Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Aldine, TX to McKinney, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 33m
Distance
258.2 mi
415 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 20m
★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
5h 0m
10 AM
4h 43m
12 PM
4h 40m
3 PM
4h 44m
5 PM
4h 59m
8 PM
4h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aldine, TX
Wikimedia Commons
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 258.2-mile drive from Aldine, TX, to McKinney, TX, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking about 4 hours and 33 minutes. You'll be spending about 93% of your time on major highways, primarily I-45 and the Hardy Toll Road. With an estimated fuel cost of $39, this route is an economical option for a quick journey. It's a practical choice for a day trip, allowing you to get on the road and arrive at your destination without needing an overnight stop. The drive remains within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape.
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
129.1 miles from Aldine, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 213.7 mi | 3h 40m |
| North Central Expressway | 26.6 mi | 28m |
| Hardy Toll Road | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Spur 399 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Hardy Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Aldine Bender Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 45
— 213.7 mi, about 3h 40m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,927 veh/hr typical · worst 2,389
Quietest
2 AM
~288 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 45 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aldine, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on FM 525
395 ft
·
14 sec
·
Aldine Bender Road
2
Turn left onto East Hardy Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Hardy Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward HTR Toll North
4
Merge onto HTR
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Hardy Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 45
214 mi
·
3 hr 40 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 75
27 mi
·
28 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 38C
Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto Spur 399
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 399
10
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South McDonald Street
11
Turn slight left
281 ft
·
10 sec
12
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Tennessee Street
13
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 33-minute duration for the 258.2-mile trip, starting your journey in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and minimize potential rush hour traffic, especially as you approach the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a major change in road is 213.7 miles on I-45. Planning your stops for fuel and rest before or during this long segment will ensure a smoother trip. The estimated fuel cost is $39, which is helpful for budgeting.
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 129.1 miles from Aldine, TX, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 213.7 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 57 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.1 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
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 Aldine, 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 Aldine, TX
This is one driving day of about 258.2 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Aldine, 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 I 45 for about 213.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129.1 miles from Aldine, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 213.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.4 mi from route
Minuteman Press
1.5 mi from route
TA
1.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.6 mi from route
SoPac Trail Rest Area
1.9 mi from route
The Woodlands Waterway
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.2 mi from route
~3 min detour
The Woodlands, Texas
Visit websiteHeard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
McKinney, Texas
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+19725625566
Visit websiteDark Hour Haunted House
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
3.9 mi from route
~10 min detour
Plano, Texas
+14692980556
Visit website11th Hour Escape
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.8 mi from route
~9 min detour
Plano, Texas
Hours: 12–5:30 pm
+14692095978
Visit websiteHeritage Farmstead Museum
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.2 mi from route
~11 min detour
Plano, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19728810140
Visit websiteCity Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 254.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Hardy Road
Turn left onto East Hardy Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
HTR / Hardy Toll Road
Merge onto HTR / Hardy Toll Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
13.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 45
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
254 mi into trip
|
~4h 25m 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
254.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.37 one way
$70.73 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $39.50 | $79.01 |
| premium | $4.23 | $42.95 | $85.90 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $48.75 | $97.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.17
Central Expressway
(26.6 mi)
$2.13
Hardy Toll Road
(12.9 mi)
$1.04
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
$35
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.5 | 0 | $27.11 | $12.39 |
| Efficient EV | 64.6 | 0 | $22.59 | $10.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.3 | 1 | $36.15 | $16.52 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Aldine, TX
Late night in Aldine on Monday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph
31% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:57AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:56AM CDT until July 19 at 11:50PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
McKinney, TX
Late night in McKinney on Monday
Local time
4:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph
11% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:57AM CDT until July 17 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 9:56AM CDT until July 19 at 11:50PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
100°F
Italy, TX
129 mi in
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
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
4h 33m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for this 258.2-mile journey, with 93% of the drive on major roads like I-45 and the Hardy Toll Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a substantial 213.7 miles on I-45, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While the profile is highway-focused, the transition between the Hardy Toll Road and I-45, and then onto North Central Expressway into McKinney, offers subtle shifts in the driving environment. This route is designed for efficiency rather than scenic detours.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 213.7 mi on I 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and North Central Expressway. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Hardy 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 258.2 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: at 0.1 miles (East Hardy Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (HTR / Hardy Toll Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
644 ft
80 ft
Total Climb
889 ft
Total Descent
341 ft
Highest Point
644 ft
~239.7 mi in
Elevation Range
564 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Aldine, TX
Full guide →Arriving in McKinney, TX
Full guide →Founded 1848
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 4h 33m. Total distance: 258.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 213.7 miles on I 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.17 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Hardy Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (HTR / Hardy Toll Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at McKinney, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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