Origin
Rowlett, TX
Late night in Rowlett on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rowlett, TX to McKinney, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
28.9 mi
46 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rowlett, TX
Wikimedia Commons
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion between Rowlett and McKinney, you are looking at a straightforward 29.1-mile trip. This drive typically takes about 32 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily through local roads, keeping your transit costs low with an estimated fuel budget of just $4. Both cities are situated within the Great Plains region of Texas, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your journey. Because this route is short and uncomplicated, it is perfect for those who prefer to keep travel time to a minimum. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, leaving plenty of time to enjoy your destination once you arrive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| President George Bush Turnpike | 12.4 mi | 13m |
| Central Expressway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Spur 399 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Lakeview Parkway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Martin Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| President George Bush Highway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
President George Bush Turnpike
— 12.4 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rowlett, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on Rowlett Street
31 ft
·
6 sec
·
Rowlett Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
172 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto Martin Drive
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
Martin Drive
4
Turn right onto TX 66
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Lakeview Parkway
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto TX 190
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
President George Bush Highway
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward PGBT Toll North
7
Merge onto PGBT
12 mi
·
13 min
·
President George Bush Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 75
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 38C
Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto Spur 399
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 399
14
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South McDonald Street
15
Turn slight left
281 ft
·
10 sec
16
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Tennessee Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 25.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
TX 190 / President George Bush Highway
Turn left onto TX 190 / President George Bush Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
13.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
8
24.7 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
6
25.1 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.37 one way
$8.73 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $4.78 | $9.56 |
| premium | $4.54 | $5.16 | $10.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.38 | $12.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.81
President George Bush Turnpike
(12.4 mi)
$0.99
Central Expressway
(10.3 mi)
$0.82
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Tolls
$2
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.39 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.53 | $1.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
McKinney, TX
Late night in McKinney on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route features zero highway travel. You will spend your time navigating a mix of roads including Main Street, Martin Drive, and Lakeview Parkway. Because the entire journey is comprised of local streets, you should stay alert for frequent intersections and changing traffic conditions. There is no long, uninterrupted stretch to settle into, so the pace remains steady but requires your full attention behind the wheel. The personality of this drive is functional and direct, focusing on local connectivity rather than long-distance highway cruising.
80% 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: 12.4 mi on President George Bush Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on President George Bush Turnpike and Central Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 28.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (TX 190 / President George Bush Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Rowlett, TX to McKinney, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Srt South along the way.
Srt South
24.7 mi in
|
~29m
About the Cities
Starting in Rowlett, TX
Full guide →Founded 1952
Arriving 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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 28.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.4 miles on President George Bush Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.81 in tolls one way, starting with President George Bush Turnpike. 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.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (TX 190 / President George Bush Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at McKinney, TX before heading back.
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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