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Trip from Gilmer, TX to McKinney, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

111.4 mi

179 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 8m ★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m

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

city in and county seat of Upshur County, Texas, United States

Gilmer, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Collin County, Texas, United States

McKinney, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 111.4-mile drive from Gilmer, TX to McKinney, TX is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes. You'll primarily travel on State Highway 154 and West US Highway 69, with a portion on Lee Street. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Great Plains region of Texas. It's an ideal option if you're looking for a relatively short drive without needing an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

55.7 miles from Gilmer, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 111.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (55%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 55% of it on highways. Expect to encounter a 27.1-mile stretch on State Highway 154, which is the longest uninterrupted segment. While the drive doesn't appear to be a monotonous interstate grind, it's not a purely scenic byway either. You'll experience a blend of faster road sections and potentially more local road navigation as you progress towards McKinney.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 154 is the longest continuous segment at about 27.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 30.4 miles in near TX 37; TX 154; Loop 173 / Main Street.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Gilmer, TX to McKinney, TX is easy. At 2h 17m with 55% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 30.4 miles (TX 37; TX 154; Loop 173 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.3 miles (US 69 / West Greenville Street): Navigation decision point; at 81.7 miles (US 380 / Lee Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

4
30.4 mi into trip | ~37m in | TX 37; TX 154; Loop 173 / Main Street

At end of road, turn left onto TX 37; TX 154; Loop 173 / Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
42.3 mi into trip | ~55m in | US 69 / West Greenville Street

At end of road, turn right onto US 69 / West Greenville Street

Navigation decision point

6
81.7 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in | US 380 / Lee Street

Turn left onto US 380 / Lee Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
4
111.2 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in | East Cloyd Street

Turn right onto East Cloyd Street

Navigation decision point

5
111.4 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in | South Tennessee Street

Turn right onto South Tennessee Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 154 27.1 mi 32m
Lee Street 24.2 mi 28m
West US Highway 69 23.2 mi 26m
West Greenville Street 10.8 mi 13m
TX 182 10.4 mi 15m
Joe Ramsey Boulevard 5.4 mi 6m
East University Drive 4.3 mi 5m
West Tyler Street 1.5 mi 2m
Longest stretch: State Highway 154 — 27.1 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on TX 154

0.1 mi · 19 sec · East Marshall Street
2

Continue on TX 154

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Tyler Street
3

Continue on TX 154

0.7 mi · 51 sec · SH 154
4

Continue on TX 154

27 mi · 32 min · State Highway 154
5

Continue on TX 154

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Goode Street
6

At end of road, turn left onto TX 37; TX 154; Loop 173

144 ft · 6 sec · Main Street
7

Turn right onto TX 154

1.5 mi · 1 min · West Bermuda Street
8

Turn left onto TX 182

10 mi · 15 min · TX 182
9

At end of road, turn right onto US 69

11 mi · 13 min · West Greenville Street
10

Continue on US 69

23 mi · 26 min · West US Highway 69
11

Continue on US 69

5.4 mi · 6 min · Joe Ramsey Boulevard
12

Turn left onto US 380

24 mi · 28 min · Lee Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Continue on US 380

4.3 mi · 5 min · East University Drive
14

Turn sharp left onto TX 5

1.1 mi · 1 min · North McDonald Street
15

Turn right onto East Cloyd Street

0.1 mi · 35 sec · East Cloyd Street
16

Turn right onto South Tennessee Street

375 ft · 12 sec · South Tennessee Street
17

Arrive at destination

North Tennessee Street

Trip Plan

Given the 2 hour and 17-minute duration, this trip is best suited for a single day. You can depart anytime, but an early start will give you more flexibility. While there are no designated stops mentioned, plan for a brief break around the halfway mark or when you feel the need. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch without a break is over 27 miles. Since this is a shorter drive, you have the advantage of not needing to rush; enjoy the varied road conditions as you travel from Gilmer to McKinney.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.7 miles from Gilmer, TX, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.1 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 25 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 55.7 miles or 1h 11m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 52m

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 Gilmer, 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 Gilmer, TX

This is one driving day of about 111.4 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Gilmer, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 154 for about 27.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 55.7 mi from Gilmer, TX · 1h 11m into the drive

city in Hunt County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Greenville, TX

56 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Winnsboro, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gunter, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.7 miles from Gilmer, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.83 one way

$33.67 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $18.42 $36.85
premium $4.54 $19.89 $39.78
diesel $5.61 $24.60 $49.19

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 39 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.4 0 $11.70 $5.35
Efficient EV 27.9 0 $9.75 $4.46
EV Truck/SUV 44.6 0 $15.60 $7.13

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Gilmer, TX

Late night in Gilmer on Saturday

Local time

12:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

McKinney, TX

Late night in McKinney on Saturday

Local time

12:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Greenville, TX

56 mi in

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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

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

Road read

2h 17m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Gilmer, TX to McKinney, TX covers 111.4 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are State Highway 154, Lee Street, West US Highway 69. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 55.7 miles from Gilmer, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

The drive from Gilmer, TX to McKinney, TX is easy. At 2h 17m with 55% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 30.4 miles (TX 37; TX 154; Loop 173 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.3 miles (US 69 / West Greenville Street): Navigation decision point; at 81.7 miles (US 380 / Lee Street): Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Gilmer, TX to McKinney, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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