Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Mission Bend, TX to McKinney, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 11m
Distance
287.2 mi
462 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 58m
★
6 AM
5h 12m
8 AM
5h 39m
10 AM
5h 21m
12 PM
5h 18m
3 PM
5h 23m
5 PM
5h 37m
8 PM
5h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mission Bend, TX
Wikimedia Commons
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Mission Bend, TX to McKinney, TX is 287.2 miles and takes about 5h 11m via North Freeway, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive north through Texas. With 88% of the route on highways, it's a practical option for a single-day trip, connecting two Texas locales efficiently. Plan for a consistent travel pace, as the majority of the miles are on major roadways.
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
143.6 miles from Mission Bend, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Freeway | 224.2 mi | 3h 52m |
| North Central Expressway | 26.6 mi | 28m |
| West Sam Houston Tollway North | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| West Sam Houston Tollway South | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Westpark Tollway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| North Sam Houston Tollway West | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Bellaire Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 224.2 mi, about 3h 52m
Traffic on I-45
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,256 veh/hr typical · worst 3,806
Quietest
2 AM
~407 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 48 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 Mission Bend, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on Marisol Drive
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Marisol Drive
2
Turn right onto Los Altos Drive
277 ft
·
12 sec
·
Los Altos Drive
3
Turn left onto Addicks Clodine Road
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Addicks Clodine Road
4
Turn right onto Bellaire Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellaire Boulevard
5
Turn left onto Eldridge Parkway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Eldridge Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Alief Clodine Road
442 ft
·
9 sec
·
Alief Clodine Road
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
Toward WPT Toll East
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Merge onto WPT
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Westpark Tollway
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward SHT North, BW 8 South: Sam Houston Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
At end of road, turn left onto BW 8
215 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Sam Houston Parkway South
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward SHT Toll North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Merge onto SHT
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto SHT
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto SHT
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
West Sam Houston Tollway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto SHT
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on BW 8
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Sam Houston Parkway West
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
1.5 mi
·
3 min
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 45
224 mi
·
3 hr 52 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 75
27 mi
·
28 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 38C
Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto Spur 399
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 399
24
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South McDonald Street
25
Turn slight left
281 ft
·
10 sec
26
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Tennessee Street
27
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 11m estimated duration, leaving Mission Bend in the morning allows ample time to reach McKinney before evening. You'll cover 287.2 miles, with the longest uninterrupted highway stretch being 224.2 miles on the North Freeway. Consider making one stop for fuel and a break, perhaps around the halfway point, to stay comfortable. The fuel cost is estimated at $42, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility with your departure time, but aim to avoid peak urban traffic if possible.
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 143.6 miles from Mission Bend, TX, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.2 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 63 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.6 miles or 2h 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 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McKinney, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mission Bend, 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 Mission Bend, TX
This is one driving day of about 287.2 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Mission Bend, 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 North Freeway for about 224.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 143.6 miles from Mission Bend, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 224.2 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
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
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Navarro County Northbound Rest Area
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
Walker County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Walker County Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Navarro County Southbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Rest Area
0.8 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.4 mi from route
Minuteman Press
1.5 mi from route
TA
1.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.7 mi from route
SoPac Trail Rest Area
1.9 mi from route
Dennis Johnston Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Spring, Texas
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+17132740930
Visit websiteHeard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.7 mi from route
~7 min detour
McKinney, Texas
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+19725625566
Visit websiteJumping World
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
First break
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 1–9 pm
+17139967811
Visit websiteCandy Cane Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, ~9 min detour
Early stretch
3.8 mi from route
~9 min detour
Conroe, Texas
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+19365223804
Visit websiteCullinan Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~10 min detour
4.1 mi from route
~10 min detour
Sugar Land, Texas
Hours: 6 am–8 pm
+12812752825
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 283.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward SHT North, BW 8 South: Sam Houston Tollway
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.
Toward SHT North, BW 8 South: Sam Houston Tollw...
6
7.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
BW 8 / West Sam Houston Parkway South
At end of road, turn left onto BW 8 / West Sam Houston Parkway South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
30.6 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
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.
Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
7
30.8 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 45 North: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 45 North: Dallas
8
283.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 4m in
Take the exit toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
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 38C
Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.34 one way
$78.67 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $43.94 | $87.88 |
| premium | $4.23 | $47.77 | $95.54 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $54.23 | $108.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.08
Central Expressway
(26.6 mi)
$2.13
Sam Houston Tollway
(21.9 mi)
$1.75
Westpark Tollway
(2.8 mi)
$0.20
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
$39
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.2 | 1 | $30.16 | $13.79 |
| Efficient EV | 71.8 | 0 | $25.13 | $11.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.9 | 1 | $40.21 | $18.38 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Mission Bend, TX
Afternoon in Mission Bend on Sunday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
18% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:21PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:38PM CDT until July 22 at 11:48AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
McKinney, TX
Afternoon in McKinney on Sunday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 15 mph
4% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:21PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:38PM CDT until July 22 at 11:48AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
100°F
Italy, TX
144 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
3 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
5h 11m 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 88% of the 287.2 miles on high-speed roads like the North Freeway and North Central Expressway. You'll experience a long stretch of 224.2 miles on the North Freeway, so be prepared for continuous highway cruising. The transition to surface streets will occur later in the drive, likely closer to your destination. You'll notice a high volume of exits and merging traffic as you navigate through and around urban areas.
88% 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: 224.2 mi on North Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and North Central Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 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 20 significant decision points across 287.2 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 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles (BW 8 / West Sam Houston Parkway South): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
628 ft
90 ft
Total Climb
854 ft
Total Descent
316 ft
Highest Point
628 ft
~287.2 mi in
Elevation Range
539 ft
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.
On the drive from Mission Bend, TX to McKinney, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
30.6 mi in
|
~39m
About the Cities
Arriving in McKinney, TX
Full guide →Founded 1848
McKinney is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of 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 5h 11m. Total distance: 287.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 224.2 miles on North Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.08 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 28 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 McKinney, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.6 miles (BW 8 / West Sam Houston Parkway South): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at McKinney, 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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