Origin
Los Fresnos, TX
Late night in Los Fresnos on Wednesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Fresnos, TX to McKinney, TX
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
10h 21m
Distance
552 mi
888 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$83
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 12m
★
6 AM
10h 21m
8 AM
10h 40m
10 AM
10h 28m
12 PM
10h 26m
3 PM
10h 29m
5 PM
10h 39m
8 PM
10h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Fresnos, TX
Jeff Stapleton
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Los Fresnos, TX to McKinney, TX covers 552 miles and takes about 10h 21m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on U.S. Highway 77, Purple Heart Trail, Pickle Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 124.3 miles on U.S. Highway 77. At current regular gas prices, budget about $83.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
276 miles from Los Fresnos, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 29m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
At 552 miles and 10h 21m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are U.S. Highway 77 and Purple Heart Trail.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 59 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
U.S. Highway 77 is the longest continuous segment at about 124.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 356.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 34 significant decision points across 552 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 356.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 461.4 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 517.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 34 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
356.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
461.4 mi into trip
|
~8h 40m in
|
I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
8
517.6 mi into trip
|
~9h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Bouleva...
8
519.3 mi into trip
|
~9h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
8
547.9 mi into trip
|
~10h 13m 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.
Between Los Fresnos, TX and McKinney, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore, Waco, Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center and Bryan Street East.
Skidmore
162.9 mi in
|
~3h 16m
Waco
297.7 mi in
|
~5h 57m
Fort Worth
518 mi in
|
~9h 40m
Texarkana
518 mi in
|
~9h 40m
Convention Center
518.1 mi in
|
~9h 40m
Bryan Street East
520.2 mi in
|
~9h 43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 124.3 mi | 2h 17m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 97.7 mi | 1h 39m |
| Pickle Parkway | 58.5 mi | 54m |
| I 35E | 56.2 mi | 58m |
| US Highway 181 South | 40.2 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 80 North | 30.8 mi | 35m |
| North Central Expressway | 26.6 mi | 28m |
| State Highway 80 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Highway 77
— 124.3 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Fresnos, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on TX 100
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
2
Continue on TX 100
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Texas State Highway 100
3
Continue on TX 100
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 100
4
Turn right onto North Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
North Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
6
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83
100 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
8
Merge onto I 69E; US 77
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 69E; US 77
9
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
12 mi
·
12 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
11
Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road
485 ft
·
17 sec
·
US Highway 77 Frontage Road
12
Turn right onto County Road 10
1.0 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road 10
13
Turn left onto County Road 79
4.0 mi
·
15 min
·
County Road 79
14
Turn left onto County Road 18
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
County Road 18
15
Turn sharp right
1.1 mi
·
2 min
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
17
Merge onto US 77
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Driscoll Bypass
18
Continue on US 77
13 mi
·
14 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
19
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 37; US 77; I 69E
20
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi
·
1 min
21
Continue on I 37
18 mi
·
18 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore
23
Turn right onto TX 359
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 359
24
At end of road, turn left onto US 181
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
South 8th Street
25
Continue on US 181
40 mi
·
45 min
·
US Highway 181 South
26
Continue on US 181
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sunset Strip Drive
27
Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
28
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
233 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
29
Continue on FM 792
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Helena Road
30
Turn straight onto TX 80
24 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 80
31
Continue on TX 80
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Nixon Avenue
32
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
31 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 80 North
33
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
34
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Colorado Street
35
Continue on US 183
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
United States Highway 183
36
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
37
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
59 mi
·
54 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
39
Merge onto I 35
65 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
43
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Use the slight right lane.
44
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
45
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
46
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
47
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
48
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Use the slight right lane.
49
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the slight left lane.
50
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
51
Merge onto US 75
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Continue on US 75
27 mi
·
28 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
53
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 38C
Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the slight right lane.
55
Merge onto Spur 399
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 399
56
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South McDonald Street
57
Turn slight left
281 ft
·
10 sec
58
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Tennessee Street
59
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 276 miles from Los Fresnos, TX, or about 5h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.3 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 121 miles or 2h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 276 miles or 5h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 276 miles or 5h 29m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 12m
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 Los Fresnos, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Los Fresnos, TX
Aim for roughly 276 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into McKinney, TX
Aim for roughly 276 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 121 miles from Los Fresnos, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Highway 77 for about 124.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 276 mi from Los Fresnos, TX · 5h 29m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
182 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
364 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Killeen, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
276 mi · about 5.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 276 miles or 5.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 121 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 276 miles from Los Fresnos, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 124.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 276 miles or 5.2 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach McKinney, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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
$83.41 one way
$166.82 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
193 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $91.30 | $182.59 |
| premium | $4.54 | $98.56 | $197.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $121.87 | $243.75 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.13
Central Expressway
(26.6 mi)
$2.13
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
$83
Tolls
$2
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$216–$326
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 193.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $58 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 165.6 | 2 | $57.96 | $26.50 |
| Efficient EV | 138 | 1 | $48.30 | $22.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 220.8 | 2 | $77.28 | $35.33 |
Gas CO2
193 kg
EV CO2
65 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
McKinney, TX
Late night in McKinney on Wednesday
Local time
5:36 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
10h 21m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Los Fresnos, TX to McKinney, TX covers 552 miles and takes about 10h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are U.S. Highway 77, Purple Heart Trail, Pickle Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 276 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 276 miles from Los Fresnos, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $83.41 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 34 significant decision points across 552 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 356.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 461.4 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 517.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Los Fresnos, TX and McKinney, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore, Waco, Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center and Bryan Street East.
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