
39

Continue on Loop 335

4.7 mi · 5 min · East Saint Francis Avenue
40

Turn right onto Dumas Drive

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Dumas Drive
41

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec
42

Merge onto US 87; US 287

47 mi · 48 min · US 87; US 287
43

Turn right onto FM 119

14 mi · 14 min · FM 119
44

Arrive at destination

FM 119; FM 281

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 212.9 miles from Plano, TX, or about 3h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.4 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 94 miles or 1h 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 212.9 miles or 3h 49m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunray, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Plano, TX

This is one driving day of about 425.7 miles and 7h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Plano, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 287 for about 75.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 212.9 mi from Plano, TX · 3h 49m into the drive

Downtown Childress, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Childress, TX

213 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

Wichita Falls, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 94 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Childress, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 212.9 miles from Plano, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US Highway 287 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.4 miles.

Arriving in Sunray, TX

The final approach into Sunray, 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 Sunray, TX.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

National Monument

13,000 years ago, Alibates Flint was used by mammoth hunters as a source of flint for tools. Learn how important this site was to the survival, commerce, and culture of the people of the High Plains.

14 mi from route ~35 min detour Free near mile 381.7
View on nps.gov
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Set within the wide‑open Texas Plains, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of rugged grasslands. Over thousands of years, the Canadian River carved dramatic 2...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour Free near mile 381.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$65.03 one way

$130.06 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 149 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $71.26 $142.53
premium $4.59 $76.94 $153.89
diesel $5.64 $94.58 $189.15

Estimated Tolls: $1.12

President George Bush Turnpike (13.7 mi) $1.09
Central Expressway (0.5 mi) $0.03

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

$65

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$91–$116

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 148.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 127.7 1 $44.70 $20.43
Efficient EV 106.4 1 $37.25 $17.03
EV Truck/SUV 170.3 2 $59.60 $27.24

Gas CO2

149 kg

EV CO2

50 kg (66% 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Plano, TX

Afternoon in Plano on Monday

Local time

12:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sunray, TX

Afternoon in Sunray on Monday

Local time

12:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°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

16 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

7h 37m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Sunray, TX covers 425.7 miles and takes about 7h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 287, North US Highway 287, US 87. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 212.9 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 $65.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 425.7 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 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Plano, TX to Sunray, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Amarillo along the way.

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Return Trip

Sunray, TX to Plano, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

426.5 mi 7h 39m

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