Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from McKinney, TX to The Woodlands, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 19m
Distance
244.3 mi
393 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 6m
★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 46m
10 AM
4h 29m
12 PM
4h 26m
3 PM
4h 30m
5 PM
4h 45m
8 PM
4h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
The Woodlands, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
McKinney to The Woodlands is 244.3 miles and takes about 4h 19m via Julius Schepps Freeway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region down towards the southern part of the state. Given its primarily highway profile and manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a straightforward transit between these two Texas locations.
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
122.2 miles from McKinney, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Julius Schepps Freeway | 208.9 mi | 3h 35m |
| Central Expressway | 29.2 mi | 31m |
| East Virginia Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Lake Woodlands Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Woodlands Parkway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Grogans Mill Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Central Expressway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Interstate 45 North Frontage Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 208.9 mi, about 3h 35m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,927 veh/hr typical · worst 2,389
Quietest
2 AM
~288 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 45 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 The Woodlands, 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
Continue on I 45
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45
206 mi
·
3 hr 31 min
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 76
Toward Robinson Road, Woodlands Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Interstate 45 North Frontage Road
10
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
Toward Lake Woodlands Drive
11
Turn straight onto Lake Woodlands Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Woodlands Drive
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto Grogans Mill Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grogans Mill Road
13
Turn slight right
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
14
Turn straight onto Woodlands Parkway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodlands Parkway
15
Turn right onto East Panther Creek Drive
511 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Panther Creek Drive
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto Pebble Cove Drive
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pebble Cove Drive
17
Arrive at destination
Pebble Cove Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 19m drive time, leaving McKinney in the morning allows you to reach The Woodlands by midday. With only one recommended stop and a 208.9-mile longest stretch, you can easily complete this trip in one day without feeling rushed. The estimated fuel cost is around $36, so ensure your tank is full before departing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the final 35 miles, as this is where the route transitions off the main freeway and onto surface streets where fuel stops might be less frequent.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 122.2 miles from McKinney, TX, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 208.9 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 54 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.2 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near The Woodlands, 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 244.3 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 Julius Schepps Freeway for about 208.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 122.2 miles from McKinney, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Julius Schepps Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 208.9 miles.
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.
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
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
TA Express
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA Express
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Minuteman Press
1.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.4 mi from route
TA
1.6 mi from route
SoPac Trail Rest Area
1.9 mi from route
The Woodlands Waterway
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
The Woodlands, Texas
Visit websiteCity Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websiteDark Hour Haunted House
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Plano, Texas
+14692980556
Visit website11th Hour Escape
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Plano, Texas
Hours: 12–5:30 pm
+14692095978
Visit websiteHeard 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 websiteHeritage Farmstead Museum
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
Plano, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19728810140
Visit websiteCandy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Home stretch
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 244.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway
Merge onto US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
34.9 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
240.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 11m in
Take the exit toward Robinson Road, Woodlands Parkway
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 76
Toward Robinson Road, Woodlands Parkway
5
244.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 18m in
|
East Panther Creek Drive
Turn right onto East Panther Creek Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.46 one way
$66.92 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $37.38 | $74.75 |
| premium | $4.23 | $40.64 | $81.27 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $46.13 | $92.26 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.38
Central Expressway
(29.7 mi)
$2.38
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
$33
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.3 | 0 | $25.65 | $11.73 |
| Efficient EV | 61.1 | 0 | $21.38 | $9.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.7 | 1 | $34.20 | $15.64 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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.
Origin
McKinney, TX
Afternoon in McKinney on Monday
Local time
12:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:07AM CDT until July 18 at 11:15AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:59AM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
The Woodlands, TX
Afternoon in The Woodlands on Monday
Local time
12:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Partly Sunny
S 0 to 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:07AM CDT until July 18 at 11:15AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 7:59AM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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.
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
1 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
4h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend most of your time on highways, with 98% of the route being on these main roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 208.9 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. You'll transition from highway to surface streets like East Virginia Street towards the end of your drive. The high percentage of highway driving suggests a consistent pace with fewer interruptions from traffic signals for a significant portion of the trip.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 208.9 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Central Expressway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 244.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
646 ft
140 ft
Total Climb
195 ft
Total Descent
683 ft
Highest Point
646 ft
~17.5 mi in
Elevation Range
506 ft
About the Cities
Starting in McKinney, TX
Full guide →Founded 1848
McKinney is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas.
Arriving in The Woodlands, TX
Full guide →Founded 1974
The Woodlands is a suburban city in the Deep East Texas region of Texas 28 miles north of downtown Houston along Interstate 45. Although it began as a suburban development and a bedroom community, it also has attracted corporations and unique shopping to the area. In addition to residential and corporate housing, The Woodlands features a shopping mall, seven golf courses, and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Regional Concert Venue, and a 4-star rated The Woodlands Resort.
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 4h 19m. Total distance: 244.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 208.9 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.38 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 23 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.4 miles (US 75; TX 121 / Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles (I 45 / Julius Schepps Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at The Woodlands, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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