Origin
McKinney, TX
Morning in McKinney on Wednesday
Local time
6:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McKinney, TX to Alief, TX
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
5h 3m
Distance
283 mi
455 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
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.
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Alief, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
The drive from McKinney, TX to Alief, TX covers 283 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 East Virginia Street, South Central Expressway, US 75 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.76 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
141.5 miles from McKinney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 3m drive with frequent turns across 283 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Virginia Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 3m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from McKinney, TX to Alief, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Virginia Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Central Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 75 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Central Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Julius Schepps Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| BW 8 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| SHT West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Sam Houston Parkway West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Virginia Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKinney, TX and Alief, TX.
1
Start on North Tennessee Street
118 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Tennessee Street
2
Turn left onto East Virginia Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East Virginia Street
3
Turn left onto South Central Expressway
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
South Central Expressway
4
Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 75 South, TX 121 South
5
Merge slight left onto Central Expressway
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Central Expressway
6
Continue on Julius Schepps Freeway
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
7
Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway
221 mi
·
3 hr 49 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward BW 8 East, SHT West: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sam Houston Tollway West
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
BW 8 East, SHT West: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sam Houston Tollway West
9
Keep slight right to continue on SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
10
Merge slight left onto North Sam Houston Parkway West
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Sam Houston Parkway West
11
Continue on North Sam Houston Tollway West
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway West
12
Keep slight left to continue on North Sam Houston Tollway West
18 mi
·
20 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway West
13
Keep slight left to continue on West Sam Houston Tollway South
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway South
14
Take the exit slight right toward TBT West: Westpark Tollway West
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
TBT West: Westpark Tollway West
15
Turn straight onto West Sam Houston Parkway South
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
West Sam Houston Parkway South
16
Take the ramp right toward WPT West, SHT South
154 ft
·
4 sec
·
WPT West, SHT South
17
Keep slight left to continue on WPT West
335 ft
·
10 sec
·
WPT West
18
Continue on WPT Toll West
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
WPT Toll West
19
Merge slight left onto Westpark Tollway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Westpark Tollway
20
Take the exit slight right toward West Houston Center Boulevard, Dairy Ashford Road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Houston Center Boulevard, Dairy Ashford Road
21
Turn left onto West Houston Center Boulevard
312 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Houston Center Boulevard
22
Turn right onto Alief Clodine Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Alief Clodine Road
23
Turn left onto Cook Road
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Cook Road
24
Arrive at your destination
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 141.5 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.5 miles or 2h 31m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alief, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving McKinney, 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 McKinney, TX
This is one driving day of about 283 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from McKinney, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 141.5 mi from McKinney, TX · 2h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
142 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 141.5 miles from McKinney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alief, TX
The final approach into Alief, 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 Alief, 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
$42.76 one way
$85.52 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $46.81 | $93.61 |
| premium | $4.54 | $50.53 | $101.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $62.48 | $124.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99 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 | 84.9 | 1 | $29.71 | $13.58 |
| Efficient EV | 70.8 | 0 | $24.76 | $11.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 113.2 | 1 | $39.62 | $18.11 |
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.
Destination
Alief, TX
Morning in Alief on Wednesday
Local time
6:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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 warmer 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 McKinney, TX to Alief, TX covers 283 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 East Virginia Street, South Central Expressway, US 75 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 141.5 miles from McKinney, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.76 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.
This is a straightforward 5h 3m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from McKinney, TX to Alief, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from McKinney, TX to Alief, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from McKinney, TX or browse trips ending in Alief, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
Explore maps for McKinney, TX or Alief, TX on MapSof.net.