How far is Plano, TX from College Station, TX?

The driving distance from Plano, TX to College Station, TX is about 199.1 miles (320.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 166.7 miles (268.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 11m 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
199.16 mi
03h 35m
Flight
166.64 mi
268.18 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
166.64 mi
Kilometers
268.18 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
199.16 mi
Kilometers
320.52 km
Drive Time
03h 35m

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 03h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in College Station
Thu, Apr 23, 1:04 PM CDT
Return by in Plano
Thu, Apr 23, 4:40 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Plano
2026-04-23T09:29
Arrive College Station
Thu, Apr 23, 1:04 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:36 AM to 11:36 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:48 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
Ross
TX

City in McLennan County, Texas, United States

From Plano
99.7 mi
01h 47m
To College Station
99.4 mi
01h 47m

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
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plano and College Station.

  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

    16.6 mi · 18 min · Central Expressway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight left toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway

    153 m · 12 sec

  6. 6

    Continue on North Central Expressway

    1.2 km · 1 min · North Central Expressway

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Elm Street

    93 m · 11 sec · Elm Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway

    1086 ft · 29 sec · North Pearl Expressway

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Young Street

    572 ft · 20 sec · Young Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto South Harwood Street

    96 m · 8 sec · South Harwood Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Canton Street

    2105 ft · 48 sec · Canton Street

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 30 West

    1773 ft · 38 sec

  13. 13

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

    607 ft · 15 sec

  14. 14

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

    67 m · 5 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South: Waco

    1915 ft · 30 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway

    2866 ft · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

  17. 17

    Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway

    89.3 mi · 1 hr 32 min · South R L Thornton Freeway

  18. 18

    Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway

    620 ft · 8 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue

    2197 ft · 54 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway

    740 ft · 17 sec · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

  21. 21

    Turn left onto North Loop Drive

    1 mi · 2 min · North Loop Drive

  22. 22

    Continue on Marlin Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Marlin Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on East State Highway 6

    9.1 mi · 9 min · East State Highway 6

  24. 24

    Continue on North Memorial Street

    2.1 mi · 3 min · North Memorial Street

  25. 25

    Continue on East State Highway 6

    37.5 mi · 38 min · East State Highway 6

  26. 26

    Continue on North Main Street

    2.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  27. 27

    Continue on North State Highway 6

    6.2 mi · 6 min · North State Highway 6

  28. 28

    Continue on North Market Street

    2.1 mi · 2 min · North Market Street

  29. 29

    Continue on South State Highway 6

    13.7 mi · 15 min · South State Highway 6

  30. 30

    Continue on North Earl Rudder Freeway

    8.3 mi · 9 min · North Earl Rudder Freeway

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight right

    1414 ft · 35 sec

  32. 32

    Turn straight onto North Earl Rudder Freeway Frontage Road

    1.3 mi · 2 min · North Earl Rudder Freeway Frontage Road

  33. 33

    Turn right onto University Drive East

    1.7 mi · 3 min · University Drive East

  34. 34

    Turn right onto Northpoint Crossing

    101 m · 17 sec · Northpoint Crossing

  35. 35

    Continue on Northpoint Crossing

    75 m · 13 sec · Northpoint Crossing

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Texas Avenue South

    103 m · 7 sec · Texas Avenue South

  37. 37

    Turn left onto University Drive East

    80 m · 13 sec · University Drive East

  38. 38

    Turn right

    11 m · 5 sec

  39. 39

    Turn right

    11 m · 3 sec

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
40 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South R L Thornton Freeway
89.9 mi · 45%
East State Highway 6
46.6 mi · 23%
Central Expressway
16.8 mi · 8%
South State Highway 6
13.7 mi · 7%
North Earl Rudder Freeway
8.59 mi · 4%
North State Highway 6
6.18 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

South R L Thornton Freeway

Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway

89.3 mi · 01h 32m

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
03h 35m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.4 mi
166.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ross
01h 47m from Plano
Leave By
9:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Plano and Mostly Cloudy near College Station.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Plano to College Station?

The road trip is about 199.1 miles (320.5 km) and usually takes 03h 35m 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?

Ross is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.7 miles from Plano and 99.4 miles from College Station.

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

The direct path is about 166.7 miles (268.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.4 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 9:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.57 one way or $53.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Plano and Mostly Cloudy near College Station.

Stop Ideas Near Ross

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ross, 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 Ross.

BUS

Waco, TX

19 mi away
301 South 8th Street
RAIL

McGregor

41 mi away
1 Amtrak Blvd.
RAIL

Temple

73 mi away
315 West Ave B
RAIL

Cleburne

74 mi away
206 North Border St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Plano and College Station. Straight-line distance: 166.64 mi (268.18 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
College Station

#2 College Station

The most populous city in Brazos County, Texas.

Population119,260
Coordinates30.6279800, -96.3344100
Altitude103
CountryUnited States
Start: Plano (-96.69889, 33.01984)
End: College Station (-96.33441, 30.62798)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 321 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.03 gal
26.6 L · about $26.57
Round trip
$53.13
14.06 gal · 53.2 L
Estimated CO2
62.5 kg one way
Round trip: 125 kg / 276 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $26.57 $53.13
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.89 $59.78
Premium $4.59 $32.27 $64.55
Diesel $3.99 $28.07 $56.14

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 College Station. The current time is 09:29:03.

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.