Origin
Richland Hills, TX
Morning in Richland Hills on Saturday
Local time
6:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richland Hills, TX to McKinney, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
49.9 mi
80 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Richland Hills to McKinney is 49.9 miles and takes about 59 minutes via Sam Rayburn Tollway and TX 121, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip connecting two points within Texas's Great Plains region. You'll primarily be on tollways and state highways, making for a fairly predictable journey. Consider this a quick hop for local errands or a short leg of a larger Texas adventure, designed for efficiency rather than extensive sightseeing.
About the Cities
Arriving in McKinney, TX
Full guide →McKinney is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 49.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 39% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Sam Rayburn Tollway, including one significant 23.8-mile segment without major interruptions. Expect a blend of faster-paced tollway driving and transitions onto state routes like TX 121 and Airport Freeway. The road character is generally functional, prioritizing direct travel between these North Texas communities. It’s not an overly technical drive, but you'll want to be mindful of changing speed limits and potential traffic as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sam Rayburn Tollway is the longest continuous segment at about 23.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Vance Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 49.9 miles you will encounter 7 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: near the start (Vance Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles (TX 121; TX 183 / Airport Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Vance Road
Turn right onto Vance Road
Navigation decision point
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward TX 183 East, TX 121 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward TX 183 East, TX 121 North
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
TX 121; TX 183 / Airport Freeway
Merge onto TX 121; TX 183 / Airport Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward TX 121 North: DFW Airport North Entry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward TX 121 North: DFW Airport North Entry
8
15.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
TX 121
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 121 toward TX 121 North, I 635 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward TX 121 North, I 635 East
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Rayburn Tollway | 23.8 mi | 25m |
| TX 121 | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Airport Freeway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Boulevard 26 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Spur 399 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Vance Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sam Rayburn Tollway
— 23.8 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richland Hills, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on Dover Lane
117 ft
·
6 sec
·
Dover Lane
2
Turn right onto Vance Road
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vance Road
3
Turn right onto TX 26
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Boulevard 26
4
Turn right onto Northeast Loop 820
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Northeast Loop 820
5
Take the ramp
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward TX 183 East, TX 121 North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Merge onto TX 121; TX 183
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
Toward TX 121 North: DFW Airport North Entry
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on TX 121
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
TX 121
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 121
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
TX 121
Toward TX 121 North, I 635 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on SRT
3.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on TX 121
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
TX 121
12
Continue on SRT
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Spur 399
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 399
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South McDonald Street
15
Turn slight left
281 ft
·
10 sec
16
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Tennessee Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.9 mi from Richland Hills, 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.9 miles from Richland Hills, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in McKinney, TX
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into McKinney, 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
$7.54 one way
$15.08 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.25 | $16.51 |
| premium | $4.54 | $8.91 | $17.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.02 | $22.03 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.91
Sam Rayburn Tollway
(23.8 mi)
$1.91
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.24 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $6.99 | $3.19 |
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
McKinney, TX
Morning in McKinney on Saturday
Local time
6:08 AM
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
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 Richland Hills, TX to McKinney, TX covers 49.9 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sam Rayburn Tollway, TX 121, Airport Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.9 miles from Richland Hills, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.54 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 49.9 miles you will encounter 7 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: near the start (Vance Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles (TX 121; TX 183 / Airport Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Richland Hills, TX to McKinney, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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