How far is McKinney, TX from Elsa, TX?
The driving distance from McKinney, TX to Elsa, TX is about 551 miles (886.7 km), with a travel time of about 09h 38m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 484.1 miles (779.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 17m 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 38m.
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.
City in Haskell County, Texas, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between McKinney and Elsa.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKinney and Elsa.
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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
-
17
Continue on South R L Thornton Freeway
2866 ft · 44 sec · South R L Thornton Freeway
-
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
-
20
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
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21
Keep slight left
26.5 mi · 27 min
-
22
Take the exit slight right toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
1.1 km · 56 sec
-
23
Continue straight
86.1 mi · 1 hr 19 min
-
24
Keep slight right to continue on I 10 West: San Antonio
3262 ft · 1 min
-
25
Merge slight left
11.1 mi · 11 min
-
26
Continue straight
9.4 mi · 9 min
-
27
Keep slight left
12 mi · 13 min
-
28
Keep slight right to continue on Connally Loop
1.4 mi · 2 min · Connally Loop
-
29
Merge slight left onto Connally Loop
6.7 mi · 7 min · Connally Loop
-
30
Take the exit slight right toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
1184 ft · 29 sec
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31
Keep slight left to continue on I 37 South: Corpus Christi
2457 ft · 1 min
-
32
Merge slight left
60.5 mi · 1 hr 1 min
-
33
Take the exit slight right toward US 281 South
15.2 mi · 19 min
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34
Keep slight left to continue on South Nueces Street
66.2 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street
-
35
Keep slight left
9.5 mi · 10 min
-
36
Keep slight left to continue on Falfurrias Expressway
55.8 mi · 59 min · Falfurrias Expressway
-
37
Keep slight left
9.6 mi · 10 min
-
38
Take the exit slight right toward FM 2128: Chapin Road, Schunior Road, Richardson Road
1502 ft · 28 sec
-
39
Turn straight onto North Expressway 281
1.1 km · 1 min · North Expressway 281
-
40
Turn left onto East Schunior Street
116 m · 9 sec · East Schunior Street
-
41
Continue on East Richardson Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · East Richardson Road
-
42
Continue on East Richardson Street
1.4 km · 1 min · East Richardson Street
-
43
Continue on East Schunior Street
2604 ft · 42 sec · East Schunior Street
-
44
Continue on Richardson Road
1.5 km · 1 min · Richardson Road
-
45
At the end of the road, turn left
6.1 mi · 9 min
-
46
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Edinburg Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between McKinney and Elsa.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving McKinney and Sunny near Elsa.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from McKinney to Elsa?
The road trip is about 551 miles (886.7 km) and usually takes 09h 38m 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?
Weinert is a useful midpoint, sitting about 275.8 miles from McKinney and 275.1 miles from Elsa.
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 66.9 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 $74.63 one way or $149.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 172.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around McKinney and Sunny near Elsa.
Stop Ideas Near Weinert
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 Weinert.
San Marcos Station
Austin
San Antonio Station
Taylor
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between McKinney and Elsa. Straight-line distance: 484.13 mi (779.13 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 Elsa
City in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
| Population | 7,120 |
| Coordinates | 26.2934000, -97.9930600 |
| Altitude | 21 |
| Country | United States |
End: Elsa (-97.99306, 26.2934)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 887 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 01m |
| 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 | $74.63 | $149.26 |
| Mid-grade | $4.35 | $84.51 | $169.01 |
| Premium | $4.72 | $91.82 | $183.63 |
| Diesel | $5.78 | $112.29 | $224.57 |
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