McKinney to Groves is 322 miles and takes about 6 hours 17 minutes via US Highway 69 South and North, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. You'll find a mix of highway and surface roads, making it a straightforward, one-day drive. Plan for about 6 hours of actual wheel time, plus any stops you might want to make along the way.
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
161 miles from McKinney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 69 South
86.4 mi
1h 38m
East Denman Avenue
38.5 mi
43m
US Highway 69 North
33 mi
37m
Toll 49
27.1 mi
29m
US 69
26.1 mi
28m
West Princeton Drive
24 mi
28m
West Lennon Drive
23 mi
27m
Rusk Street
15.1 mi
19m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 69 South
— 86.4 mi, about 1h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKinney, TX and Groves, 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 sharp right onto US 380
4.3 mi·5 min·East University Drive
5
Continue on US 380
24 mi·28 min·West Princeton Drive
6
Take the exit onto US 380
5.5 mi·7 min·US 380
7
Continue on US 69
23 mi·26 min·US Highway 69 South
8
Continue on US 69
23 mi·27 min·West Lennon Drive
9
Merge onto US 69
10.0 mi·12 min·North Pacific Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Toll 49
27 mi·29 min·Toll 49
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·34 sec
Toward US 69: Tyler, Jacksonville
12
Keep slight right at fork
200 ft·6 sec
13
Merge onto US 69
0.3 mi·24 sec·South Broadway Avenue
14
Continue on US 69
17 mi·19 min·US Highway 69 North
15
Continue on US 69
5.2 mi·6 min·North Jackson Street
16
Continue on US 69
9.5 mi·10 min·US Highway 69 North
17
Continue on US 69
3.4 mi·3 min·North Dickinson Drive
18
Continue on US 69
9.3 mi·10 min·US Highway 69 South
19
Continue on US 69
1.5 mi·1 min·North Marcus Street
20
Continue on US 69
11 mi·13 min·US Highway 69 South
21
Continue on US 69
15 mi·19 min·Rusk Street
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
23
Continue on Loop 287 Frontage Road
0.5 mi·49 sec·Loop 287 Frontage Road
24
Continue on Loop 287
0.1 mi·17 sec·Loop 287 Frontage Road
25
Turn right onto US 69 Bus
2.1 mi·3 min·Kurth Drive
26
Turn straight onto US 59 Bus; US 69 Bus; TX 103
1.2 mi·2 min·North Timberland Drive
27
Turn left onto US 69 Bus
0.6 mi·1 min·South Chestnut Street
28
Turn left onto US 69 Bus
39 mi·43 min·East Denman Avenue
29
Continue on US 69
3.0 mi·3 min·North Wheeler Avenue
30
Continue on US 69
6.7 mi·7 min·US Highway 69 North
31
Continue on US 69
2.9 mi·3 min·North Magnolia Street
32
Continue on US 69; US 287
42 mi·48 min·US Highway 69 South
33
Merge onto US 69; US 96; US 287
9.5 mi·10 min·US 69; US 96; US 287
34
Keep slight right at fork onto US 69; US 96; US 287
3.1 mi·4 min·Eastex Freeway
Toward Houston, Port Arthur
35
Take the exit onto US 69; US 96; US 287
17 mi·18 min·US 69; US 96; US 287
Exit 849Toward US 69 South, US 96 South, US 287 South: Port Arthur
36
Turn left onto 39th Street
0.8 mi·1 min·39th Street
37
Turn left onto 9th Avenue
0.3 mi·47 sec·9th Avenue
38
Turn right onto Highway 73
0.2 mi·20 sec·Highway 73
39
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward TX 73 East
40
Merge onto TX 73
1.0 mi·1 min·TX 73
41
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Groves
42
Turn straight onto West Parkway Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·West Parkway Street
43
Turn slight left onto 39th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·39th Street
44
Arrive at destination
39th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 17-minute drive time, leaving McKinney in the morning should allow you to reach Groves with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to take breaks when you need them. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 86.4-mile segment on US Highway 69 South, as services might be less frequent in some stretches. The estimated fuel cost of $46 is a good baseline for budgeting your expenses for this 322-mile trip.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 161 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.4 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 71 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161 miles or 3h 7m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Groves, 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 322 miles and 6h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 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 US Highway 69 South for about 86.4 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 301.9 — 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
6
81.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|US 69 / North Pacific Street
Merge onto US 69 / North Pacific Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
118.1 mi into trip|~2h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 69: Tyler, Jacksonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 69: Tyler, Jacksonville
6
298.8 mi into trip|~5h 47m in|US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway toward Houston, Port Arthur
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Houston, Port Arthur
6
301.9 mi into trip|~5h 51m in|US 69; US 96; US 287
Take the exit onto US 69; US 96; US 287 toward US 69 South, US 96 South, US 287 South: Port Arthur
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 849
Toward US 69 South, US 96 South, US 287 South:...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.40 one way
$96.80 round trip
$3.82/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$54.79
$109.58
premium
$4.70
$59.58
$119.17
diesel
$5.80
$73.51
$147.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.6
1
$33.81
$15.46
Efficient EV
80.5
0
$28.18
$12.88
EV Truck/SUV
128.8
1
$45.08
$20.61
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
McKinney, TX
Morning
in McKinney on Saturday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
N 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Groves, TX
Morning
in Groves on Saturday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
N 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
61°F
Jacksonville, TX
161 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
12 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
6h 17m 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 is a mixed bag, with 48% of the drive on highways. You'll experience an 86.4-mile stretch on US Highway 69 South without interruption. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads, which means you'll notice a change in traffic patterns and potentially more local intersections as you get closer to your destination. The profile suggests a blend of faster highway speeds and more local traffic on surface streets.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.4 mi on US Highway 69 South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.1 miles in near Hunt Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 322 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 81.1 miles (US 69 / North Pacific Street): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
628 ft10 ft
Total Climb
68 ft
Total Descent
686 ft
Highest Point
628 ft
Elevation Range
618 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 Groves, TX, road signs point toward Jacksonville, Houston and Port Arthur.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 17m. Total distance: 322 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.4 miles on US Highway 69 South. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Groves, 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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Hunt Street): Navigation decision point; at 81.1 miles (US 69 / North Pacific Street): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 118.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Groves, TX before the return drive.
