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Trip from McKinney, TX to Alvin, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 27m

Distance

296.8 mi

478 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

19 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 14m ★
6 AM
5h 27m
8 AM
5h 54m
10 AM
5h 37m
12 PM
5h 34m
3 PM
5h 38m
5 PM
5h 53m
8 PM
5h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Collin County, Texas, United States

McKinney, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Alvin, TX, TX

Alvin, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

The drive from McKinney, TX to Alvin, TX covers 296.8 miles and takes about 5h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Julius Schepps Freeway, Central Expressway, TX 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 237.6 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.85 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

148.4 miles from McKinney, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway 237.6 mi 4h 9m
Central Expressway 29.2 mi 31m
TX 35 17.7 mi 27m
Gulf Freeway 7.8 mi 9m
North Gordon Street 2.2 mi 4m
East Virginia Street 1.4 mi 3m
South Central Expressway 0.6 mi <1m
North Tennessee Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Julius Schepps Freeway — 237.6 mi, about 4h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between McKinney, TX and Alvin, TX.

1

Start on North Tennessee Street

119 ft · 12 sec · North Tennessee Street
2

Turn left onto East Virginia Street

1.4 mi · 3 min · East Virginia Street
3

Turn left onto South Central Expressway

0.6 mi · 52 sec · South Central Expressway
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto US 75; TX 121

29 mi · 31 min · Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 45

3.4 mi · 3 min · Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 45

234 mi · 4 hr 5 min · Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 45

7.8 mi · 9 min · Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / left lanes.
9

Take the exit onto TX 35

0.3 mi · 32 sec · TX 35
Exit 40C Toward TX 35 South, I 610 West: Pearland, Alvin Use the slight right lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 35

17 mi · 27 min · TX 35
Toward TX 35 South: Alvin Use the slight left lane.
11

Turn slight right onto TX 35 Bus

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Gordon Street
12

Turn right onto West Sealy Street

8 ft · 0 sec · West Sealy Street
13

Arrive at destination

West Sealy Street

Trip Plan

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 148.4 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237.6 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 11m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 148.4 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 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alvin, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving McKinney, 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 McKinney, TX

This is one driving day of about 296.8 miles and 5h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from McKinney, 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 Julius Schepps Freeway for about 237.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Corsicana, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Corsicana, TX

148 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

Waxahachie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palestine, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 148.4 miles from McKinney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 237.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 275.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13462417524

Visit website

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 275.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Children's Museum Houston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 275.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+17135221138

Visit website

Navarro County Northbound Rest Area

0 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Navarro County Southbound Rest Area

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

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Walker County Southbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Walker County Northbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

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

QuikTrip

0.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

1.2 mi from route

Minuteman Press

1.3 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

1.4 mi from route

Service Plaza

1.4 mi from route

TA

1.6 mi from route

SoPac Trail Rest Area

1.9 mi from route

Service Plaza

2.4 mi from route

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 275.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+17139266368

Visit website

Carl Barton Jr Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 233.2

Conroe, Texas

Hours: 6 am–8:30 pm

+19365223000

Visit website

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

McKinney, Texas

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+19725625566

Visit website

Candy Cane Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 233.2

Conroe, Texas

Hours: 9 am–11 pm

+19365223804

Visit website

Union Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 275.6

Houston, Texas

+17132598070

Visit website

Midtown Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 275.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+17135267577

Visit website

Houston Zoo

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 275.6

Houston, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17135336500

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 277.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward US 75 South, TX 121 South

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
5
2.4 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway

Merge onto US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
34.9 mi into trip | ~40m in | I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
276.9 mi into trip | ~4h 55m in | TX 35

Take the exit onto TX 35 toward TX 35 South, I 610 West: Pearland, Alvin

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 40C Toward TX 35 South, I 610 West: Pearland, Alvin
7
277.1 mi into trip | ~4h 55m in | TX 35

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 35 toward TX 35 South: Alvin

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward TX 35 South: Alvin

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.85 one way

$89.69 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $49.09 $98.18
premium $4.54 $52.99 $105.98
diesel $5.61 $65.53 $131.06

Estimated Tolls: $2.38

Central Expressway (29.7 mi) $2.38

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

$45

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 103.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

19 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Plano, TX

Tesla

16 DCFC

Allen Watters Village - Tesla Supercharger

Allen, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

Walmart EV Charging

Plano, TX

WALMART

12 DCFC

Plano, TX Rechargery Relay - N Central Expy

Plano, TX

IONNA

10 DCFC

Walmart EV Charging

McKinney, TX

WALMART

8 DCFC

380 Crossing - Tesla Supercharger

McKinney, TX

Tesla

8 DCFC

Stacy Plaza - Tesla Supercharger

McKinney, TX

Tesla

8 DCFC

CityLine Market - Tesla Supercharger

Richardson, TX

Tesla

8 DCFC

Tesla: 5 ChargePoint Network: 4 eVgo Network: 3 WALMART: 2 Non-Networked: 1 IONNA: 1 HYPERFUEL: 1 Blink Network: 1 GRAVITI_ENERGY: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 89 1 $31.16 $14.25
Efficient EV 74.2 0 $25.97 $11.87
EV Truck/SUV 118.7 1 $41.55 $19.00

Gas CO2

104 kg

EV CO2

35 kg (66% 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

McKinney, TX

Afternoon in McKinney on Sunday

Local time

2:01 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Alvin, TX

Afternoon in Alvin on Sunday

Local time

2:01 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°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

18 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 27m 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?

296.8 mi in 5h 27m, mostly highway — 237.6 mi of that is on Julius Schepps Freeway.

99% 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: 237.6 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Central Expressway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 296.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in McKinney, TX

Full guide →

McKinney is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas.

Arriving in Alvin, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1893

Alvin is in the Gulf Coast of Texas. Home of the Pitcher Nolan Ryan. It's about 20 miles southeast of Houston, at the intersections of SH-35 and SH-6.

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 27m. Total distance: 296.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 237.6 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.38 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 Alvin, 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 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alvin, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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