Origin
McKinney, TX
Afternoon in McKinney on Sunday
Local time
12:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McKinney, TX to Balch Springs, TX
Drive Time
48m
Distance
40.3 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Photo: Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from McKinney, TX to Balch Springs, TX covers 40.3 miles and takes about 48m 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 $6.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
20.2 miles from McKinney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 48m drive with frequent turns across 40.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from McKinney, TX to Balch Springs, TX is easy. At 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from McKinney, TX to Balch Springs, 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 |
| I 635 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 635 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lyndon B | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 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 Balch Springs, 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
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Central Expressway
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 635
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 635
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 635 East
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 635 East
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 635 East
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 635 East
9
Merge slight left onto Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
10
Continue on Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
11
Take the exit slight right toward Lake June Road
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Lake June Road
12
Turn right onto Lake June Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake June Road
13
Turn left onto Hickory Tree Road
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Hickory Tree Road
14
Turn right onto Terry Drive
46 ft
·
2 sec
·
Terry Drive
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 20.2 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 24m 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 40.3 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.2 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Balch Springs, 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 40.3 miles and 48m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.2 mi from McKinney, TX · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from McKinney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Balch Springs, TX
The final approach into Balch Springs, 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 Balch Springs, 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
$6.16 one way
$12.31 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $6.75 | $13.49 |
| premium | $4.59 | $7.28 | $14.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.95 | $17.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Balch Springs, TX
Afternoon in Balch Springs on Sunday
Local time
12:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
1 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
48m 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 McKinney, TX to Balch Springs, TX covers 40.3 miles and takes about 48m 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 20.2 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 $6.16 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 McKinney, TX to Balch Springs, TX is easy. At 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from McKinney, TX to Balch Springs, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from McKinney, TX to Balch Springs, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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