Trip from McKinney, TX to Monahans, TX

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

Drive Time

7h 10m

Distance

414.3 mi

667 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$57

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

7h 0m ★

6 AM

7h 11m

8 AM

7h 33m

10 AM

7h 18m

12 PM

7h 16m

3 PM

7h 19m

5 PM

7h 31m

8 PM

7h 4m

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

city in Ward and Winkler counties in Texas, United States, that is the county seat of Ward County

Monahans, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 414.3-mile drive from McKinney, Texas, to Monahans, Texas, will take you approximately 7 hours and 10 minutes to complete. As a single-day trip, it's manageable, especially considering the estimated fuel cost of $63. You'll navigate primarily through local streets, including East Virginia Street, North Kentucky Street, and East Louisiana Street, with no highway driving involved. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape throughout. With two planned stops, you can break up the journey effectively. This drive is a straightforward, turn-heavy local road experience.

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

207.1 miles from McKinney, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 20	337 mi	5h 41m
Sam Rayburn Tollway	23.8 mi	25m
TX 121	15.2 mi	16m
Jim Wright Freeway	12.8 mi	14m
I 820 TEXpress	6.9 mi	6m
West Freeway	6 mi	6m
SH 121/183 TEXpress	4.1 mi	4m
East Interstate 20	3 mi	5m

Longest stretch: I 20 — 337 mi, about 5h 41m

Traffic on I-20

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

Peak

5 PM

~1,511 veh/hr typical · worst 1,850

Quietest

2 AM

~212 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Monahans, TX.

Start on North Tennessee Street

119 ft · 12 sec · North Tennessee Street

Turn left onto East Virginia Street

228 ft · 13 sec · East Virginia Street

Turn left onto North Kentucky Street

236 ft · 15 sec · North Kentucky Street

Turn left onto East Louisiana Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · East Louisiana Street

Turn right onto TX 5

2.4 mi · 4 min · South McDonald Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on Spur 399

0.9 mi · 1 min · Spur 399

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on SRT

20 mi · 21 min · Sam Rayburn Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121

1.4 mi · 1 min · TX 121

Continue on SRT

3.4 mi · 3 min · Sam Rayburn Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121

6.9 mi · 7 min · TX 121

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 121

6.9 mi · 7 min · TX 121

Toward TX 121 South: Forth Worth, Arlington, Grand Praire Use the left / right lanes.

Take the exit onto TX 121 Express

0.7 mi · 42 sec · TX 121 Express

Toward TX 121 Express South Toll, TX 183 Express West Toll Use the left lane.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

3.4 mi · 3 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 183 TEXpress

0.1 mi · 7 sec · SH 183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

0.7 mi · 42 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Continue on I 820 TEXpress

6.9 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress

Toward I 820 Express West Toll Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 820

0.4 mi · 24 sec · Northeast Loop

Continue on I 820

13 mi · 14 min · Jim Wright Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 1 min

Exit 3A Toward I 30 West: Weatherford Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 30

6.0 mi · 6 min · West Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 20

337 mi · 5 hr 41 min · I 20

Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 11 sec

Exit 83 Toward I 20 Business West: Monahans

Continue on I 20 Bus

0.1 mi · 11 sec · East Sealy Avenue

Continue on I 20 Bus

3.0 mi · 5 min · East Interstate 20

Turn left onto TX 18

178 ft · 8 sec · South Main Avenue

Turn left

104 ft · 7 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 7-hour duration and 414.3-mile distance, starting your trip from McKinney early in the morning is advisable to ensure a comfortable arrival in Monahans. With two recommended stops, plan to take your first break around the halfway point to refuel and stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $63, so budget accordingly. Since this is a local road-heavy route, pay close attention to GPS and speed limits within towns. A practical tip for this specific drive is to ensure your navigation system is updated, as frequent turns on local roads can be disorienting without accurate directions.

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 207.1 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 3h 38m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 337 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 91 miles or 1h 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 207.1 miles or 3h 38m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 7m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monahans, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from McKinney, TX

This is one driving day of about 414.3 miles and 7h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from McKinney, 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 I 20 for about 337 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Shackelford County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Albany, TX

207 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

Weatherford, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tye, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 207.1 miles from McKinney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour

Coppell, Texas

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+19724625100

Visit website

Coppell Nature Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Coppell, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+19723043581

Visit website

Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Midland, Texas

Hours: Closed

+14324005911

Visit website

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 and 67.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Virginia Street

Turn left onto East Virginia Street

Navigation decision point

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | TX 5 / South McDonald Street

Turn right onto TX 5 / South McDonald Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

35.7 mi into trip | ~40m in | TX 121

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 121 toward TX 121 South: Forth Worth, Arlington, Grand Praire

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

Use the left / right lanes. Toward TX 121 South: Forth Worth, Arlington, Gr...

42.6 mi into trip | ~48m in | TX 121 Express

Take the exit onto TX 121 Express toward TX 121 Express South Toll, TX 183 Express West Toll

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

Use the left lane. Toward TX 121 Express South Toll, TX 183 Expres...

67.6 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward I 30 West: Weatherford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 3A Toward I 30 West: Weatherford

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$56.75 one way

$113.49 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 145 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$63.38	$126.77
premium	$4.23	$68.91	$137.83
diesel	$4.80	$78.23	$156.46

Estimated Tolls: $1.91

Sam Rayburn Tollway (23.8 mi) $1.91

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

$57

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$84–$109

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 145 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	124.3	1	$43.50	$19.89
Efficient EV	103.6	1	$36.25	$16.57
EV Truck/SUV	165.7	2	$58.00	$26.52

Gas CO2

145 kg

EV CO2

48 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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

McKinney, TX

Late night in McKinney on Sunday

Local time

2:03 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

SSE 5 mph 25% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT until July 17 at 4:46PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Monahans, TX

Late night in Monahans on Sunday

Local time

2:03 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 5 to 10 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT until July 17 at 4:46PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

99°F

Albany, TX

207 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

6 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 10m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 414.3-mile journey. With a 0% highway share, you won't encounter long stretches of high-speed travel. Instead, your experience will be characterized by frequent turns and navigation through local streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the profile suggests a consistent pace dictated by city and town driving rather than open highway cruising. This means you'll be more engaged with the immediate surroundings as you make your way across Texas.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 337 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Sam Rayburn Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Virginia Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

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 414.3 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: near the start (East Virginia Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (TX 5 / South McDonald Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.7 miles (TX 121): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,977 ft 486 ft

Total Climb

2,857 ft

Total Descent

865 ft

Highest Point

2,977 ft

~384.7 mi in

Elevation Range

2,491 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 Monahans, TX, road signs point toward Arlington and Grand Praire.

Arlington

35.7 mi in | ~40m | via TX 121

Grand Praire

35.7 mi in | ~40m | via TX 121

About the Cities

Starting in McKinney, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1848

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

Arriving in Monahans, TX

Full guide →

Monahans is a city in the Permian Basin in Texas.

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 7h 10m. Total distance: 414.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 337 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.91 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Rayburn Tollway. 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 46 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 Monahans, 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 46 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Monahans, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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