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Trip from Waco, 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

2h 4m

Distance

127.4 mi

205 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 56m ★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
2h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Waco, TX, TX

Waco, TX

Tomás Asurmendi

city in Collin County, Texas, United States

McKinney, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embark on a 127.4-mile journey from Waco, TX, to McKinney, TX, a drive that typically takes around 2 hours and 4 minutes. This trip stays within the Great Plains region and is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, with an estimated fuel cost of $19. The primary arteries for this route are Interstate 35 and I 35 North, also known as the Purple Heart Trail. Given the relatively short distance and straightforward path, you'll find this drive to be a practical option for connecting these two Texas cities without needing an overnight stop.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

63.7 miles from Waco, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Interstate 35 — —
I 35 North — —
Purple Heart Trail — —
I 35E — —
I 30 East — —
I 35E North — —
East R L Thornton Freeway — —
I 45 — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Interstate 35 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waco, TX and McKinney, TX.

1

Start on West Waco Drive

3.4 mi · 6 min · West Waco Drive
2

Turn left onto North Interstate 35

0.1 mi · 16 sec · North Interstate 35
3

Take the ramp straight toward I 35 North, US 77 North

0.3 mi · 36 sec · I 35 North, US 77 North
4

Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

33 mi · 32 min · Purple Heart Trail
5

Keep slight right to continue on I 35E: Dallas

56 mi · 58 min · I 35E: Dallas
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street

0.4 mi · 42 sec · I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
7

Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana

423 ft · 6 sec · I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
8

Keep slight right to continue on I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center

0.4 mi · 33 sec · I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
9

Keep slight left to continue on I 30 East: Texarkana

384 ft · 6 sec · I 30 East: Texarkana
10

Continue on East R L Thornton Freeway

0.8 mi · 1 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
11

Take the exit slight right toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney

0.5 mi · 46 sec · I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
12

Keep slight left to continue on US 75 North: McKinney

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 75 North: McKinney
13

Keep slight right to continue on US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East

0.3 mi · 27 sec · US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
14

Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway

0.7 mi · 49 sec · Julius Schepps Freeway
15

Continue on North Central Expressway

27 mi · 28 min · North Central Expressway
16

Take the exit slight right toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway

0.3 mi · 22 sec · SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
17

Keep slight right

0.7 mi · 1 min
18

Merge slight left

0.9 mi · 1 min
19

Continue on South McDonald Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · South McDonald Street
20

Turn slight left

282 ft · 10 sec
21

Continue on South Tennessee Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Tennessee Street
22

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

For this 127.4-mile drive, consider departing in the morning to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially as you get closer to McKinney. Since the estimated fuel cost is $19 and the drive is only about 2 hours, you won't need to worry about extensive refueling stops. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means paying close attention to your GPS and road signs is crucial to avoid missing turns. Plan for brief stops as needed, but the short duration makes it flexible; you can easily adjust your pace based on your preferences.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 63.7 miles from Waco, TX, or about 1h 2m into the drive.

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 28 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 63.7 miles or 1h 2m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 42m

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 Waco, 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 Waco, TX

This is one driving day of about 127.4 miles and 2h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Waco, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Dallas, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dallas, TX

64 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.

Popular next leg

Dallas, TX to McKinney, TX

31.9 mi · 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Hillsboro, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dallas, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.7 miles from Waco, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Cultivar Coffee Roasting Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour Inexpensiv mile 100.1

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14693876289

Visit website

Doris D Miller Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 127.4

McKinney, Texas

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+19725625566

Visit website

City Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 91

Dallas, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19724823055

Visit website

Dark Hour Haunted House

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 109.2

Plano, Texas

+14692980556

Visit website

11th Hour Escape

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 109.2

Plano, Texas

Hours: 12–5:30 pm

+14692095978

Visit website

Heritage Farmstead Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 109.2

Plano, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19728810140

Visit website

NTER - The Great Escape

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 63.7

Waxahachie, Texas

Hours: 5–9 pm

+12149801053

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.25 one way

$38.50 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $21.07 $42.14
premium $4.54 $22.75 $45.49
diesel $5.61 $28.13 $56.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.2 0 $13.38 $6.12
Efficient EV 31.9 0 $11.15 $5.10
EV Truck/SUV 51 0 $17.84 $8.15

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Waco, TX

Late night in Waco on Sunday

Local time

2:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

McKinney, TX

Late night in McKinney on Sunday

Local time

2:32 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°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 4m 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 route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter frequent changes in direction and potentially navigate through more urban or suburban environments as you approach your destination. With a 0% highway share, expect your driving experience to be less about high-speed cruising and more about engaging with local road networks. While there isn't a 'longest stretch' specified, the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests a continuous need for attention to navigation and speed adjustments throughout the 2-hour, 4-minute duration.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Interstate 35.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Waco, TX to McKinney, TX is easy. At 2h 4m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waco, TX to McKinney, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

About the Cities

Starting in Waco, TX

Full guide →

Waco is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of north central Texas. Waco is best known in Texas for being the home of Baylor University, the largest Baptist university in the world, chartered during the Republic of Texas.

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 2h 4m. Total distance: 127.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waco, TX to McKinney, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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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