Embarking from Terrell Hills, TX, to McKinney, TX, this 299.8-mile journey is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 5 hours and 25 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Purple Heart Trail and I-35E, with a 33% highway share. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is $45, and it's designed as a single-day adventure, so no overnight stays are strictly necessary. This route traverses the Great Plains region in both Texas, offering a consistent landscape for your drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
149.9 miles from Terrell Hills, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 25m. Total distance: 299.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive presents a mixed profile, with a significant portion on the Purple Heart Trail, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 188.3 miles. While 33% of the route is on highways, you'll also experience less direct, potentially slower-paced sections. This blend means the drive isn't a constant interstate grind but offers a varied experience behind the wheel, transitioning between faster travel and more local road conditions as you progress toward McKinney.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 188.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 209.2 miles in near I 35E.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 299.8 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 209.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 265.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
209.2 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
8
265.4 mi into trip|~4h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Bouleva...
8
267.1 mi into trip|~4h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
7
267.5 mi into trip|~4h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
8
295.7 mi into trip|~5h 18m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Terrell Hills, TX and McKinney, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center and Bryan Street East.
Step-by-step road directions between Terrell Hills, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on Garraty Road
129 ft·5 sec·Garraty Road
2
Turn right onto Eldon Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Eldon Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Rittiman Road
318 ft·15 sec·Rittiman Road
4
Turn sharp right onto Loop 368
3.5 mi·5 min·Austin Highway
5
Take the ramp
523 ft·12 sec
Toward I 410 West, I 35, I 410 South: Austin
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 35, I 410 South: Austin
7
Merge onto I 410
0.5 mi·32 sec·Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 35 North: Austin
9
Merge onto I 35
6.8 mi·7 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi·2 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
48 mi·52 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi·1 hr 40 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi·58 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 427AToward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin StreetUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
20
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft·6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
21
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi·1 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 46Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinneyUse the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinneyUse the slight left lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
25
Merge onto US 75
0.7 mi·49 sec·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on US 75
27 mi·28 min·North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·21 sec
Exit 38CToward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn TollwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the slight right lane.
29
Merge onto Spur 399
0.9 mi·1 min·Spur 399
30
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi·1 min·South McDonald Street
31
Turn slight left
281 ft·10 sec
32
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi·2 min·South Tennessee Street
33
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 25-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Terrell Hills to maximize your time and avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $45, planning your fuel and rest stops is straightforward. Keep an eye on the Purple Heart Trail section, as its 188.3-mile length means you'll want to ensure you're fueled up before entering it. This single-day route offers flexibility, allowing you to adjust your pace as needed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 149.9 miles from Terrell Hills, TX, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 66 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.9 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McKinney, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Terrell Hills, 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 Terrell Hills, TX
This is one driving day of about 299.8 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Terrell Hills, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 188.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 149.9 mi from Terrell Hills, TX
· 2h 44m into the drive
The midpoint is around 149.9 miles from Terrell Hills, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 188.3 miles.
Arriving in McKinney, TX
The final approach into McKinney, 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 McKinney, TX.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 175.8
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.30 one way
$90.60 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$49.59
$99.17
premium
$4.54
$53.53
$107.05
diesel
$5.61
$66.19
$132.38
Estimated Tolls: $2.13
Central Expressway
(26.6 mi)$2.13
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
$45
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.9
1
$31.48
$14.39
Efficient EV
75
0
$26.23
$11.99
EV Truck/SUV
119.9
1
$41.97
$19.19
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Terrell Hills, TX
Night
in Terrell Hills on Thursday
Local time
10:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
McKinney, TX
Night
in McKinney on Thursday
Local time
10:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 25m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Terrell Hills, TX to McKinney, TX covers 299.8 miles and takes about 5h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, I 35E, North Central Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 149.9 miles from Terrell Hills, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.30 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 299.8 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 209.2 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 265.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 267.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Terrell Hills, TX and McKinney, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center and Bryan Street East.
