Origin
Cedar Hill, TX
Late night in Cedar Hill on Sunday
Local time
2:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Hill, 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
59m
Distance
49.7 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Hill, TX
Wikimedia Commons
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 49.6 miles across the Great Plains of Texas, this journey from Cedar Hill to McKinney is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 56 minutes. Since the entire trip is easily manageable in a single day, there is no need to plan for overnight stays. You should budget approximately $7 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Because this route relies on local navigation rather than major interstates, it functions best as a direct point-to-point excursion. Whether you are traveling for business or visiting family, this drive offers a practical way to navigate between these two Texas cities without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Central Expressway | 26.6 mi | 28m |
| Marvin D Love Freeway | 5.5 mi | 5m |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| West S G Alexander Freeway | 2.7 mi | 2m |
| North J Elmer Weaver Freeway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Spur 399 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North Central Expressway
— 26.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Hill, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on Cedar Street
75 ft
·
4 sec
·
Cedar Street
2
Turn right onto Houston Street
425 ft
·
14 sec
·
Houston Street
3
Turn right onto West Belt Line Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Belt Line Road
4
Turn left onto North Highway 67
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Highway 67
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward US 67 North
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto US 67
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North J Elmer Weaver Freeway
7
Continue on US 67
2.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West S G Alexander Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 67
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Marvin D Love Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 35E
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Cedar Hill, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 15.2 and 45.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
15.2 mi into trip
|
~17m 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...
6
15.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Wor...
8
16.9 mi into trip
|
~19m 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
17.4 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
45.5 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
$7.51 one way
$15.02 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.22 | $16.44 |
| premium | $4.54 | $8.87 | $17.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
2:53 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
12 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
59m 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 rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through a series of turns using Houston Street, West Belt Line Road, and Highway 67 to reach your destination. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches, you should remain focused on the road ahead as you transition through various local intersections. The lack of highway miles means you will be consistently engaged with the driving process throughout the entire 56-minute duration. It is a technical, localized experience that requires your full attention compared to a standard highway haul.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.6 mi on North Central Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Central Expressway and Marvin D Love Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 17 decision points packed into just 49.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Cedar Hill, TX and McKinney, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center, Bryan Street East and Srt South.
Fort Worth
15.6 mi in
|
~18m
Texarkana
15.6 mi in
|
~18m
Convention Center
15.7 mi in
|
~18m
Bryan Street East
17.9 mi in
|
~21m
Srt South
45.5 mi in
|
~51m
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 59m. Total distance: 49.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.6 miles on North Central Expressway. 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.
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 15.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
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