How far is Elsa, TX from McKinney, TX?
The driving distance from Elsa, TX to McKinney, TX is about 550.7 miles (886.3 km), with a travel time of about 08h 31m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 484.1 miles (779.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 03m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 08h 31m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Human settlement in Caldwell County, Texas, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Elsa and McKinney.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elsa and McKinney.
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1
Start on Edinburg Avenue
6.1 mi · 9 min · Edinburg Avenue
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2
Turn right onto Richardson Road
1.5 km · 1 min · Richardson Road
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3
Continue on East Schunior Street
2604 ft · 40 sec · East Schunior Street
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4
Continue on East Richardson Street
1.4 km · 1 min · East Richardson Street
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5
Continue on East Richardson Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · East Richardson Road
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6
Turn right onto North Expressway 281
55 m · 4 sec · North Expressway 281
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7
Take the ramp slight left toward I 69C North, US 281 North
1438 ft · 35 sec
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8
Merge slight left
71.5 mi · 1 hr 16 min
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9
Keep slight right
70.2 mi · 1 hr 20 min
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Nueces Street
11.1 mi · 15 min · Nueces Street
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11
Turn right onto King David Drive
31.8 mi · 39 min · King David Drive
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12
Continue on West Main Street
1.2 km · 1 min · West Main Street
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13
Keep slight left to continue on East Main Street
71 m · 4 sec · East Main Street
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14
Continue on Helena Road
8.4 mi · 11 min · Helena Road
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15
Turn straight onto State Highway 80
23.6 mi · 26 min · State Highway 80
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16
Continue on South Nixon Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue
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17
Continue on State Highway 80 North
30.8 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North
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18
Continue on US 183
10.1 mi · 12 min · US 183
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19
Continue on South Colorado Street
4.9 mi · 9 min · South Colorado Street
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20
Continue on United States Highway 183
1282 ft · 17 sec · United States Highway 183
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21
Keep slight left to continue on TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
2447 ft · 35 sec
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22
Merge slight left onto Pickle Parkway
58.5 mi · 55 min · Pickle Parkway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North: Waco
2045 ft · 50 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
64.7 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
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25
Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi · 8 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
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26
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
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27
Keep slight right to continue on I 35E: Dallas
56.2 mi · 58 min
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28
Take the exit slight right toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
2094 ft · 42 sec
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29
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
129 m · 6 sec
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30
Keep slight right to continue on I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
2206 ft · 33 sec
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31
Keep slight left to continue on I 30 East: Texarkana
117 m · 6 sec
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32
Continue on East R L Thornton Freeway
1.2 km · 1 min · East R L Thornton Freeway
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33
Take the exit slight right toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
2421 ft · 46 sec
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34
Keep slight left to continue on US 75 North: McKinney
2512 ft · 1 min
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35
Keep slight right to continue on US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
1697 ft · 27 sec
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36
Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Julius Schepps Freeway
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37
Continue on North Central Expressway
26.6 mi · 29 min · North Central Expressway
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38
Take the exit slight right toward SRT South, TX 5: Sam Rayburn Tollway
1776 ft · 22 sec
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39
Keep slight right
1.2 km · 1 min
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40
Merge slight left
1.5 km · 1 min
-
41
Continue on South McDonald Street
1.6 km · 2 min · South McDonald Street
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42
Turn slight left
86 m · 10 sec
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43
Continue on South Tennessee Street
1.1 mi · 3 min · South Tennessee Street
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44
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Tennessee Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Elsa and McKinney.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 69C North
Merge slight left
71.5 mi · 01h 16m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Elsa and Partly Sunny near McKinney.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Elsa to McKinney?
The road trip is about 550.7 miles (886.3 km) and usually takes 08h 31m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Brownsboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 264.7 miles from Elsa and 286 miles from McKinney.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 484.1 miles (779.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 66.6 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $74.59 one way or $149.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 172.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Elsa and Partly Sunny near McKinney.
Stop Ideas Near Brownsboro
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 Brownsboro.
San Marcos Station
Austin
Taylor
San Antonio Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Elsa and McKinney. Straight-line distance: 484.13 mi (779.13 km).
#1 Elsa
City in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
| Population | 7,120 |
| Coordinates | 26.2934000, -97.9930600 |
| Altitude | 21 |
| 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: 886 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 21m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 46m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 00m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 10m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 52m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 52m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.84 | $74.59 | $149.18 |
| Mid-grade | $4.35 | $84.46 | $168.92 |
| Premium | $4.72 | $91.77 | $183.54 |
| Diesel | $5.78 | $112.23 | $224.46 |
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 · Oct 15, 2026