How far is McKinney, TX from Alief, TX?

The driving distance from McKinney, TX to Alief, TX is about 283 miles (455.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 248.2 miles (399.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
282.99 mi
05h 03m
Flight
248.27 mi
399.55 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from McKinney.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
248.27 mi
Kilometers
399.55 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
282.99 mi
Kilometers
455.43 km
Drive Time
05h 03m

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 05h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alief
Wed, Apr 15, 9:54 AM CDT
Return by in McKinney
Wed, Apr 15, 2:58 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave McKinney
2026-04-15T04:50
Arrive Alief
Wed, Apr 15, 9:54 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:04 AM to 1:04 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:52 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in McKinney
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Buffalo
TX

City in Leon County, Texas

From McKinney
141.7 mi
02h 31m
To Alief
141.2 mi
02h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SSW
Destination
88°F
Wednesday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between McKinney and Alief.

  1. 1

    Start on North Tennessee Street

    36 m · 12 sec · North Tennessee Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Virginia Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · East Virginia Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Central Expressway

    3105 ft · 53 sec · South Central Expressway

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 South, TX 121 South

    1722 ft · 42 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Central Expressway

    29.2 mi · 31 min · Central Expressway

  6. 6

    Continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

    221.3 mi · 3 hr 50 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward BW 8 East, SHT West: Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sam Houston Tollway West

    2869 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway

    1 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto North Sam Houston Parkway West

    1095 ft · 14 sec · North Sam Houston Parkway West

  11. 11

    Continue on North Sam Houston Tollway West

    2.3 mi · 3 min · North Sam Houston Tollway West

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on North Sam Houston Tollway West

    17.8 mi · 20 min · North Sam Houston Tollway West

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on West Sam Houston Tollway South

    2.1 mi · 2 min · West Sam Houston Tollway South

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward TBT West: Westpark Tollway West

    1105 ft · 27 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto West Sam Houston Parkway South

    1919 ft · 46 sec · West Sam Houston Parkway South

  16. 16

    Take the ramp right toward WPT West, SHT South

    47 m · 4 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on WPT West

    102 m · 10 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on WPT Toll West

    1169 ft · 28 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Westpark Tollway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Westpark Tollway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward West Houston Center Boulevard, Dairy Ashford Road

    1235 ft · 32 sec

  21. 21

    Turn left onto West Houston Center Boulevard

    95 m · 15 sec · West Houston Center Boulevard

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Alief Clodine Road

    1272 ft · 33 sec · Alief Clodine Road

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Cook Road

    1332 ft · 37 sec · Cook Road

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cook Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
24 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Julius Schepps Freeway
225 mi · 79%
Central Expressway
29.2 mi · 10%
North Sam Houston Tollway West
20.1 mi · 7%
West Sam Houston Tollway South
2.1 mi · 1%
Westpark Tollway
1.54 mi · 1%
East Virginia Street
1.42 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

221 mi · 03h 50m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
05h 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.8 mi
248.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buffalo
02h 31m from McKinney
Leave By
6:52 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving McKinney and Mostly Cloudy near Alief.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from McKinney to Alief?

The road trip is about 283 miles (455.4 km) and usually takes 05h 03m 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 141.7 miles from McKinney and 141.2 miles from Alief.

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 34.8 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 6:52 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.75 one way or $75.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around McKinney and Mostly Cloudy near Alief.

Stop Ideas Near Buffalo

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Buffalo, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Buffalo.

BUS

Bryan, TX

93 mi away
301 East 26th Street
BUS

Waco, TX

102 mi away
301 South 8th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between McKinney and Alief. Straight-line distance: 248.27 mi (399.55 km).

McKinney

#1 McKinney

The third most populous city in Collin County, Texas.

Population208,272
Coordinates33.1976200, -96.6152700
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Alief

Alief is a place in Texas, United States.

Population0
Coordinates29.7110600, -95.5963300
Altitude23
CountryUnited States
Start: McKinney (-96.61527, 33.19762)
End: Alief (-95.59633, 29.71106)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 455 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.99 gal
37.8 L · about $37.75
Round trip
$75.50
19.98 gal · 75.6 L
Estimated CO2
88.8 kg one way
Round trip: 177.6 kg / 392 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $37.75 $75.50
Mid-grade $4.25 $42.48 $84.95
Premium $4.59 $45.86 $91.73
Diesel $3.99 $39.89 $79.78

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

There is no time difference between McKinney and Alief. The current time is 04:50:20.

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.