How far is McKinney, TX from Pasadena, TX?

The driving distance from McKinney, TX to Pasadena, TX is about 283.7 miles (456.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 256.1 miles (412.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 10m 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
283.63 mi
05h 05m
Flight
256.05 mi
412.08 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
256.05 mi
Kilometers
412.08 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
283.63 mi
Kilometers
456.46 km
Drive Time
05h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Pasadena
Thu, Apr 23, 12:41 AM CDT
Return by in McKinney
Thu, Apr 23, 5:46 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave McKinney
2026-04-22T19:35
Arrive Pasadena
Thu, Apr 23, 12:41 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:05 AM to 1:05 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
6:50 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
142 mi
02h 32m
To Pasadena
141.5 mi
02h 32m

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

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    210.2 mi · 3 hr 37 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Hardy Toll Road South

    21.9 mi · 25 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 610 East

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto North Loop East

    10.5 mi · 13 min · North Loop East

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 225 East: Pasadena, La Porte

    3182 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight right onto La Porte Freeway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · La Porte Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue on Pasadena Freeway

    2798 ft · 37 sec · Pasadena Freeway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Shaver Street, Main Street

    919 ft · 22 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Pasadena Freeway Frontage Road

    1700 ft · 39 sec · Pasadena Freeway Frontage Road

  16. 16

    Turn right onto South Shaver Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · South Shaver Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Southmore Avenue

    642 ft · 21 sec · Southmore Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    26 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Julius Schepps Freeway
214 mi · 75%
Central Expressway
29.2 mi · 10%
Hardy Toll Road South
21.9 mi · 8%
North Loop East
10.5 mi · 4%
La Porte Freeway
2.14 mi · 1%
East Virginia Street
1.42 mi
Longest Stretch

Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

210 mi · 03h 37m

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 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.6 mi
256.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buffalo
02h 32m from McKinney
Leave By
6:50 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving McKinney and Showers And Thunderstorms near Pasadena.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 283.7 miles (456.5 km) and usually takes 05h 05m 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 142 miles from McKinney and 141.5 miles from Pasadena.

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

The direct path is about 256.1 miles (412.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.6 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 6:50 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.83 one way or $75.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 89 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around McKinney and Showers And Thunderstorms near Pasadena.

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 Pasadena. Straight-line distance: 256.05 mi (412.08 km).

McKinney

#1 McKinney

The third most populous city in Collin County, Texas.

Population208,272
Coordinates33.1976200, -96.6152700
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
Pasadena

#2 Pasadena

The second most populous city in Harris County, Texas.

Population149,440
Coordinates29.6910600, -95.2091000
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: McKinney (-96.61527, 33.19762)
End: Pasadena (-95.2091, 29.69106)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 456 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.01 gal
37.89 L · about $37.83
Round trip
$75.66
20.02 gal · 75.78 L
Estimated CO2
89 kg one way
Round trip: 177.9 kg / 392 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $37.83 $75.66
Mid-grade $4.25 $42.56 $85.13
Premium $4.59 $45.96 $91.91
Diesel $3.99 $39.97 $79.94

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 Pasadena. The current time is 19:35:47.

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.