Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from League City, TX to McKinney, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 17m
Distance
294.7 mi
474 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 4m
★
6 AM
5h 18m
8 AM
5h 45m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 24m
3 PM
5h 29m
5 PM
5h 43m
8 PM
5h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
League City, TX
Alfo Medeiros
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
League City to McKinney is 294.7 miles and takes about 5h 17m via North Freeway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region for both your departure and arrival. It's a predominantly highway route, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. Given the relatively short duration, you'll likely find it easy to manage without needing an overnight stay.
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
147.4 miles from League City, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Freeway | 237.4 mi | 4h 9m |
| North Central Expressway | 26.6 mi | 28m |
| Gulf Freeway | 24.4 mi | 28m |
| East Main Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Spur 399 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 237.4 mi, about 4h 9m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,256 veh/hr typical · worst 3,806
Quietest
2 AM
~407 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 48 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 League City, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on FM 518
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
2
Turn right onto South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
3
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 45 North: Gulf Freeway
4
Merge onto I 45
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 45
237 mi
·
4 hr 9 min
·
North Freeway
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
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, aim to leave League City in the morning to avoid the worst of any potential traffic. With only one recommended stop and a 237.4-mile stretch on North Freeway, you can plan your breaks strategically. Consider stopping around the halfway point or after the longest highway segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $45, so ensure your tank is full before you depart and be mindful of fuel prices, especially in more populated areas. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
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 147.4 miles from League City, TX, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237.4 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 65 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.4 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 18m
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 League City, 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 League City, TX
This is one driving day of about 294.7 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from League City, 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 North Freeway for about 237.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
147 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 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 147.4 miles from League City, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 237.4 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
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
Flying J Travel Center
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
Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.2 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
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
TA
1.6 mi from route
SoPac Trail Rest Area
1.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
League Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
League City, Texas
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+12815541180
Visit websiteThe Orange Show Center for Visionary Art
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, right off the route
First break
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+17139266368
Visit websiteCandy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.1 mi from route
~5 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
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 websiteCidercade Houston
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 10 am–12 pm
+13462417524
Visit websiteCarl Barton Jr Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 6 am–8:30 pm
+19365223000
Visit websiteBreak Free Escape Room
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
Webster, Texas
Hours: 12–9 pm
+12812013556
Visit websiteSpace Center Houston
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12812442100
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 290.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
Turn right onto South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
Navigation decision point
3
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 45 North: Gulf Freeway
Navigation decision point
Toward I 45 North: Gulf Freeway
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 45 / Gulf Freeway
Merge onto I 45 / Gulf Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
290.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 10m 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
290.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.36 one way
$80.73 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
103 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $45.09 | $90.17 |
| premium | $4.23 | $49.02 | $98.04 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $55.64 | $111.29 |
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
$40
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.4 | 1 | $30.94 | $14.15 |
| Efficient EV | 73.7 | 0 | $25.79 | $11.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.9 | 1 | $41.26 | $18.86 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
League City, TX
Night in League City on Monday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:05AM CDT until July 17 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:58AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
McKinney, TX
Night in McKinney on Monday
Local time
9:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:05AM CDT until July 17 at 5:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:58AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
100°F
Italy, TX
147 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
5 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
5h 17m 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?
This drive is 98% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 237.4 miles on North Freeway. You'll notice a high density of exits and merging traffic, particularly as you pass through urban and suburban areas on roads like North Freeway and North Central Expressway. Surface streets will only be a minor part of your travel.
98% 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: 237.4 mi on North Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and North Central Expressway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 17m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 45 / Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
628 ft
19 ft
Total Climb
735 ft
Total Descent
126 ft
Highest Point
628 ft
~294.7 mi in
Elevation Range
609 ft
About the Cities
Starting in League City, TX
Full guide →Founded 1961
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 5h 17m. Total distance: 294.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 237.4 miles on North Freeway. 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.
Yes — we found about 30 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.
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. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 45 / Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at McKinney, TX before the return drive.
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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