How far is Alief, TX from McKinney, TX?
The driving distance from Alief, TX to McKinney, TX is about 283.3 miles (455.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 28m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 248.2 miles (399.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 04h 28m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Leon County, Texas
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Alief and McKinney.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alief and McKinney.
-
1
Start on Cook Road
1291 ft · 39 sec · Cook Road
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2
Turn right onto Alief Clodine Road
1244 ft · 27 sec · Alief Clodine Road
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3
Turn left onto West Houston Center Boulevard
68 m · 10 sec · West Houston Center Boulevard
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4
Take the ramp right toward WPT Toll East
808 ft · 20 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Westpark Tollway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Westpark Tollway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward SHT North, BW 8 South: Sam Houston Tollway
2644 ft · 1 min
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7
At the end of the road, turn left onto West Sam Houston Parkway South
66 m · 6 sec · West Sam Houston Parkway South
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8
Take the ramp slight left toward SHT Toll North
1293 ft · 32 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto West Sam Houston Tollway South
9.1 mi · 10 min · West Sam Houston Tollway South
-
10
Take the exit slight right toward West Sam Houston Tollway North
2106 ft · 27 sec · West Sam Houston Tollway North
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11
Merge slight left onto West Sam Houston Tollway North
9.8 mi · 11 min · West Sam Houston Tollway North
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12
Keep slight right to continue on North Sam Houston Tollway West
2.6 mi · 3 min · North Sam Houston Tollway West
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13
Continue on North Sam Houston Parkway West
1.2 km · 53 sec · North Sam Houston Parkway West
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Dallas, Downtown
952 ft · 23 sec
-
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 45 North: Dallas
1.5 mi · 3 min
-
16
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
224.2 mi · 3 hr 53 min · North Freeway
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17
Continue on North Central Expressway
26.6 mi · 29 min · North Central Expressway
-
18
Take the exit slight right toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
1776 ft · 22 sec
-
19
Keep slight right
1.2 km · 1 min
-
20
Merge slight left
1.5 km · 1 min
-
21
Continue on South McDonald Street
1.6 km · 2 min · South McDonald Street
-
22
Turn slight left
86 m · 10 sec
-
23
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi · 3 min · South Tennessee Street
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Tennessee Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Alief and McKinney.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
North Freeway
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
224 mi · 03h 53m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Alief and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near McKinney.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Alief to McKinney?
The road trip is about 283.3 miles (455.9 km) and usually takes 04h 28m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Buffalo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.4 miles from Alief and 141.9 miles from McKinney.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 248.2 miles (399.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:02 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.79 one way or $75.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Alief and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near McKinney.
Stop Ideas Near Buffalo
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Buffalo.
Bryan, TX
Waco, TX
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Alief and McKinney. Straight-line distance: 248.27 mi (399.55 km).
#1 Alief
Alief is a place in Texas, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 29.7110600, -95.5963300 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| Country | United States |
#2 McKinney
The third most populous city in Collin County, Texas.
| Population | 208,272 |
| Coordinates | 33.1976200, -96.6152700 |
| Altitude | 192 |
| Country | United States |
End: North Tennessee Street (-96.61506, 33.19762)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 456 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 04m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 39m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 02m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $37.79 | $75.58 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $42.52 | $85.04 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $45.91 | $91.82 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $39.93 | $79.86 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Texas · Apr 15, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.