Origin
University Park, TX
Late night in University Park on Sunday
Local time
5:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from University Park, 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
28.3 mi
45 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 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
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.
University Park, TX
Wikimedia Commons
McKinney, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 28.3-mile drive from University Park, TX to McKinney, TX should take about 36 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $4, this highway-focused route is efficient and budget-friendly. You'll spend most of your time on the North Central Expressway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 22.2 miles. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape. Given its short duration and minimal stops, this trip is ideal for a quick journey without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Central Expressway | 22.2 mi | 23m |
| Lovers Lane | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| South Tennessee Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South McDonald Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Spur 399 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Tennessee Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Central Expressway
— 22.2 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between University Park, TX and McKinney, TX.
1
Start on Lovers Lane
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Lovers Lane
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto North Central Expressway
255 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Central Expressway
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward US 75 North
Use the slight left lane.
4
Merge onto US 75
22 mi
·
23 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 38C
Toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto Spur 399
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 399
8
Continue on TX 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South McDonald Street
9
Turn slight left
281 ft
·
10 sec
10
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Tennessee Street
11
Arrive at destination
North Tennessee Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 24.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
North Central Expressway
Turn left onto North Central Expressway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 75 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 75 North
5
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 75 / North Central Expressway
Merge onto US 75 / North Central Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
24.1 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
24.5 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
$4.28 one way
$8.55 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $4.68 | $9.36 |
| premium | $4.54 | $5.05 | $10.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.77
Central Expressway
(22.2 mi)
$1.77
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: 9.9 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 | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
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
5:09 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?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 79% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a swift pace for much of the 36-minute journey, particularly during the 22.2-mile stretch on the North Central Expressway. The main roads you'll navigate include the North Central Expressway, Lovers Lane, and South Tennessee Street. While largely a direct path, be prepared for a mix of high-speed sections and potential transitions onto local streets as you near your destination in McKinney. The character remains consistent, emphasizing efficient travel over scenic detours.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.2 mi on North Central Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Central Expressway and Lovers Lane. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near North Central Expressway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 7 decision points packed into just 28.3 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: at 1.7 miles (North Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (US 75 / North Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 University Park, TX to McKinney, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Srt South along the way.
Srt South
24.1 mi in
|
~29m
About the Cities
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: 28.3 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 (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.2 miles on North Central Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.77 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.
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: at 1.7 miles (North Central Expressway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (US 75 / North Central Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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