Origin
Bee Cave, TX
Late night in Bee Cave on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bee Cave, TX to McKinney, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 21m
Distance
237.4 mi
382 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 8m
★
6 AM
4h 22m
8 AM
4h 48m
10 AM
4h 31m
12 PM
4h 28m
3 PM
4h 32m
5 PM
4h 47m
8 PM
4h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bee Cave, TX
Wikimedia Commons
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 237.4-mile drive from Bee Cave, TX, to McKinney, TX, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 21 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including the Purple Heart Trail and I-35E, with about 41% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $36, making it a budget-friendly excursion. The drive offers a mixed experience, transitioning from the Great Plains region in Texas to another part of the Great Plains. Given its manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
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
118.7 miles from Bee Cave, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 113 mi | 1h 55m |
| I 35E | 56.2 mi | 58m |
| North Central Expressway | 26.6 mi | 28m |
| Ranch Road 620 South | 18.4 mi | 27m |
| State Highway 45 North | 7.1 mi | 7m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 113 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bee Cave, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on this road
204 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn slight right onto RM 620
18 mi
·
27 min
·
Ranch Road 620 South
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward TX 45 Toll East
4
Continue on TX 45 Toll
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 45 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 35 North: Waco
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 35
80 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
13
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
14
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
18
Merge onto US 75
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on US 75
27 mi
·
28 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 38C
Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto Spur 399
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 399
23
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South McDonald Street
24
Turn slight left
281 ft
·
10 sec
25
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Tennessee Street
26
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 21-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Bee Cave to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential traffic near the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 237.4 miles, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 113-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, where services might be less frequent. The $36 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it’s always wise to have a buffer. Enjoy the straightforward journey within the Great Plains region.
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 118.7 miles from Bee Cave, TX, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113 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 52 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.7 miles or 2h 13m 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 31m
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 Bee Cave, 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 Bee Cave, TX
This is one driving day of about 237.4 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Bee Cave, 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 113 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
119 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 118.7 miles from Bee Cave, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113 miles.
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 165 decision points cluster between mile 146.8 and 233.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
146.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m 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
203 mi into trip
|
~3h 39m 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
204.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m 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
205.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 43m 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
233.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 14m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.87 one way
$71.74 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
83 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $39.26 | $78.53 |
| premium | $4.54 | $42.39 | $84.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $52.41 | $104.83 |
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
$36
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.2 | 0 | $24.93 | $11.40 |
| Efficient EV | 59.4 | 0 | $20.77 | $9.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95 | 1 | $33.24 | $15.19 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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.
Destination
McKinney, TX
Late night in McKinney on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
S 15 mph
5% chance
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
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 21m 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.
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 114.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this 237.4-mile route. While 41% of the journey involves highway travel, including I-35E and North Central Expressway, you'll also spend significant time on the Purple Heart Trail. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 113 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a more continuous driving experience before merging onto faster roads. This progression means you'll experience a variety of road types, shifting from potentially more local or scenic sections to higher-speed travel as you approach your destination.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 146.8 miles in near I 35E.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 237.4 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 146.8 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,031 ft
402 ft
Total Climb
738 ft
Total Descent
1,028 ft
Highest Point
1,031 ft
~17 mi in
Elevation Range
629 ft
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.
Between Bee Cave, TX and McKinney, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center and Bryan Street East.
Fort Worth
203.4 mi in
|
~3h 40m
Texarkana
203.4 mi in
|
~3h 40m
Convention Center
203.4 mi in
|
~3h 40m
Bryan Street East
205.6 mi in
|
~3h 44m
About the Cities
Starting in Bee Cave, TX
Full guide →Founded 1987
In the past 25 years or so, Bee Cave in Texas has quickly developed from a small rural town into a suburb of the city of Austin. It lies some twelve miles west of Austin, in Central Hill Country. It was the early settlers who gave this place its name, after they found a large cave of wild bees nearby.
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 21m. Total distance: 237.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.13 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 146.8 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 203 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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