Origin
McKinney, TX
Afternoon in McKinney on Sunday
Local time
4:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McKinney, TX to Roma, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 55m
Distance
550.9 mi
887 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$83
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 47m
★
6 AM
9h 56m
8 AM
10h 14m
10 AM
10h 2m
12 PM
10h 0m
3 PM
10h 3m
5 PM
10h 13m
8 PM
9h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Roma, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from McKinney, TX to Roma, TX covers 550.9 miles and takes about 9h 55m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, South R L Thornton Freeway, I 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 244 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $83.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
275.4 miles from McKinney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 244 mi | 4h 12m |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| United States Highway 83 | 54.3 mi | 1h 1m |
| Central Expressway | 29.2 mi | 31m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 18.5 mi | 22m |
| US Highway 83 South | 14.2 mi | 15m |
| North Grant Street | 12.4 mi | 14m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 244 mi, about 4h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKinney, TX and Roma, 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
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
23
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Use the slight left lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
10 mi
·
12 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street
Use the slight right lane.
29
Continue on I 35
144 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on US 83
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ursula Avenue
31
Turn left onto US 83
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Matamoros Street
32
Continue on US 83
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Chihuahua Street
33
Turn right onto North Meadow Avenue
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Meadow Avenue
34
Turn right onto US 83
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
South Zapata Highway
35
Continue on US 83
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 83 South
36
Continue on US 83
54 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
United States Highway 83
37
Continue on US 83
12 mi
·
14 min
·
North Grant Street
38
Arrive at destination
US 83
Trip Plan
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 275.4 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 4h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244 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 121 miles or 2h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 275.4 miles or 4h 55m 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 275.4 miles or 4h 55m
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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roma, 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 275 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Roma, TX
Aim for roughly 275 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 121 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 244 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
182 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.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
364 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, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
275 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 275 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 121 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 275.4 miles from McKinney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 244 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 275 miles or 5 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 31.5 and 306.2 — 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
8
224.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 59m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
8
304.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 28m in
|
I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
8
306.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 30m in
|
I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Housto...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$83.24 one way
$166.48 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
193 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $91.12 | $182.23 |
| premium | $4.54 | $98.36 | $196.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $121.63 | $243.26 |
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
$83
Tolls
$2
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$216–$326
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 192.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $58 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 165.3 | 2 | $57.84 | $26.44 |
| Efficient EV | 137.7 | 1 | $48.20 | $22.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 220.4 | 2 | $77.13 | $35.26 |
Gas CO2
193 kg
EV CO2
64 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
Roma, TX
Afternoon in Roma on Sunday
Local time
4:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°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.
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
35 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 55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
550.9 mi / 9h 55m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: Purple Heart Trail.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 244 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
At 9h 55m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. 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
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 23 significant decision points across 550.9 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 224.2 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Roma, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo, Laredo and Spur 536: Houston.
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
Laredo
304.1 mi in
|
~5h 28m
|
via I 35
Spur 536: Houston
306.2 mi in
|
~5h 30m
|
via I 10; US 87
About the Cities
Starting in McKinney, TX
Full guide →McKinney is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 244 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 275 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.
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 Roma, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 224.2 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.9 hours each way, a round trip means 19.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Roma, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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