How far is McKinney, TX from Canyon Lake, TX?
The driving distance from McKinney, TX to Canyon Lake, TX is about 294.6 miles (474.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 28m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 249.2 miles (401 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 56m 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 05h 28m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in McLennan County, Texas, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between McKinney and Canyon Lake.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKinney and Canyon Lake.
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1
Start on North Tennessee Street
36 m · 12 sec · North Tennessee Street
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2
Turn left onto East Virginia Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · East Virginia Street
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3
Turn left onto South Central Expressway
3105 ft · 53 sec · South Central Expressway
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4
Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 South, TX 121 South
1722 ft · 42 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Central Expressway
29.2 mi · 31 min · Central Expressway
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6
Take the exit slight left toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
153 m · 12 sec
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7
Continue on North Central Expressway
1.2 km · 1 min · North Central Expressway
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8
Turn right onto Elm Street
93 m · 11 sec · Elm Street
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9
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
1086 ft · 29 sec · North Pearl Expressway
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10
Turn right onto Young Street
572 ft · 20 sec · Young Street
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11
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
96 m · 8 sec · South Harwood Street
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12
Turn right onto Canton Street
2105 ft · 48 sec · Canton Street
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13
Take the ramp slight left toward I 30 West
1773 ft · 38 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
607 ft · 15 sec
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15
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
67 m · 5 sec
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16
Keep slight left to continue on I 35E South: Waco
1915 ft · 30 sec
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17
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
2866 ft · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway
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18
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
89.3 mi · 1 hr 32 min · South R L Thornton Freeway
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19
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
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20
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
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21
Keep slight left
55.8 mi · 59 min
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22
Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail
49.8 mi · 55 min · Purple Heart Trail
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23
Continue on Interstate Highway 35
1615 ft · 20 sec · Interstate Highway 35
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24
Take the exit slight right toward Walnut Avenue
895 ft · 22 sec
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25
Turn straight onto Interstate 35 South
1311 ft · 30 sec · Interstate 35 South
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26
Turn right onto South Walnut Avenue
2.8 mi · 6 min · South Walnut Avenue
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27
Continue on State Highway 46 West
3.1 mi · 5 min · State Highway 46 West
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28
Turn slight right
1467 ft · 54 sec
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29
Turn slight right
33 m · 7 sec
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30
Turn right
7.7 mi · 10 min
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31
Turn left onto FM 2673
2 mi · 3 min · FM 2673
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32
Continue on Cranes Mill Road
1.7 mi · 2 min · Cranes Mill Road
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33
Turn right onto Oblate Drive
1.5 mi · 3 min · Oblate Drive
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34
Continue on Lighthouse Drive
1106 ft · 49 sec · Lighthouse Drive
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35
Turn right onto Robin Hood Drive
528 ft · 24 sec · Robin Hood Drive
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36
Continue on Robin Hood Drive
761 ft · 34 sec · Robin Hood Drive
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37
Turn left onto Canyon Lake Drive
2222 ft · 2 min · Canyon Lake Drive
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Sherwood Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between McKinney and Canyon Lake.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
South R L Thornton Freeway
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
89.3 mi · 01h 32m
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 Sunny leaving McKinney and Patchy Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Canyon Lake.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from McKinney to Canyon Lake?
The road trip is about 294.6 miles (474.1 km) and usually takes 05h 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?
Bruceville-Eddy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 147.6 miles from McKinney and 147 miles from Canyon Lake.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 249.2 miles (401 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.4 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:04 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.30 one way or $78.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around McKinney and Patchy Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Canyon Lake.
Stop Ideas Near Bruceville-Eddy
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 Bruceville-Eddy.
McGregor
Temple
Waco, TX
Killeen, Texas
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between McKinney and Canyon Lake. Straight-line distance: 249.2 mi (401.05 km).
#1 McKinney
The third most populous city in Collin County, Texas.
| Population | 208,272 |
| Coordinates | 33.1976200, -96.6152700 |
| Altitude | 192 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Canyon Lake
City in Comal County, Texas, United States
| Population | 21,262 |
| Coordinates | 29.8752200, -98.2625100 |
| Altitude | 294 |
| Country | United States |
End: Canyon Lake (-98.26251, 29.87522)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 474 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 49m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 53m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 54m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 12m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 40m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $39.30 | $78.60 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $44.22 | $88.44 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $47.75 | $95.49 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $41.53 | $83.05 |
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 · Jun 03, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.