Trip from McKinney, TX to Roma, 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

9h 55m

Distance

550.9 mi

887 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$75

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

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.

Best Time

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city in Collin County, Texas, United States

McKinney, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Starr County, Texas, United States

Roma, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

McKinney to Roma is 550.9 miles and takes about 9h 55m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35, with a fuel budget near $83 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive that spans across Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and ending in the same area. While it's possible to complete in one day, you'll likely find it more manageable and enjoyable if you plan for two days. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path through the heart of Texas, with a significant portion on major highways.

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

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~3,149 veh/hr typical · worst 3,641

Quietest

2 AM

~516 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.1×

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 Roma, TX.

Start on North Tennessee Street

119 ft · 12 sec · North Tennessee Street

Turn left onto East Virginia Street

1.4 mi · 3 min · East Virginia Street

Turn left onto South Central Expressway

0.6 mi · 52 sec · South Central Expressway

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South Use the left lane.

Merge onto US 75; TX 121

29 mi · 31 min · Central Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

501 ft · 12 sec

Exit 284C Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway Use the slight left lane.

Continue on North Central Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Central Expressway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto Elm Street

304 ft · 10 sec · Elm Street

Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway

0.2 mi · 28 sec · North Pearl Expressway

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Young Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Young Street

Turn left onto South Harwood Street

315 ft · 8 sec · South Harwood Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Canton Street

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Canton Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 30 West

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton

Keep slight left at fork

221 ft · 5 sec

Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the left / right lanes.

Continue on I 35E

0.5 mi · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway

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.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Continue on I 35

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

10.0 mi · 11 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

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.

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.

Continue on I 35

144 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 83

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Santa Ursula Avenue

Turn left onto US 83

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Matamoros Street

Continue on US 83

1.0 mi · 2 min · Chihuahua Street

Turn right onto North Meadow Avenue

2.0 mi · 4 min · North Meadow Avenue

Turn right onto US 83

5.4 mi · 7 min · South Zapata Highway

Continue on US 83

14 mi · 15 min · US Highway 83 South

Continue on US 83

54 mi · 1 hr 1 min · United States Highway 83

Continue on US 83

12 mi · 14 min · North Grant Street

Arrive at destination

US 83

Trip Plan

For a drive of this length, it's highly recommended to split it over two days. Aim to start your first day early to maximize daylight and cover a good portion of the 550.9 miles. Your second day will be shorter, allowing for a more relaxed pace. With an estimated fuel cost of $83, factor in refueling stops accordingly. Keep in mind the longest stretch is 244 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, so plan your stops to coincide with services before that segment if needed.

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.

city in and county seat of Ellis County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Waxahachie, TX

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

Natalia, TX

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 Natalia, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

275 mi · about 5h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 275 miles or 5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Waxahachie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 121 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

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 check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 244 miles.

Overnight split

2.5 mi from route

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 23

5 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.

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

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

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

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

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

$75.46 one way

$150.91 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 193 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$84.28	$168.57
premium	$4.23	$91.64	$183.27
diesel	$4.80	$104.02	$208.04

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

$75

Tolls

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$208–$318

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, 2026-07-13.

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.

Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026

Origin

McKinney, TX

Morning in McKinney on Sunday

Local time

9:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 40% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:33PM CDT until July 16 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Destination

Roma, TX

Morning in Roma on Sunday

Local time

9:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

100°F

Partly Sunny

SE 13 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:33PM CDT until July 16 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:29PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth 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

11 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

9 mi from route ~23 min detour Free near mile 303.9

View on nps.gov

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...

10 mi from route ~24 min detour Free near mile 114

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is primarily on highways, with 51% of the route utilizing them. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 244 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you progress. Given the percentage of highway driving, anticipate periods of dense exits and urban merging, especially around major population centers.

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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

744 ft 209 ft

Total Climb

582 ft

Total Descent

1,000 ft

Highest Point

744 ft

~196.7 mi in

Elevation Range

534 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 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 →

Founded 1848

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

Arriving in Roma, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1936

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

Who Is This Route For?

Solo Traveler

9h 55m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.

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.

Yes — we found about 54 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 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. There are 54 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

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, 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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