Levelland, TX to McKinney, TX is 370.8 miles and takes about 7h 3m via 5th Street and US 82, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the familiar landscape of Texas's Great Plains, offering a straightforward journey across the state. Expect a mixed driving experience, with a significant portion on highways but also some time on local roads. Given the 7-hour duration, this trip is very manageable as a single-day drive. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground without extensive detours.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
185.4 miles from Levelland, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
5th Street
93.5 mi
1h 38m
Central East Freeway
71.9 mi
1h 15m
US 82
49 mi
55m
US Highway 82
33.2 mi
34m
West University Drive
26.5 mi
39m
Idalou Road
24.7 mi
26m
West US Highway 380
21.8 mi
25m
West State Highway 114
17.2 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
5th Street
— 93.5 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Levelland, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on TX 114 Bus
13 ft·8 sec·Houston Street
2
Turn left onto Avenue H
0.5 mi·1 min·Avenue H
3
At end of road, turn right onto TX 114
17 mi·18 min·West State Highway 114
4
Continue on TX 114
3.0 mi·3 min·Highway 114
5
Continue on TX 114
7.2 mi·10 min·19th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 82 East
7
Merge onto US 82
4.0 mi·4 min·Marsha Sharp Freeway
8
Continue on US 82
2.4 mi·3 min·Parkway Drive
9
Continue on US 62; US 82; TX 114
25 mi·26 min·Idalou Road
10
Continue on US 82; TX 114
1.0 mi·1 min·4th Street
11
Continue on US 82; TX 114
7.3 mi·7 min·US Highway 82
12
Continue on US 82; TX 114
1.0 mi·1 min·West Main Street
13
Continue on US 82; TX 114
24 mi·25 min·US Highway 82
14
Continue on US 82; TX 114
94 mi·1 hr 38 min·5th Street
15
Continue on US 82; TX 114
1.6 mi·1 min·West California Street
16
Turn left onto US 82; US 183 Business; US 277 Business; US 283 Business
0.6 mi·40 sec·North Main Street
17
Continue on US 82; US 183 Business; US 277 Business; US 283 Business
1.5 mi·1 min·US Highway 82
18
Take the exit onto US 82
48 mi·53 min·US 82
Toward US 82 East, US 183 North, US 277 North, US 283 North: Wichita Falls
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82
0.9 mi·1 min·US 82
Toward US 82 East, US 281 South, US 287 South: Fort Worth
20
Merge onto US 82; US 281; US 287
0.3 mi·19 sec·Central East Freeway
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
1.8 mi·1 min·Central East Freeway
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
70 mi·1 hr 13 min·Central East Freeway
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
24
Keep slight left at fork
147 ft·4 sec
25
Turn left onto US 380
22 mi·25 min·West US Highway 380
26
Continue on US 380
11 mi·18 min·West University Drive
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 377; US 380
8.2 mi·12 min·US Highway 380 East
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 380
7.6 mi·10 min·West University Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on US 380
7.6 mi·11 min·West University Drive
Use the left / straight lanes.
30
Take the exit
227 ft·6 sec
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
31
Turn slight right onto North Central Expressway
267 ft·4 sec·North Central Expressway
32
Continue on North Central Expressway
1.2 mi·1 min·North Central Expressway
33
Turn left onto West Louisiana Street
1.4 mi·3 min·West Louisiana Street
34
Turn left onto North Tennessee Street
119 ft·3 sec·North Tennessee Street
35
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour drive, departing in the morning is your best bet to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight. With two recommended stops and a longest stretch of 93.5 miles, you can easily break up the journey into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer stretches, and plan your refueling accordingly. The estimated fuel cost of $56 provides a good baseline for budgeting. Since this is a comfortable single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your stop times based on your needs.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185.4 miles from Levelland, TX, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.5 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 82 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.4 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 39m
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 Levelland, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Levelland, TX
This is one driving day of about 370.8 miles and 7h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Levelland, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on 5th Street for about 93.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 368 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|TX 114 / West State Highway 114
At end of road, turn right onto TX 114 / West State Highway 114
Navigation decision point
6
190.4 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|US 82
Take the exit onto US 82 toward US 82 East, US 183 North, US 277 North, US 283 North: Wichita Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 82 East, US 183 North, US 277 North,...
6
238.5 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|US 82
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82 toward US 82 East, US 281 South, US 287 South: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 82 East, US 281 South, US 287 South:...
5
311.4 mi into trip|~5h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
368 mi into trip|~6h 57m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.03 one way
$112.06 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$61.33
$122.66
premium
$4.54
$66.20
$132.41
diesel
$5.61
$81.87
$163.74
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.2
1
$38.93
$17.80
Efficient EV
92.7
1
$32.45
$14.83
EV Truck/SUV
148.3
1
$51.91
$23.73
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Levelland, TX
Late night
in Levelland on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
McKinney, TX
Late night
in McKinney on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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
25 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
7h 3m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed driving profile, with 57% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches that feel like a quick commute, interspersed with more local road sections. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll navigate is 93.5 miles, primarily on 5th Street, before transitioning to the faster pace of US 82. As you progress, the character of the drive shifts, offering a varied experience that keeps things interesting. This isn't a monotonous interstate crawl, nor is it a purely scenic backroad adventure, but rather a practical blend of both.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.5 mi on 5th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 0.5 miles in near TX 114 / West State Highway 114.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 370.8 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 0.5 miles (TX 114 / West State Highway 114): Navigation decision point; at 190.4 miles (US 82): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 238.5 miles (US 82): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 3m. Total distance: 370.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.5 miles on 5th Street. 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.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (TX 114 / West State Highway 114): Navigation decision point; at 190.4 miles (US 82): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 238.5 miles (US 82): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.1 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.
