Trip from Alief, TX to McKinney, TX

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

5h 3m

Distance

282.3 mi

454 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 50m ★

6 AM

5h 4m

8 AM

5h 31m

10 AM

5h 13m

12 PM

5h 11m

3 PM

5h 15m

5 PM

5h 30m

8 PM

4h 56m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Alief, TX

Thomas balabaud

city in Collin County, Texas, United States

McKinney, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Alief, TX to McKinney, TX covers 282.3 miles and takes about 5h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Freeway, North Central Expressway, West Sam Houston Tollway North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 224.2 miles on North Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.66 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

141.1 miles from Alief, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 5h 3m highway drive covering 282.3 miles, with most of the trip on North Freeway and North Central Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 224.2 miles on North Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

North Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 224.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and North Central Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 282.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward WPT Toll East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward WPT Toll East

2.2 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward SHT North, BW 8 South: Sam Houston Tollway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward SHT North, BW 8 South: Sam Houston Tollw...

25.6 mi into trip | ~31m in

Take the exit toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown

25.8 mi into trip | ~31m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 45 North: Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 45 North: Dallas

278.1 mi into trip | ~4h 56m in

Take the exit toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 38C Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Alief, TX to McKinney, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.

Downtown

25.6 mi in | ~31m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
North Freeway	224.2 mi	3h 52m
North Central Expressway	26.6 mi	28m
West Sam Houston Tollway North	10.2 mi	11m
West Sam Houston Tollway South	9.1 mi	10m
North Sam Houston Tollway West	2.6 mi	3m
Westpark Tollway	1.5 mi	1m
South Tennessee Street	1.1 mi	2m
South McDonald Street	1 mi	1m

Longest stretch: North Freeway — 224.2 mi, about 3h 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alief, TX and McKinney, TX.

Start on Cook Road

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Cook Road

Turn right onto Alief Clodine Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Alief Clodine Road

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto West Houston Center Boulevard

223 ft · 10 sec · West Houston Center Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Toward WPT Toll East Use the right lane.

Merge onto WPT

1.5 mi · 1 min · Westpark Tollway

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward SHT North, BW 8 South: Sam Houston Tollway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

At end of road, turn left onto BW 8

215 ft · 6 sec · West Sam Houston Parkway South

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward SHT Toll North Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto SHT

9.1 mi · 10 min · West Sam Houston Tollway South

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto SHT

0.4 mi · 27 sec · West Sam Houston Tollway North

Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto SHT

9.8 mi · 11 min · West Sam Houston Tollway North

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto SHT

2.6 mi · 3 min · North Sam Houston Tollway West

Use the slight right lane.

Continue on BW 8

0.8 mi · 53 sec · North Sam Houston Parkway West

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

1.5 mi · 3 min

Toward I 45 North: Dallas Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 45

224 mi · 3 hr 52 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 75

27 mi · 28 min · North Central Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 21 sec

Exit 38C Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto Spur 399

0.9 mi · 1 min · Spur 399

Continue on TX 5

1.0 mi · 1 min · South McDonald Street

Turn slight left

281 ft · 10 sec

Continue on South Tennessee Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Tennessee Street

Arrive at destination

North Tennessee Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 141.1 miles from Alief, TX, or about 2h 33m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.2 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 141.1 miles or 2h 33m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 6m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McKinney, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Alief, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Alief, TX

This is one driving day of about 282.3 miles and 5h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alief, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on North Freeway for about 224.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 141.1 mi from Alief, TX · 2h 33m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dallas, TX

141 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Dallas, TX to McKinney, TX

31.9 mi · 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Houston, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dallas, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 141.1 miles from Alief, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before North Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 224.2 miles.

Arriving in McKinney, TX

The final approach into McKinney, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around McKinney, TX.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.66 one way

$85.31 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 99 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$46.69	$93.38
premium	$4.54	$50.40	$100.81
diesel	$5.61	$62.33	$124.66

Estimated Tolls: $3.98

Central Expressway (26.6 mi) $2.13

Sam Houston Tollway (21.9 mi) $1.75

Westpark Tollway (1.5 mi) $0.10

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 98.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	84.7	1	$29.64	$13.55
Efficient EV	70.6	0	$24.70	$11.29
EV Truck/SUV	112.9	1	$39.52	$18.07

Gas CO2

99 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Alief, TX

Morning in Alief on Wednesday

Local time

6:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

McKinney, TX

Morning in McKinney on Wednesday

Local time

6:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

12 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 3m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Alief, TX to McKinney, TX covers 282.3 miles and takes about 5h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Freeway, North Central Expressway, West Sam Houston Tollway North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 141.1 miles from Alief, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.66 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.