How far is Plano, TX from Melissa, TX?

The driving distance from Plano, TX to Melissa, TX is about 21.6 miles (34.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 19.8 miles (31.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
21.56 mi
00h 25m
Flight
19.78 mi
31.83 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Plano.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
19.78 mi
Kilometers
31.83 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
21.56 mi
Kilometers
34.69 km
Drive Time
00h 25m

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 00h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Melissa
Thu, Apr 23, 12:00 AM CDT
Return by in Plano
Thu, Apr 23, 12:26 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Plano
2026-04-22T23:34
Arrive Melissa
Thu, Apr 23, 12:00 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:26 AM to 7:26 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:38 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Plano
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
McKinney
TX

The third most populous city in Collin County, Texas.

From Plano
10.8 mi
00h 12m
To Melissa
10.7 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
76°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East 15th Street

    3103 ft · 1 min · East 15th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Central Expressway

    1.4 km · 1 min · Central Expressway

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 North

    1282 ft · 31 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Central Expressway

    17 mi · 18 min · Central Expressway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 121 North: Bonham

    1.1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Continue on Sam Rayburn Highway

    1 mi · 1 min · Sam Rayburn Highway

  7. 7

    Turn left onto McKinney Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · McKinney Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto West Cooper Street

    114 m · 17 sec · West Cooper Street

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Cooper Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
9 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
41.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Central Expressway
17.9 mi · 83%
McKinney Street
1.12 mi · 5%
Sam Rayburn Highway
1 mi · 5%
TX 121 North
0.67 mi · 3%
East 15th Street
0.59 mi · 3%
US 75 North
0.24 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Central Expressway

Merge slight left onto Central Expressway

17 mi · 00h 18m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 25m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.8 mi
19.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
McKinney
00h 12m from Plano
Leave By
7:38 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Plano and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Melissa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 21.6 miles (34.7 km) and usually takes 00h 25m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

McKinney is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.8 miles from Plano and 10.7 miles from Melissa.

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

The direct path is about 19.8 miles (31.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:38 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.87 one way or $5.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Plano and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Melissa.

Stop Ideas Near McKinney

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around McKinney and the surrounding midpoint area.
Town of Prosper City Hall
Scenic stop 10.6 mi away

Town of Prosper City Hall

Prosper , TX
250 W First St, Prosper, TX 75078
Rating 4.8/5 23 reviews Government office,Museum,Tourist attraction
Richardson City Hall
Meeting point 14.4 mi away

Richardson City Hall

Richardson , TX
411 W Arapaho Rd, Richardson, TX 75080
Rating 4.7/5 39 reviews City government office,City Hall
The Colony Public Library and City Hall
Nearby stop 14.8 mi away

The Colony Public Library and City Hall

The Colony , TX
6800 Main St, The Colony, TX 75056
Rating 4.8/5 53 reviews Public library
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 10.4 mi away

City Hall Plaza Park

Melissa , TX
Melissa, TX 75454
Rating 5.0/5 2 reviews Park

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Mesquite, TX

45 mi away
1331 Highway 80 East \r\n1331 Highway 80 East \r\n
RAIL

Union Station

50 mi away
400 South Houston St.
BUS

Dallas, TX

50 mi away
205 South Lamar Street
RAIL

Gainesville

68 mi away
605 East California Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Plano and Melissa. Straight-line distance: 19.78 mi (31.83 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
Melissa

#2 Melissa

City in Collin County, Texas, United States

Population13,793
Coordinates33.2859500, -96.5727700
Altitude207
CountryUnited States
Start: Plano (-96.69889, 33.01984)
End: Melissa (-96.57277, 33.28595)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 35 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.76 gal
2.88 L · about $2.87
Round trip
$5.74
1.52 gal · 5.76 L
Estimated CO2
6.8 kg one way
Round trip: 13.5 kg / 30 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $2.87 $5.74
Mid-grade $4.25 $3.23 $6.46
Premium $4.59 $3.49 $6.98
Diesel $3.99 $3.03 $6.07

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 Melissa. The current time is 23:34:07.

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.