How far is Plano, TX from South Houston, TX?

The driving distance from Plano, TX to South Houston, TX is about 267.7 miles (430.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 247.5 miles (398.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 31m 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
267.77 mi
04h 45m
Flight
247.48 mi
398.28 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
247.48 mi
Kilometers
398.28 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
267.77 mi
Kilometers
430.94 km
Drive Time
04h 45m

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 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Houston
Sun, Apr 19, 7:30 AM CDT
Return by in Plano
Sun, Apr 19, 12:16 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Plano
2026-04-19T02:45
Arrive South Houston
Sun, Apr 19, 7:30 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:46 AM to 12:46 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
7:28 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
Jewett
TX

City in Texas, United States

From Plano
134.2 mi
02h 22m
To South Houston
133.7 mi
02h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NE
Destination
73°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Plano and South Houston.

  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

    Continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

    234.2 mi · 4 hr 6 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Gulf Freeway

    10.3 mi · 12 min · Gulf Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 3: Monroe Road

    737 ft · 18 sec

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

    1530 ft · 31 sec · Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Monroe Road

    991 ft · 25 sec · Monroe Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Winkler Drive

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Winkler Drive

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Galveston Road

    1 km · 59 sec · Galveston Road

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Galveston Road

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Julius Schepps Freeway
238 mi · 89%
Central Expressway
16.8 mi · 6%
Gulf Freeway
10.3 mi · 4%
Winkler Drive
1.08 mi
East 15th Street
0.64 mi
Galveston Road
0.64 mi
Longest Stretch

Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

234 mi · 04h 06m

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 45m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.2 mi
247.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Jewett
02h 22m from Plano
Leave By
7:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Plano and Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy near South Houston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Plano to South Houston?

The road trip is about 267.7 miles (430.9 km) and usually takes 04h 45m 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?

Jewett is a useful midpoint, sitting about 134.2 miles from Plano and 133.7 miles from South Houston.

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

The direct path is about 247.5 miles (398.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.2 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 7:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.71 one way or $71.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Plano and Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy near South Houston.

Stop Ideas Near Jewett

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

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

BUS

Bryan, TX

80 mi away
301 East 26th Street
BUS

Waco, TX

96 mi away
301 South 8th Street
RAIL

Temple

118 mi away
315 West Ave B

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Plano and South Houston. Straight-line distance: 247.48 mi (398.28 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
South Houston

#2 South Houston

City in Harris County, Texas, United States

Population17,446
Coordinates29.6630100, -95.2354900
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Plano (-96.69889, 33.01984)
End: South Houston (-95.23549, 29.66301)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 431 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 27m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.45 gal
35.77 L · about $35.71
Round trip
$71.42
18.9 gal · 71.54 L
Estimated CO2
84 kg one way
Round trip: 168 kg / 370 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $35.71 $71.42
Mid-grade $4.25 $40.18 $80.36
Premium $4.59 $43.38 $86.77
Diesel $3.99 $37.73 $75.47

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Plano and South Houston. The current time is 02:45:02.

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.