Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Temple, TX to McKinney, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
161.8 mi
260 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Temple, TX
Wikimedia Commons
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Temple, TX to McKinney, TX is 161.8 miles and takes about 2h 54m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35E, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the Great Plains, keeping you within the same state. It's a fairly straightforward trip, mostly on major highways, making it a good option for a quick journey. Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from one main road to another. Given the relatively short duration, it's well-suited for a single-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.9 miles from Temple, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 62.5 mi | 1h 2m |
| I 35E | 56.2 mi | 58m |
| North Central Expressway | 26.6 mi | 28m |
| South Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Spur 399 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| West Adams Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 62.5 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Temple, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on Spur 290
11 ft
·
4 sec
·
North 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto TX 53
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Adams Avenue
3
Continue on TX 53
382 ft
·
6 sec
·
Airport Road
4
Turn right onto North General Bruce Drive
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
North General Bruce Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 North
6
Merge onto I 35
29 mi
·
29 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
13
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
14
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East R L Thornton Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
Use the slight left lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
18
Merge onto US 75
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on US 75
27 mi
·
28 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 38C
Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto Spur 399
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 399
23
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South McDonald Street
24
Turn slight left
281 ft
·
10 sec
25
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Tennessee Street
26
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Trip Plan
With a duration of under three hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave mid-morning to avoid the worst of any potential rush hour traffic in the Temple area. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 62.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail, so consider refueling before you begin this segment if your tank is low. You’ll want to be aware of potential traffic increases on I 35E as you get closer to McKinney. Your estimated fuel cost is $24, so ensure you have a comfortable budget for gas.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.9 miles from Temple, TX, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.5 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 36 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.9 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 19m
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 Temple, 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 Temple, TX
This is one driving day of about 161.8 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Temple, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 62.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.9 miles from Temple, 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 62.5 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.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
Minuteman Press
1.5 mi from route
SoPac Trail Rest Area
1.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
City Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Later in the drive, short detour
Final third
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Dallas, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19724823055
Visit websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Final third
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, short detour
Early stretch
1.5 mi from route
~4 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
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 websiteDark Hour Haunted House
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Plano, Texas
+14692980556
Visit websiteHeritage Farmstead Museum
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
2.9 mi from route
~7 min detour
Plano, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19728810140
Visit website11th Hour Escape
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Plano, Texas
Hours: 12–5:30 pm
+14692095978
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 71.1 and 157.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
8
127.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Bouleva...
8
129 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
7
129.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 75 North: McKinney
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 75 North: McKinney
8
157.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 46m 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
$24.45 one way
$48.90 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $26.76 | $53.52 |
| premium | $4.54 | $28.89 | $57.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.72 | $71.45 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.13
Central Expressway
(26.6 mi)
$2.13
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
$24
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.5 | 0 | $16.99 | $7.77 |
| Efficient EV | 40.5 | 0 | $14.16 | $6.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.7 | 0 | $22.65 | $10.36 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Temple, TX
Late night in Temple on Tuesday
Local time
3:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
McKinney, TX
Late night in McKinney on Tuesday
Local time
3:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°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.
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
2 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
2h 54m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 39
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive, with 56% of it being highway travel. You'll experience a significant stretch of 62.5 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, likely providing a more consistent and potentially less congested drive for that portion. As you progress, you'll transition to I 35E and North Central Expressway, which are major interstate highways known for higher speeds and more traffic, especially as you approach more urban areas. The character of the drive changes from potentially more open roads to busier, faster-paced freeway conditions.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.5 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 71.1 miles in near I 35E.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 161.8 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 71.1 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Temple, TX and McKinney, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center and Bryan Street East.
Fort Worth
127.7 mi in
|
~2h 13m
Texarkana
127.7 mi in
|
~2h 13m
Convention Center
127.8 mi in
|
~2h 13m
Bryan Street East
130 mi in
|
~2h 16m
About the Cities
Starting in Temple, TX
Full guide →Temple is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas that started as a railroad town back in 1882.
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 2h 54m. Total distance: 161.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.13 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 20 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 71.1 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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