Origin
Denton, TX
Late night in Denton on Sunday
Local time
2:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denton, 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
50m
Distance
32.9 mi
53 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denton, TX
Wikimedia Commons
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion between Denton and McKinney, you are looking at a straightforward 32.9-mile journey across the Great Plains. This drive typically takes about 50 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via West University Drive, US Highway 380 East, and East University Drive to connect these two North Texas hubs. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is a very economical route for commuters or casual travelers. Since both cities sit within the same region, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the transit. It is a practical, no-fuss connection that is best suited for those who prefer efficiency over a complex itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West University Drive | 15.1 mi | 21m |
| US Highway 380 East | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| East University Drive | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| West Louisiana Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| North Central Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North Locust Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Hickory Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Tennessee Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West University Drive
— 15.1 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denton, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on West Hickory Street
183 ft
·
15 sec
·
West Hickory Street
2
Turn left onto North Locust Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Locust Street
3
Turn right onto US 380
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
East University Drive
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 377; US 380
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 380 East
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 380
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
West University Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 380
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
West University Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the exit
227 ft
·
6 sec
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
8
Turn slight right onto North Central Expressway
267 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Central Expressway
9
Continue on North Central Expressway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Expressway
10
Turn left onto West Louisiana Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
West Louisiana Street
11
Turn left onto North Tennessee Street
119 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Tennessee Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Denton, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Locust Street
Turn left onto North Locust Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 380 / East University Drive
Turn right onto US 380 / East University Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
30.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
4
32.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
North Tennessee Street
Turn left onto North Tennessee Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.97 one way
$9.94 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $5.44 | $10.88 |
| premium | $4.54 | $5.87 | $11.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.26 | $14.53 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.09
Central Expressway
(1.2 mi)
$0.09
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$0
Total
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
2:49 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
14 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
50m 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 on this 32.9-mile trek. While 29% of the route consists of highway travel, the experience is defined by local roads that require your full attention behind the wheel. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 15.1 miles while navigating West University Drive. The road’s personality shifts from local street driving to the more direct flow of US Highway 380 East, requiring you to stay alert for transition points. Because the route is not a monotonous highway grind, you should prepare for a varied pace that changes as you move between the two cities.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.1 mi on West University Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Locust Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 50m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Locust Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 380 / East University Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Denton, TX
Full guide →Founded 1866
Denton is a city in Texas. It is a college town which forms the northern tip of what is known as the Golden Triangle, the other two points being Dallas and Fort Worth, approximately equidistant to the southeast and southwest.
Top landmarks
- • Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square — historic place in Denton, Denton County, Texas
- • Pioneer Woman — monument in Denton, Denton County, Texas
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 50m. Total distance: 32.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (29%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.1 miles on West University Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.09 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. 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: near the start (North Locust Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 380 / East University Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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