Origin
McKinney, TX
Afternoon in McKinney on Sunday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McKinney, TX to Cedar Hill, TX
Drive Time
59m
Distance
49.7 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
McKinney, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Cedar Hill, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from McKinney to Cedar Hill, expect a straightforward 49.7-mile journey that typically takes about 59 minutes. This route is entirely contained within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a simple, direct trip that is easily manageable in a single day. You will spend roughly $8 on fuel, keeping the trip budget-friendly for a quick excursion. Since the entire drive is highway-focused, you can rely on consistent road conditions throughout your transit. It is a highly practical connection for those looking to traverse the area efficiently without the need for an overnight stay.
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
24.8 miles from McKinney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy experience, as 92% of this trip is spent on major highways. You will navigate a sequence of primary thoroughfares, including the Central Expressway, the South R. L. Thornton Freeway, and the Marvin D. Love Freeway. The longest uninterrupted portion of your drive occurs on the Central Expressway, which spans 29.2 miles of the total distance. Because this is a highway-focused drive, the journey maintains a fast, consistent pace. You won't find many technical or winding local roads here, as the route is designed for utilitarian, long-distance movement across the region.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Central Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central Expressway and Marvin D Love Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 49.7 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 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
31.5 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
8
33.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
9
33.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
33.7 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Waco
7
38.4 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
US 67 / Marvin D Love Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 67 / Marvin D Love Freeway toward US 67 South: Cleburne
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward US 67 South: Cleburne
Towns Along This Route
Between McKinney, TX and Cedar Hill, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco and Dallas Zoo.
Downtown
31.5 mi in
|
~36m
Denton
33.5 mi in
|
~40m
Waco
33.6 mi in
|
~40m
Dallas Zoo
34.6 mi in
|
~41m
|
via I 35E
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Expressway | 29.2 mi | 31m |
| Marvin D Love Freeway | 5.3 mi | 5m |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| North J Elmer Weaver Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| East S G Alexander Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| East Virginia Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| North Central Expressway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Central Expressway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Central Expressway
— 29.2 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKinney, TX and Cedar Hill, TX.
1
Start on North Tennessee Street
119 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
·
52 sec
·
South Central Expressway
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 75; TX 121
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Central Expressway
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
501 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Use the slight left lane.
7
Continue on North Central Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the left / straight / none lanes.
8
Turn right onto Elm Street
304 ft
·
10 sec
·
Elm Street
9
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Pearl Expressway
Use the straight / none lanes.
10
Turn right onto Young Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Young Street
11
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
315 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Harwood Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Canton Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Canton Street
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 30 West
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
Use the none lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco
Use the left / right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
18
Continue on I 35E
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the none lane.
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 423
Toward US 67 South: Cleburne, Kiest Boulevard
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 67
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marvin D Love Freeway
Toward US 67 South: Cleburne
Use the none lane.
21
Continue on US 67
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East S G Alexander Freeway
Use the none / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 67
0.6 mi
·
36 sec
·
West S G Alexander Freeway
Use the none lane.
23
Continue on US 67
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North J Elmer Weaver Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Toward Belt Line Road
Use the slight right lane.
25
Turn straight onto North Highway 67
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Highway 67
Use the none lane.
26
Turn right onto Cedar Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedar Street
27
Arrive at destination
Cedar Street
Trip Plan
Because this drive is a short, sub-one-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak congestion. Since there are no required stops along the 49.7-mile path, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for fuel or rest breaks. However, keep in mind that the heavy reliance on major freeways means traffic patterns can fluctuate significantly during rush hour. To ensure a smooth experience, check local traffic reports before you leave McKinney, especially if you plan to travel during typical commuting windows. Embracing this direct, efficient pace allows you to reach Cedar Hill with minimal logistical effort.
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 24.8 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.2 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 49.7 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.8 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar Hill, 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 49.7 miles and 59m.
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.
The longest stretch is on Central Expressway for about 29.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.8 mi from McKinney, TX · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 49.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from McKinney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cedar Hill, TX
The final approach into Cedar Hill, 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 Cedar Hill, 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
$7.59 one way
$15.18 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $8.32 | $16.64 |
| premium | $4.59 | $8.98 | $17.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.04 | $22.08 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.44
Central Expressway
(30.5 mi)
$2.44
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
$8
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Cedar Hill, TX
Afternoon in Cedar Hill on Sunday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
5 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
59m 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 Cedar Hill, TX covers 49.7 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Expressway, Marvin D Love Freeway, South R L Thornton Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.8 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 $7.59 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 49.7 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 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between McKinney, TX and Cedar Hill, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco and Dallas Zoo.
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