McKinney to Dalhart is 440.8 miles and takes about 8h 7m via US Highway 287, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, transitioning from one area to another across Texas. It's largely a highway cruise, making it a straightforward drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently. Consider this route if you prefer a direct path with minimal complexities.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
220.4 miles from McKinney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 287
75.4 mi
1h 17m
North US Highway 287
72.5 mi
1h 15m
US Highway 287 East
40.5 mi
42m
US 87
40.3 mi
42m
East 11th Street
28.7 mi
32m
Boykin Drive
26.2 mi
28m
US Highway 287 West
25.7 mi
26m
US Highway 380 West
21.5 mi
24m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 287
— 75.4 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKinney, TX and Dalhart, TX.
1
Start on North Tennessee Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·North Tennessee Street
2
Turn right onto Hunt Street
0.2 mi·47 sec·Hunt Street
3
Turn left onto TX 5
0.8 mi·1 min·North McDonald Street
4
Turn left onto US 380
7.1 mi·10 min·West University Drive
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 380
9.0 mi·12 min·East University Drive
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 380
8.9 mi·13 min·US Highway 380 East
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 377; US 380
11 mi·18 min·East University Drive
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 380
22 mi·24 min·US Highway 380 West
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
10
Merge onto US 81; US 287
72 mi·1 hr 15 min·North US Highway 287
11
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.8 mi·58 sec·Lloyd Ruby Overpass
12
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
2.4 mi·3 min·Central Freeway
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287
5.3 mi·5 min·Northwest Freeway
Exit 3AToward US 287 North: Vernon, AmarilloUse the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on US 287
40 mi·42 min·US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287
4.1 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 287
26 mi·26 min·US Highway 287 West
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 287
29 mi·32 min·East 11th Street
18
Continue on US 287
2.8 mi·3 min·Avenue F Northeast
19
Continue on US 287
14 mi·14 min·US Highway 287
20
Continue on US 287
0.7 mi·1 min·Burnett Street
21
Continue on US 287
14 mi·13 min·US Highway 287
22
Turn straight onto US 287
26 mi·28 min·Boykin Drive
23
Continue on US 287
1.6 mi·1 min·East 2nd Street
24
Continue on US 287
28 mi·28 min·US Highway 287
25
Continue on US 287; FM 1151
1.1 mi·2 min·East 1st Street
26
Continue on US 287
20 mi·20 min·US Highway 287
27
Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive
329 ft·8 sec·East Interstate Drive
Toward East 3rd Avenue
28
Keep slight right at fork onto Southeast 3rd Avenue
2.6 mi·3 min·Southeast 3rd Avenue
29
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
30
Merge onto Loop 335
4.1 mi·4 min·North Lakeside Drive
31
Continue on Loop 335
0.6 mi·36 sec·East Loop 335 North
32
Continue on Loop 335
4.7 mi·5 min·East Saint Francis Avenue
33
Turn right onto Dumas Drive
0.1 mi·15 sec·Dumas Drive
34
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
35
Merge onto US 87; US 287
31 mi·30 min·US 87; US 287
36
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward SH 354 West, FM 1319 East
37
Turn left onto TX 354
21 mi·21 min·TX 354
38
Turn right onto US 385
15 mi·15 min·Rock Island Avenue
39
Take the ramp onto US 385
4.7 mi·5 min·US 385
40
Continue on US 87; US 385
9.5 mi·11 min·US 87; US 385
41
Arrive at destination
US 87; US 385
Trip Plan
For this 8-hour drive, leaving McKinney early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and break up the 440.8 miles comfortably. With an estimated fuel cost of $59, it's wise to fill up before leaving McKinney and again around the halfway point, as the longest stretch without services is 75.4 miles. Since this is a single-day drive, you can afford to be flexible with your stops, but aim for at least two planned breaks to stretch your legs and stay alert. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you're further out from larger towns.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 220.4 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 4h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 97 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 220.4 miles or 4h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 220.4 miles or 4h 11m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dalhart, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from McKinney, TX
Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Dalhart, TX
Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 miles from McKinney, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 287 for about 75.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 390.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Hunt Street
Turn right onto Hunt Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 380 / West University Drive
Turn left onto US 380 / West University Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
134.9 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|US 287 / Northwest Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 3A
Toward US 287 North: Vernon, Amarillo
5
347 mi into trip|~6h 26m in|East Interstate Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto East Interstate Drive toward East 3rd Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward East 3rd Avenue
5
390.3 mi into trip|~7h 12m in
Take the exit toward SH 354 West, FM 1319 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SH 354 West, FM 1319 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.38 one way
$120.75 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg154 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$67.44
$134.88
premium
$4.23
$73.32
$146.64
diesel
$4.80
$83.23
$166.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$190–$300
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 154.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
132.2
1
$46.28
$21.16
Efficient EV
110.2
1
$38.57
$17.63
EV Truck/SUV
176.3
2
$61.71
$28.21
Gas CO2
154 kg
EV CO2
52 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 Jul 15, 2026
Origin
McKinney, TX
Morning
in McKinney on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 15 at 7:52AM CDT until July 15 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 15 at 7:49AM CDT until July 15 at 8:30AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Dalhart, TX
Morning
in Dalhart on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
S 5 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 15 at 7:52AM CDT until July 15 at 12:45PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 15 at 7:49AM CDT until July 15 at 8:30AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
2 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
8h 7m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument
National Monument
13,000 years ago, Alibates Flint was used by mammoth hunters as a source of flint for tools. Learn how important this site was to the survival, commerce, and culture of the people of the High Plains.
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 380
Set within the wide‑open Texas Plains, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of rugged grasslands. Over thousands of years, the Canadian River carved dramatic 2...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 380
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 72% of this 440.8-mile drive on highways. The longest uninterrupted highway stretch is 75.4 miles, found on US Highway 287. Expect primarily highway cruising for the majority of the route. The transition from highway to surface roads will happen gradually as you approach your destination.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.4 mi on US Highway 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 287 and North US Highway 287. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Hunt Street.
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 15 significant decision points across 440.8 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 0.1 miles (Hunt Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 380 / West University Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 134.9 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,983 ft628 ft
Total Climb
3,569 ft
Total Descent
214 ft
Highest Point
3,983 ft
~440.8 mi in
Elevation Range
3,355 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between McKinney, TX and Dalhart, TX, road signs point toward Amarillo, Sh 354 West and Fm 1319 East.
Dalhart is a city in the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle. It is known as the "Gateway to the Rockies" because it is an important stopover and resting place for many Texans on their way to the ski slopes of northeast New Mexico and Colorado.
Top landmarks
•Dallam County Courthouse — historic place in Dalhart, Dallam County, Texas
The longest stretch is about 75.4 miles on US Highway 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 220 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 33 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.
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 Dalhart, 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. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Hunt Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 380 / West University Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 134.9 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dalhart, TX before the return drive.
