The drive from Plano, TX to Woodcreek, TX covers 248.3 miles and takes about 4h 39m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South R L Thornton Freeway, I 35, Purple Heart Trail for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.52 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
124.1 miles from Plano, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Plano is a city of 285,000 people (2020) in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex region of Texas and is north of Dallas. It is home to the headquarters of several large corporations.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 39m. Total distance: 248.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 39m highway drive covering 248.3 miles, with most of the trip on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 89.9 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South R L Thornton Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 89.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 31 significant decision points across 248.3 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 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 31 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
17.5 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
9
19.7 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
19.7 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Waco
8
196.6 mi into trip|~3h 27m in
Take the exit toward TX 45 Toll, TX 1 Toll
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 250
Toward TX 45 Toll, TX 1 Toll
8
197.1 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward TX 45 Toll West, TX 1 Toll South: Round Rock, Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward TX 45 Toll West, TX 1 Toll South: Round...
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 Woodcreek, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo, Austin and Loop 1 Toll South - among others.
Downtown
17.5 mi in|~19m
Denton
19.5 mi in|~23m
Waco
19.7 mi in|~24m
Dallas Zoo
20.6 mi in|~25m|via I 35E
Austin
197.1 mi in|~3h 28m
Loop 1 Toll South
198.3 mi in|~3h 30m
Llano
218.1 mi in|~3h 52m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway
89.9 mi
1h 32m
I 35
42.1 mi
43m
Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi
39m
Central Expressway
16.8 mi
18m
Ranch Road 12
12.2 mi
21m
West US Highway 290
11.8 mi
16m
Express 1 Toll
10.5 mi
11m
North Mopac Expressway
8.6 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 89.9 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and Woodcreek, 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
17 mi·17 min·Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
501 ft·12 sec
Exit 284CToward Downtown, Good-Latimer ExpresswayUse the slight left lane.
6
Continue on North Central Expressway
0.7 mi·1 min·North Central Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn right onto Elm Street
304 ft·10 sec·Elm Street
8
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Pearl Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Young Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·Young Street
10
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
315 ft·8 sec·South Harwood Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Canton Street
0.4 mi·47 sec·Canton Street
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 30 West
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
14
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I 35E South: WacoUse the left / right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi·44 sec·South R L Thornton Freeway
17
Continue on I 35E
89 mi·1 hr 31 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426Toward Dallas ZooUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
42 mi·43 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 250Toward TX 45 Toll, TX 1 TollUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward TX 45 Toll West, TX 1 Toll South: Round Rock, AustinUse the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto TX 45 Toll
0.5 mi·30 sec·State Highway 45 North
24
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward Loop 1 Toll SouthUse the slight right lane.
25
Continue on Loop 1 Toll
4.2 mi·4 min·North Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto Express 1 Toll
10 mi·11 min·Express 1 Toll
Use the slight left lane.
27
Merge onto Loop 1
4.4 mi·5 min·North Mopac Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City, LlanoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork
319 ft·7 sec
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West
30
Merge onto US 290; TX 71
3.7 mi·4 min·US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Continue on West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
447 ft·6 sec·West US Highway 290 Frontage Rd
32
Continue on West US 290 Frontage Rd
0.3 mi·23 sec·West US 290 Frontage Rd
33
Turn straight onto West US 290 Bypass Lanes
0.5 mi·33 sec·West US 290 Bypass Lanes
34
Continue on US 290
378 ft·4 sec·West US Highway 290
35
Continue on US 290
12 mi·15 min·West US Highway 290
Use the left lane.
36
Turn left onto RM 12
12 mi·21 min·Ranch Road 12
Use the left lane.
37
Turn right onto Woodcreek Drive
0.4 mi·53 sec·Woodcreek Drive
38
Keep slight right at fork onto Woodcreek Drive
0.1 mi·20 sec·Woodcreek Drive
39
Turn right onto Brookhollow Drive
490 ft·23 sec·Brookhollow Drive
40
Turn right onto Westwood Drive
0.2 mi·52 sec·Westwood Drive
41
Turn left onto Pebble Brook Lane
0.1 mi·23 sec·Pebble Brook Lane
42
Arrive at destination
Pebble Brook Lane
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 124.1 miles from Plano, TX, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.9 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 55 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.1 miles or 2h 12m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodcreek, 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 248.3 miles and 4h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 89.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 124.1 mi from Plano, TX
· 2h 12m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 111.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.52 one way
$75.04 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$41.07
$82.13
premium
$4.54
$44.33
$88.66
diesel
$5.61
$54.82
$109.64
Estimated Tolls: $1.40
Central Expressway
(17.5 mi)$1.40
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
$38
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.5
0
$26.07
$11.92
Efficient EV
62.1
0
$21.73
$9.93
EV Truck/SUV
99.3
1
$34.76
$15.89
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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
Morning
in Plano on Saturday
Local time
6:38 AM
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 18 at 2:03AM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 2:01AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Woodcreek, TX
Morning
in Woodcreek on Saturday
Local time
6:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
7 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
4h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Woodcreek, TX covers 248.3 miles and takes about 4h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South R L Thornton Freeway, I 35, Purple Heart Trail. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.1 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 $37.52 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 248.3 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 17.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Plano, TX and Woodcreek, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo, Austin and Loop 1 Toll South - among others.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
