Origin
Balch Springs, TX
Late night in Balch Springs on Sunday
Local time
5:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Balch Springs, TX to McKinney, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
39.4 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Balch Springs, TX
Jeff Stapleton
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Balch Springs to McKinney, expect a journey covering 39.7 miles that typically takes about 46 minutes. This route stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a straightforward excursion that is easily manageable as a one-day trip. You will navigate via Hickory Tree Road, Lake June Road, and I-635 North to reach your destination. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $6, this commute is quite economical. Because the entire drive is short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays, allowing you to complete the transit quickly and efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Central Expressway | 16.8 mi | 18m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 15.5 mi | 16m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Spur 399 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Lake June Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Hickory Tree Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Central Expressway
— 16.8 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Balch Springs, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on Terry Drive
47 ft
·
6 sec
·
Terry Drive
2
Turn left onto Hickory Tree Road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Hickory Tree Road
3
Turn right onto Lake June Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake June Road
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 635 North
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 635
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 635
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19A
Toward US 75 South, US 75 North: Dallas, McKinney
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 75
17 mi
·
18 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 38C
Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto Spur 399
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 399
13
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South McDonald Street
14
Turn slight left
281 ft
·
10 sec
15
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Tennessee Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from Balch Springs, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 35.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 635 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 635 North
8
16.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward US 75 South, US 75 North: Dallas, McKinney
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 19A
Toward US 75 South, US 75 North: Dallas, McKinn...
7
17.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
8
35.3 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
35.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.95 one way
$11.91 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $6.52 | $13.03 |
| premium | $4.54 | $7.03 | $14.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.35
Central Expressway
(16.8 mi)
$1.35
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Late night in McKinney on Sunday
Local time
5:05 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
16 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
47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will not spend any time on high-speed highways, as the route is comprised entirely of local roads. Navigating through these urban and suburban stretches means the road personality is defined by frequent turns and changing traffic patterns. Without any long, uninterrupted stretches, you should prepare for a drive that requires constant engagement with the road. The lack of highway miles keeps your speed lower and your focus directed on local navigation.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.8 mi on North Central Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Central Expressway and Lyndon B Johnson Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 39.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Balch Springs, TX to McKinney, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Srt South along the way.
Srt South
35.3 mi in
|
~40m
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 47m. Total distance: 39.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.8 miles on North Central Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.35 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at McKinney, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at McKinney, TX before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From McKinney, TX
More from Balch Springs, TX
More trips to McKinney, TX
Explore more options from Balch Springs, TX or browse trips ending in McKinney, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.