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Trip from McKinney, TX to La Feria, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 50m

Distance

539.1 mi

868 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$81

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
9h 42m ★
6 AM
9h 51m
8 AM
10h 8m
10 AM
9h 57m
12 PM
9h 55m
3 PM
9h 58m
5 PM
10h 7m
8 PM
9h 45m

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

city in Collin County, Texas, United States

McKinney, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown La Feria, TX, TX

La Feria, TX

Israel Torres

Trip Overview

McKinney, TX to La Feria, TX is 539.1 miles and takes about 9h 50m via U.S. Highway 77, with a fuel budget near $78 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward path south. Given the nearly 10-hour duration, it's recommended to split this trip over two days for a more relaxed pace. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a practical choice for getting between these two Texas locations efficiently.

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

269.6 miles from McKinney, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 44m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Highway 77 90.7 mi 1h 39m
South R L Thornton Freeway 89.9 mi 1h 32m
TX 130 Toll 58.5 mi 54m
TX 80 51.2 mi 56m
South US Highway 181 40.2 mi 45m
Purple Heart Trail 37.9 mi 39m
I 69E 31.3 mi 33m
Central Expressway 29.2 mi 31m
Longest stretch: U.S. Highway 77 — 90.7 mi, about 1h 39m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,895 veh/hr typical · worst 4,744

Quietest

2 AM

~570 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 104 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 McKinney, TX and La Feria, 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

Take the exit

501 ft · 12 sec
Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway Use the slight left lane.
7

Continue on North Central Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Central Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
8

Turn right onto Elm Street

304 ft · 10 sec · Elm Street
9

Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Pearl Expressway
Use the straight lane.
10

Turn right onto Young Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Young Street
11

Turn left onto South Harwood Street

315 ft · 8 sec · South Harwood Street
Use the left lane.
12

Turn right onto Canton Street

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Canton Street
13

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 30 West
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
15

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the left / right lanes.
17

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway
18

Continue on I 35E

89 mi · 1 hr 31 min · South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426 Toward Dallas Zoo Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec
Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.
23

Continue on TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Continue on US 183

0.5 mi · 35 sec · United States Highway 183
26

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · North Colorado Street
27

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
28

Continue on US 183

4.2 mi · 6 min · North Magnolia Avenue
29

Continue on TX 80

51 mi · 56 min · TX 80
30

Turn slight left onto FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792
31

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
32

Turn left onto US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
33

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · South US Highway 181
34

Continue on US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · North 8th Street
35

Continue on US 181

16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South
36

Take the exit onto US 181

0.3 mi · 45 sec · US 181
37

Keep slight right at fork onto US 181

213 ft · 5 sec · US Route 181
38

Turn straight onto US 181

0.7 mi · 1 min · US Highway 181
39

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec
40

Merge onto US 77

12 mi · 13 min · US 77
41

Take the exit onto US 77

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
42

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
43

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the straight lane.
44

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77

31 mi · 33 min · I 69E; US 77
Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45

Keep slight left at fork onto US 77

61 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77
46

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77

29 mi · 30 min · U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 26B Toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48

Continue on I 2; US 83

5.1 mi · 5 min · I 2; US 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 169 Toward FM 506: La Feria, Santa Rosa Use the slight right lane.
50

Turn straight onto East Expressway 83

1.1 mi · 2 min · East Expressway 83
51

Turn left onto FM 506

0.5 mi · 1 min · FM 506
52

Turn left onto US 83 Bus

37 ft · 0 sec · US 83 Bus
53

Arrive at destination

US 83 Bus

Trip Plan

For this 9h 50m drive, consider splitting it into two days, with an overnight stop around the halfway point. Leaving early in the morning on your first day will allow you to cover a significant portion of the 539.1 miles before needing to rest. Plan for approximately two stops to refuel and stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 90.7-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 77, where services might be less frequent. The fuel cost estimate of $78 is based on average prices, so adjust based on current rates.

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 269.6 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 4h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.7 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 119 miles or 2h 8m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 269.6 miles or 4h 44m 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 269.6 miles or 4h 44m

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 8h 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Feria, 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 270 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into La Feria, TX

Aim for roughly 270 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 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 U.S. Highway 77 for about 90.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Burleson, TX

178 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

Burleson, TX to San Antonio, TX

252.3 mi · 4h 32m

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

356 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in San Antonio, TX

Popular next leg

San Antonio, TX to La Feria, TX

257.8 mi · 4h 34m

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

270 mi · about 4.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 270 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Mansfield, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 119 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 269.6 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 U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 270 miles or 4.9 hours on the road.

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.

Quality Services Towing & Tires

0 mi from route

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

0 mi from route

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Kenedy County Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Texas Travel Information Center at Harlingen

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

0.1 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

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.1 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.1 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

Circle K

0.1 mi from route

Ascent Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.2 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.2 mi from route

TA

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.3 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.3 mi from route

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

0.4 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.9 mi from route

Minuteman Press

1.3 mi from route

SoPac Trail Rest Area

1.9 mi from route

San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area

2.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

2.4 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

2.5 mi from route

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

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 33

5 decision points cluster between mile 31.5 and 537.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
31.5 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
9
33.6 mi into trip | ~40m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
33.7 mi into trip | ~40m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / right lanes. Toward I 35E South: Waco
8
531.1 mi into trip | ~9h 40m in

Take the exit toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen

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 26B Toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen
8
537.3 mi into trip | ~9h 46m in

Take the exit toward FM 506: La Feria, Santa Rosa

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 169 Toward FM 506: La Feria, Santa Rosa

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$80.93 one way

$161.86 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 189 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $89.55 $179.09
premium $4.57 $96.89 $193.78
diesel $6.28 $133.20 $266.41

Estimated Tolls: $2.44

Central Expressway (30.5 mi) $2.44

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

$81

Tolls

$2

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$213–$323

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 188.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $57 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 161.7 1 $56.61 $25.88
Efficient EV 134.8 1 $47.17 $21.56
EV Truck/SUV 215.6 2 $75.47 $34.50

Gas CO2

189 kg

EV CO2

63 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 Oct 19, 2026

Origin

McKinney, TX

Morning in McKinney on Thursday

Local time

9:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Mostly Cloudy

0 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

La Feria, TX

Morning in La Feria on Thursday

Local time

9:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Mostly Cloudy

NNW 6 mph 2% chance 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.

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

16 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

9h 50m 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.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour Free near mile 130.1
View on nps.gov
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

National Historical Park

On May 8, 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Although the two countries have deve...

24 mi from route ~61 min detour Free near mile 539.1
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island National Seashore

National Seashore

Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour $25 near mile 464.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is primarily highway cruising, with 88% of the 539.1 miles on major roads like U.S. Highway 77 and TX 130 Toll. You'll experience a long stretch of 90.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77, which generally means less frequent exits and more consistent speeds. Expect to transition to surface roads for the final portion of your drive as you approach your destination. The drive is characterized by extensive highway miles, with some urban merging likely around the Dallas area before settling into more open road conditions.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.7 mi on U.S. Highway 77.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and South R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 539.1 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 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

799 ft 31 ft

Total Climb

312 ft

Total Descent

885 ft

Highest Point

799 ft

~192.5 mi in

Elevation Range

769 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 La Feria, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo and Brownsville.

Downtown

31.5 mi in | ~36m

Denton

33.5 mi in | ~40m

Waco

33.6 mi in | ~40m

Dallas Zoo

34.6 mi in | ~41m | via I 35E

Brownsville

409.1 mi in | ~7h 26m | via I 69E; US 77

About the Cities

Starting in McKinney, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1848

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

Top landmarks

  • • Heard-Craig House — historic place in McKinney, Collin County, Texas

Arriving in La Feria, TX

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 90.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77. 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 270 miles on day one.

Expect about $2.44 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 39 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 La Feria, 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 39 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 31.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.8 hours each way, a round trip means 19.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at La Feria, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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