How far is Lake Dallas, TX from McKinney, TX?

The driving distance from Lake Dallas, TX to McKinney, TX is about 35.6 miles (57.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 24.4 miles (39.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
35.62 mi
00h 38m
Flight
24.34 mi
39.17 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Dallas.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
24.34 mi
Kilometers
39.17 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
35.62 mi
Kilometers
57.33 km
Drive Time
00h 38m

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 00h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in McKinney
Sun, Apr 19, 12:13 AM CDT
Return by in Lake Dallas
Sun, Apr 19, 12:52 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Dallas
2026-04-18T23:35
Arrive McKinney
Sun, Apr 19, 12:13 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:38 AM to 7:38 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:14 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Lake Dallas
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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.

Mid-route stop
The Colony
TX

A city in Denton County, Texas.

From Lake Dallas
16 mi
00h 19m
To McKinney
19.7 mi
00h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph NNW
Destination
68°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Dallas and McKinney.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Dallas and McKinney.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    1229 ft · 41 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn sharp left onto South Lake Dallas Drive

    2592 ft · 1 min · South Lake Dallas Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Stemmons Freeway

    1004 ft · 22 sec · South Stemmons Freeway

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 35E South, US 77 South

    638 ft · 16 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto South Stemmons Freeway

    3.9 mi · 4 min · South Stemmons Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward FM 1171: Main Street

    711 ft · 18 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway

    1290 ft · 20 sec · North Stemmons Freeway

  8. 8

    Continue on North Stemmons Freeway

    1333 ft · 23 sec · North Stemmons Freeway

  9. 9

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto East State Highway 121

    3.3 mi · 5 min · East State Highway 121

  11. 11

    Take the ramp straight

    1.2 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Sam Rayburn Tollway

    17.3 mi · 19 min · Sam Rayburn Tollway

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Continue on South McDonald Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · South McDonald Street

  15. 15

    Turn slight left

    86 m · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on South Tennessee Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · South Tennessee Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Tennessee Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Dallas and McKinney.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
17 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
47.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Sam Rayburn Tollway
18.5 mi · 52%
South Stemmons Freeway
4.05 mi · 11%
East State Highway 121
4.01 mi · 11%
West Main Street
1.74 mi · 5%
South Tennessee Street
1.14 mi · 3%
South McDonald Street
0.97 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Sam Rayburn Tollway

Merge slight left onto Sam Rayburn Tollway

17.3 mi · 00h 19m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 38m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+11.2 mi
24.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
The Colony
00h 19m from Lake Dallas
Leave By
7:14 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lake Dallas 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 Lake Dallas to McKinney?

The road trip is about 35.6 miles (57.3 km) and usually takes 00h 38m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

The Colony is a useful midpoint, sitting about 16 miles from Lake Dallas and 19.7 miles from McKinney.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 24.4 miles (39.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 11.2 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:14 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.76 one way or $9.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lake Dallas and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near McKinney.

Stop Ideas Near The Colony

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around The Colony and the surrounding midpoint area.
Clifford E 'Bill' Hall Park
Scenic stop 8.2 mi away

Clifford E 'Bill' Hall Park

Carrollton , TX
2200-2204 Crater Lake Ct, Carrollton, TX 75006
Rating 4.6/5 105 reviews City park,Tourist attraction
Richardson City Hall
Meeting point 10.8 mi away

Richardson City Hall

Richardson , TX
411 W Arapaho Rd, Richardson, TX 75080
Rating 4.7/5 39 reviews City government office,City Hall
Galleria Dallas
Nearby stop 10.9 mi away

Galleria Dallas

Dallas , TX
13350 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75240, United States
Rating 4.5/5 16,850 reviews Shopping mall,Ice skating rink
Town of Prosper City Hall
Scenic stop 10.5 mi away

Town of Prosper City Hall

Prosper , TX
250 W First St, Prosper, TX 75078
Rating 4.8/5 23 reviews Government office,Museum,Tourist attraction

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to The Colony.

BUS

Dallas, TX

35 mi away
205 South Lamar Street
RAIL

Union Station

36 mi away
400 South Houston St.
BUS

Mesquite, TX

41 mi away
1331 Highway 80 East \r\n1331 Highway 80 East \r\n
RAIL

Fort Worth Central Station

56 mi away
1001 Jones Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Dallas and McKinney. Straight-line distance: 24.34 mi (39.17 km).

Lake Dallas

#1 Lake Dallas

City in Denton County, Texas, United States

Population8,124
Coordinates33.1192900, -97.0255600
Altitude175
CountryUnited States
McKinney

#2 McKinney

The third most populous city in Collin County, Texas.

Population208,272
Coordinates33.1976200, -96.6152700
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-97.025561, 33.119258)
End: North Tennessee Street (-96.61506, 33.19762)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 57 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.26 gal
4.76 L · about $4.76
Round trip
$9.52
2.52 gal · 9.52 L
Estimated CO2
11.2 kg one way
Round trip: 22.4 kg / 49 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $4.76 $9.52
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.36 $10.72
Premium $4.59 $5.78 $11.57
Diesel $3.99 $5.03 $10.06

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Lake Dallas and McKinney. The current time is 23:35:35.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.