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

The driving distance from McKinney, TX to Lake Jackson, TX is about 323.5 miles (520.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 296 miles (476.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 45m 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
323.45 mi
05h 52m
Flight
296.04 mi
476.43 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
296.04 mi
Kilometers
476.43 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
323.45 mi
Kilometers
520.55 km
Drive Time
05h 52m

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 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Jackson
Thu, Apr 23, 3:55 AM CDT
Return by in McKinney
Thu, Apr 23, 9:48 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave McKinney
2026-04-22T22:03
Arrive Lake Jackson
Thu, Apr 23, 3:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:53 AM to 1:53 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
5:14 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
Leona
TX

City in Leon County, Texas, United States

From McKinney
162.1 mi
02h 56m
To Lake Jackson
161.4 mi
02h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE
Destination
79°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    234.2 mi · 4 hr 6 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  8. 8

    Continue on Gulf Freeway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Gulf Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 59 South, TX 288 South, I 69 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport, Victoria

    1.2 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on TX 288 South: Lake Jackson, Freeport

    2698 ft · 1 min

  11. 11

    Continue on South Freeway

    1 km · 47 sec · South Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    14.4 mi · 17 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight right onto South Freeway

    1312 ft · 17 sec · South Freeway

  14. 14

    Continue on Nolan Ryan Expressway

    33.8 mi · 40 min · Nolan Ryan Expressway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right

    643 ft · 16 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto State Highway 332 East

    667 ft · 15 sec · State Highway 332 East

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Oak Drive

    1076 ft · 29 sec · Oak Drive

  18. 18

    Turn slight right

    43 m · 6 sec

  19. 19

    Turn slight right onto Circle Way

    1173 ft · 34 sec · Circle Way

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Center Way

    1.2 km · 2 min · Center Way

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Magnolia Street

    16 m · 2 sec · Magnolia Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Magnolia Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Julius Schepps Freeway
238 mi · 73%
Nolan Ryan Expressway
33.9 mi · 10%
Central Expressway
29.2 mi · 9%
South Freeway
15.3 mi · 5%
Gulf Freeway
2.57 mi · 1%
East Virginia Street
1.42 mi
Longest Stretch

Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

234 mi · 04h 06m

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 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.5 mi
296 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Leona
02h 56m from McKinney
Leave By
5:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving McKinney and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Lake Jackson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from McKinney to Lake Jackson?

The road trip is about 323.5 miles (520.6 km) and usually takes 05h 52m 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?

Leona is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.1 miles from McKinney and 161.4 miles from Lake Jackson.

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

The direct path is about 296 miles (476.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.5 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 5:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.12 one way or $86.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around McKinney and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Lake Jackson.

Stop Ideas Near Leona

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Leona, 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 Leona.

BUS

Bryan, TX

66 mi away
301 East 26th Street
BUS

Waco, TX

119 mi away
301 South 8th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between McKinney and Lake Jackson. Straight-line distance: 296.04 mi (476.43 km).

McKinney

#1 McKinney

The third most populous city in Collin County, Texas.

Population208,272
Coordinates33.1976200, -96.6152700
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
Lake Jackson

#2 Lake Jackson

City in Brazoria County, Texas, United States

Population27,063
Coordinates29.0338600, -95.4343900
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: McKinney (-96.61527, 33.19762)
End: Lake Jackson (-95.43439, 29.03386)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 521 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.41 gal
43.21 L · about $43.12
Round trip
$86.24
22.82 gal · 86.42 L
Estimated CO2
101.4 kg one way
Round trip: 202.8 kg / 447 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $43.12 $86.24
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.52 $97.03
Premium $4.59 $52.38 $104.77
Diesel $3.99 $45.56 $91.12

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between McKinney and Lake Jackson. The current time is 22:03:02.

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.