Origin
McKinney, TX
Night in McKinney on Wednesday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McKinney, TX to Highland Park, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
36m
Distance
29.4 mi
47 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Highland Park, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from McKinney, TX to Highland Park, TX covers 29.4 miles and takes about 36m 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 $4.44 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
14.7 miles from McKinney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 36m drive with frequent turns across 29.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 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 Highland Park, TX is easy. At 36m 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 Highland Park, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Virginia Street | — | — |
| South Central Expressway | — | — |
| US 75 South | — | — |
| Central Expressway | — | — |
| Mockingbird Lane | — | — |
| North Central Expressway | — | — |
| Hillcrest Avenue | — | — |
| Cornell Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Virginia Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKinney, TX and Highland Park, 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
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Central Expressway
6
Take the exit slight right toward Mockingbird Lane, Monticello Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Mockingbird Lane, Monticello Avenue
7
Turn straight onto North Central Expressway
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Central Expressway
8
Turn right onto Mockingbird Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mockingbird Lane
9
Turn left onto Hillcrest Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Hillcrest Avenue
10
Turn right onto Cornell Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cornell Avenue
11
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 14.7 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 18m 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.7 miles or 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Highland Park, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving McKinney, TX.
Day 1
Settle into the route from McKinney, TX
This is one driving day of about 29.4 miles and 36m.
At 29.4 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.7 mi from McKinney, TX · 18m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.7 miles from McKinney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Highland Park, TX
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Highland Park, TX if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.44 one way
$8.88 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $4.86 | $9.73 |
| premium | $4.54 | $5.25 | $10.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.49 | $12.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.09 | $1.41 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.57 | $1.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.12 | $1.88 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Highland Park, TX
Night in Highland Park on Wednesday
Local time
11:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
13 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
36m 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 Highland Park, TX covers 29.4 miles and takes about 36m 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 14.7 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 $4.44 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 Highland Park, TX is easy. At 36m 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 Highland Park, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from McKinney, TX to Highland Park, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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