How far is Plano, TX from Childress, TX?

The driving distance from Plano, TX to Childress, TX is about 245.2 miles (394.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 223.6 miles (359.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
245.19 mi
04h 26m
Flight
223.63 mi
359.9 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Plano.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
223.63 mi
Kilometers
359.9 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
245.19 mi
Kilometers
394.6 km
Drive Time
04h 26m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Childress
Thu, Apr 23, 10:08 AM CDT
Return by in Plano
Thu, Apr 23, 2:34 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Plano
2026-04-23T05:42
Arrive Childress
Thu, Apr 23, 10:08 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:26 AM to 12:26 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:08 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Plano
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Henrietta
TX

City in Texas, USA

From Plano
122.5 mi
02h 13m
To Childress
122.7 mi
02h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
94°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
20 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Plano and Childress.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plano and Childress.

  1. 1

    Start on East 15th Street

    1 km · 1 min · East 15th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Central Expressway

    919 ft · 18 sec · Central Expressway

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 South

    798 ft · 19 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Central Expressway

    1484 ft · 18 sec · Central Expressway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward President George Bush Turnpike

    2091 ft · 52 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on PGBT West: President George Bush Turnpike

    1916 ft · 50 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto President George Bush Turnpike

    13.7 mi · 15 min · President George Bush Turnpike

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North: Denton

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North: Denton

    2073 ft · 26 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto South Stemmons Freeway

    20.9 mi · 22 min · South Stemmons Freeway

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    782 ft · 10 sec

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 380: University Drive

    672 ft · 16 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

    2258 ft · 47 sec · North Interstate 35

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West University Drive

    3.4 mi · 5 min · West University Drive

  15. 15

    Continue on US Highway 380 West

    21.5 mi · 25 min · US Highway 380 West

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    1443 ft · 40 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto North US Highway 287

    72.5 mi · 1 hr 15 min · North US Highway 287

  18. 18

    Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass

    1.3 km · 59 sec · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

  19. 19

    Continue on Central Freeway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Northwest Freeway

    5.3 mi · 6 min · Northwest Freeway

  21. 21

    Continue on US Highway 287 East

    40.5 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East

  22. 22

    Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

    4.1 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on US Highway 287 West

    25.7 mi · 26 min · US Highway 287 West

  24. 24

    Continue on East 11th Street

    28.7 mi · 33 min · East 11th Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Avenue F Northeast

    1.3 km · 56 sec · Avenue F Northeast

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Avenue F Northeast

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Plano and Childress.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North US Highway 287
72.5 mi · 30%
US Highway 287 East
40.5 mi · 17%
East 11th Street
28.7 mi · 12%
US Highway 287 West
25.7 mi · 10%
US Highway 380 West
21.8 mi · 9%
South Stemmons Freeway
21 mi · 9%
Longest Stretch

North US Highway 287

Merge slight left onto North US Highway 287

72.5 mi · 01h 15m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.6 mi
223.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Henrietta
02h 13m from Plano
Leave By
8:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Plano and Partly Sunny near Childress.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Plano to Childress?

The road trip is about 245.2 miles (394.6 km) and usually takes 04h 26m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Henrietta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 122.5 miles from Plano and 122.7 miles from Childress.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 223.6 miles (359.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.69 one way or $65.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Plano and Partly Sunny near Childress.

Stop Ideas Near Henrietta

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Henrietta, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Henrietta.

RAIL

Gainesville

100 mi away
605 East California Street
RAIL

Ardmore station

106 mi away
251 East Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Plano and Childress. Straight-line distance: 223.63 mi (359.9 km).

Plano

#1 Plano

The second most populous city in Texas and the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Population291,296
Coordinates33.0198400, -96.6988900
Altitude203
CountryUnited States
Childress

#2 Childress

City in Childress County, Texas, United States

Population5,902
Coordinates34.4264500, -100.2040000
Altitude570
CountryUnited States
Start: Plano (-96.69889, 33.01984)
End: Childress (-100.204, 34.42645)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 395 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.65 gal
32.75 L · about $32.69
Round trip
$65.38
17.3 gal · 65.5 L
Estimated CO2
76.9 kg one way
Round trip: 153.7 kg / 339 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $32.69 $65.38
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.78 $73.56
Premium $4.59 $39.71 $79.42
Diesel $3.99 $34.54 $69.08

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Plano and Childress. The current time is 05:42:15.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.