How far is Plano, TX from Karnes City, TX?

The driving distance from Plano, TX to Karnes City, TX is about 316.9 miles (510 km), with a travel time of about 05h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 294.4 miles (473.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 16m 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
316.92 mi
05h 38m
Flight
294.42 mi
473.83 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
294.42 mi
Kilometers
473.83 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
316.92 mi
Kilometers
510.04 km
Drive Time
05h 38m

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 05h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Karnes City
Fri, Apr 17, 3:34 PM CDT
Return by in Plano
Fri, Apr 17, 9:12 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Plano
2026-04-17T09:55
Arrive Karnes City
Fri, Apr 17, 3:34 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:38 AM to 1:38 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
5:44 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
Salado
TX

Village in the United States

From Plano
158.8 mi
02h 49m
To Karnes City
158.1 mi
02h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph S
Destination
89°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plano and Karnes City.

  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

    6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

  19. 19

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    26.5 mi · 27 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

    1.1 km · 56 sec

  22. 22

    Continue straight

    58.5 mi · 55 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward US 183 South: Lockhart

    1219 ft · 30 sec

  24. 24

    Continue on United States Highway 183

    2699 ft · 35 sec · United States Highway 183

  25. 25

    Continue on North Colorado Street

    4.9 mi · 9 min · North Colorado Street

  26. 26

    Continue on US 183

    10.1 mi · 12 min · US 183

  27. 27

    Continue on North Magnolia Avenue

    4.2 mi · 7 min · North Magnolia Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue straight

    55.9 mi · 1 hr 2 min

  29. 29

    Turn left onto North Badger Drive

    1755 ft · 44 sec · North Badger Drive

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Weir Street

    14 m · 4 sec · Weir Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Badgerette Drive

    991 ft · 20 sec · Badgerette Drive

  32. 32

    Turn straight onto East Calvert Avenue

    1791 ft · 36 sec · East Calvert Avenue

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Calvert Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
33 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South R L Thornton Freeway
89.9 mi · 28%
Purple Heart Trail
64.4 mi · 20%
North Magnolia Avenue
60.1 mi · 19%
TX 130 Toll South
59.2 mi · 19%
Central Expressway
16.8 mi · 5%
US 183
10.1 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
05h 38m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.5 mi
294.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Salado
02h 49m from Plano
Leave By
5:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Plano and Partly Sunny near Karnes City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Plano to Karnes City?

The road trip is about 316.9 miles (510 km) and usually takes 05h 38m 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?

Salado is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.8 miles from Plano and 158.1 miles from Karnes City.

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

The direct path is about 294.4 miles (473.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.5 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 5:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.25 one way or $84.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Plano and Partly Sunny near Karnes City.

Stop Ideas Near Salado

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

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

RAIL

Temple

25 mi away
315 West Ave B
BUS

Killeen, Texas

27 mi away
200 East Avenue C
BUS

Fort Hood, Texas

30 mi away
Hood Road & Old Ironsides Ave.
RAIL

Taylor

44 mi away
118 East First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Plano and Karnes City. Straight-line distance: 294.42 mi (473.83 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
Karnes City

#2 Karnes City

City in Karnes County, Texas, United States

Population3,383
Coordinates28.8849800, -97.9008400
Altitude131
CountryUnited States
Start: Plano (-96.69889, 33.01984)
End: Karnes City (-97.90084, 28.88498)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 510 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.18 gal
42.33 L · about $42.25
Round trip
$84.50
22.36 gal · 84.66 L
Estimated CO2
99.4 kg one way
Round trip: 198.7 kg / 438 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $42.25 $84.50
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.54 $95.07
Premium $4.59 $51.33 $102.65
Diesel $3.99 $44.64 $89.28

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Plano and Karnes City. The current time is 09:55:44.

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.