How far is Grand Prairie, TX from McAllen, TX?
The driving distance from Grand Prairie, TX to McAllen, TX is about 525.5 miles (845.7 km), with a travel time of about 09h 09m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 458.1 miles (737.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 18m 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 09h 09m.
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.
Census designated place
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Grand Prairie and McAllen.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grand Prairie and McAllen.
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1
Start on the route
67 m · 22 sec
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2
Turn left onto Northeast 5th Street
58 m · 14 sec · Northeast 5th Street
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3
Turn left onto East Main Street
1069 ft · 27 sec · East Main Street
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4
Turn right onto South Belt Line Road
5.4 mi · 10 min · South Belt Line Road
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5
Take the ramp left toward I 20 East
1720 ft · 42 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
9.3 mi · 10 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 35E South: Waco
2016 ft · 45 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto South R L Thornton Freeway
80.5 mi · 1 hr 22 min · South R L Thornton Freeway
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9
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
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10
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
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11
Keep slight left
26.5 mi · 27 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
1.1 km · 56 sec
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13
Continue straight
86.1 mi · 1 hr 19 min
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14
Keep slight right to continue on I 10 West: San Antonio
3262 ft · 1 min
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15
Merge slight left
11.1 mi · 11 min
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16
Continue straight
9.4 mi · 9 min
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17
Keep slight left
12 mi · 13 min
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18
Keep slight right to continue on Connally Loop
1.4 mi · 2 min · Connally Loop
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19
Merge slight left onto Connally Loop
6.7 mi · 7 min · Connally Loop
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20
Take the exit slight right toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
1184 ft · 29 sec
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 37 South: Corpus Christi
2457 ft · 1 min
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22
Merge slight left
60.5 mi · 1 hr 1 min
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23
Take the exit slight right toward US 281 South
15.2 mi · 19 min
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24
Keep slight left to continue on South Nueces Street
66.2 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street
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25
Keep slight left
9.5 mi · 10 min
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26
Keep slight left to continue on Falfurrias Expressway
55.8 mi · 59 min · Falfurrias Expressway
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27
Keep slight left
17.6 mi · 19 min
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28
Take the exit slight right toward US 281 South, TX 495: Pharr
1.3 km · 2 min
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29
Merge slight right
2.1 mi · 2 min
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30
Take the exit slight right toward Texas 336: 2nd Street, 10th Street
1507 ft · 29 sec
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31
Turn straight onto East Expressway 83
1.2 km · 1 min · East Expressway 83
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32
Turn right onto South 10th Street
1.5 km · 2 min · South 10th Street
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33
Turn right onto West Business 83
7 m · 1 sec · West Business 83
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Business 83
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Grand Prairie and McAllen.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
TX 130 Toll South
Continue straight
86.1 mi · 01h 19m
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Grand Prairie and Mostly Cloudy near McAllen.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Grand Prairie to McAllen?
The road trip is about 525.5 miles (845.7 km) and usually takes 09h 09m 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?
McQueeney is a useful midpoint, sitting about 263.3 miles from Grand Prairie and 262.2 miles from McAllen.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 458.1 miles (737.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.4 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 $70.06 one way or $140.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 164.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Grand Prairie and Mostly Cloudy near McAllen.
Stop Ideas Near McQueeney
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
New Braunfels Parks and Recreation
City of Cibolo Municipal Building
Comal County Courthouse(Gerichtsgebäude)
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to McQueeney.
San Marcos Station
San Antonio Station
Austin
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Grand Prairie and McAllen. Straight-line distance: 458.07 mi (737.19 km).
#1 Grand Prairie
The ninth most populous city in Texas.
| Population | 195,272 |
| Coordinates | 32.7459600, -96.9977800 |
| Altitude | 157 |
| Country | United States |
#2 McAllen
The second most populous city in Hidalgo County, Texas.
| Population | 143,751 |
| Coordinates | 26.2034100, -98.2300100 |
| Altitude | 37 |
| Country | United States |
End: McAllen (-98.23001, 26.20341)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 846 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 30m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 45m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 33m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $70.06 | $140.13 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $78.83 | $157.66 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $85.12 | $170.23 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $74.03 | $148.06 |
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 28, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.