Origin
University Park, TX
Afternoon in University Park on Friday
Local time
1:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from University Park, TX to McKinney, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
28.3 mi
45 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
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.
University Park, TX
Wikimedia Commons
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 28.3-mile drive from University Park, TX to McKinney, TX should take about 36 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $4, this highway-focused route is efficient and budget-friendly. You'll spend most of your time on the North Central Expressway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 22.2 miles. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this trip is ideal for a quick journey without needing an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 28.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 79% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a swift pace for much of the 36-minute journey, particularly during the 22.2-mile stretch on the North Central Expressway. The main roads you'll navigate include the North Central Expressway, Lovers Lane, and South Tennessee Street. While largely a direct path, be prepared for a mix of high-speed sections and potential transitions onto local streets as you near your destination in McKinney. The character remains consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over scenic detours.
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.
North Central Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Central Expressway and Lovers Lane. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near North Central Expressway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 7 decision points packed into just 28.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (North Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (US 75 / North Central Expressway): 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.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
North Central Expressway
Turn left onto North Central Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 75 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 75 North
5
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 75 / North Central Expressway
Merge onto US 75 / North Central Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
24.1 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
24.5 mi into trip
|
~29m 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 University Park, TX to McKinney, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Srt South along the way.
Srt South
24.1 mi in
|
~29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Central Expressway | 22.2 mi | 23m |
| Lovers Lane | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Spur 399 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Tennessee Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Central Expressway
— 22.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between University Park, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on Lovers Lane
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Lovers Lane
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto North Central Expressway
255 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Central Expressway
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward US 75 North
Use the slight left lane.
4
Merge onto US 75
22 mi
·
23 min
·
North 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
$4.28 one way
$8.55 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $4.68 | $9.36 |
| premium | $4.54 | $5.05 | $10.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.77
Central Expressway
(22.2 mi)
$1.77
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$2
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 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 | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
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
McKinney, TX
Afternoon in McKinney on Friday
Local time
1:16 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
1 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
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 University Park, TX to McKinney, TX covers 28.3 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Central Expressway, Lovers Lane, South Tennessee 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 14.1 miles from University Park, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.28 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 short but busy drive. With 7 decision points packed into just 28.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (North Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (US 75 / North Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from University Park, TX to McKinney, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Srt South along the way.
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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