Origin
Plano, TX
Afternoon in Plano on Thursday
Local time
12:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Plano, TX to McKinney, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
19m
Distance
14.4 mi
23 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Plano, TX
Wikimedia Commons
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 14.4-mile drive from Plano to McKinney, Texas, is easily manageable in about 19 minutes, making it perfect for a single-day trip. With a minimal fuel cost of around $2, you won't need to worry about breaking the bank. The route primarily sticks to major roads like Central Expressway, South Tennessee Street, and South McDonald Street, giving it a highway-focused feel. Since you're staying within the Great Plains region of Texas, expect a consistent landscape. This drive is straightforward and requires no overnight stays, offering plenty of flexibility for your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 14.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
You'll spend about 66% of this drive on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 9.4 miles on Central Expressway. This means you'll encounter a good amount of faster-paced driving. The route is characterized by its highway-focused profile, so anticipate smooth sailing for the majority of your journey. While not a winding country road, the transition between major thoroughfares like Central Expressway and local streets such as South Tennessee Street and South McDonald Street offers a slight shift in pace as you approach your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 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 9.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Central Expressway and South Tennessee Street. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Central Expressway.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.4 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 75 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Central Expressway
Turn right onto Central Expressway
Navigation decision point
3
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 75 North
Navigation decision point
Toward US 75 North
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 75 / Central Expressway
Merge onto US 75 / Central Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
10.3 mi into trip
|
~12m 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
6
10.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Plano, TX to McKinney, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Srt South along the way.
Srt South
10.3 mi in
|
~12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Expressway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Spur 399 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East 15th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Tennessee Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Central Expressway
— 9.4 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plano, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on East 15th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 15th Street
2
Turn right onto Central Expressway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Expressway
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 75 North
4
Merge onto US 75
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 38C
Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto Spur 399
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 399
8
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South McDonald Street
9
Turn slight left
281 ft
·
10 sec
10
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Tennessee Street
11
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.18 one way
$4.35 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $2.38 | $4.76 |
| premium | $4.54 | $2.57 | $5.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.18 | $6.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.76
Central Expressway
(9.4 mi)
$0.76
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Tolls
$1
Total
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| Efficient EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.26 | $0.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.02 | $0.92 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
McKinney, TX
Afternoon in McKinney on Thursday
Local time
12:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
2 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
19m 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 Plano, TX to McKinney, TX covers 14.4 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Expressway, South Tennessee Street, South McDonald Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.2 miles from Plano, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.18 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.4 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Central Expressway): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 75 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Plano, TX to McKinney, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Srt South along the way.
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