How far is McKinney, TX from Wharton, TX?

The driving distance from McKinney, TX to Wharton, TX is about 328.2 miles (528.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 270.2 miles (434.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 00m 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
328.18 mi
06h 00m
Flight
270.2 mi
434.84 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
270.2 mi
Kilometers
434.84 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
328.18 mi
Kilometers
528.16 km
Drive Time
06h 00m

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 06h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wharton
Thu, Apr 23, 9:01 AM CDT
Return by in McKinney
Thu, Apr 23, 3:01 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave McKinney
2026-04-23T03:01
Arrive Wharton
Thu, Apr 23, 9:01 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:00 PM to 2:00 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
5:00 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
164.4 mi
03h 00m
To Wharton
163.9 mi
03h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph S
Destination
85°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    5.6 mi · 6 min · West Sam Houston Tollway South

  14. 14

    Continue on West Sam Houston Parkway South

    3069 ft · 40 sec · West Sam Houston Parkway South

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Downtown, Victoria

    1304 ft · 32 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 69 South, US 59 South: Victoria

    1.1 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Southwest Freeway

    20.2 mi · 22 min · Southwest Freeway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

    1158 ft · 28 sec

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

    2217 ft · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

  21. 21

    Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

  22. 22

    Take the ramp straight

    1027 ft · 25 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 11 min

  24. 24

    Keep slight left

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  26. 26

    Turn straight

    4 mi · 6 min

  27. 27

    Turn left onto West Caney Street

    80 m · 14 sec · West Caney Street

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Polk Street

    111 m · 18 sec · Polk Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto West Milam Street

    47 m · 3 sec · West Milam Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Milam Street

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Julius Schepps Freeway
225 mi · 68%
Central Expressway
29.2 mi · 9%
Southwest Freeway
20.2 mi · 6%
North Sam Houston Tollway West
20.1 mi · 6%
US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
17.5 mi · 5%
West Sam Houston Tollway South
5.59 mi · 2%
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
06h 00m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
12h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58 mi
270.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Leona
03h 00m from McKinney
Leave By
5:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving McKinney and Partly Sunny near Wharton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 328.2 miles (528.2 km) and usually takes 06h 00m 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 164.4 miles from McKinney and 163.9 miles from Wharton.

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

The direct path is about 270.2 miles (434.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 58 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 5:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.76 one way or $87.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around McKinney and Partly Sunny near Wharton.

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 Wharton. Straight-line distance: 270.2 mi (434.84 km).

McKinney

#1 McKinney

The third most populous city in Collin County, Texas.

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

#2 Wharton

City in Texas, USA

Population8,615
Coordinates29.3116400, -96.1027400
Altitude31
CountryUnited States
Start: McKinney (-96.61527, 33.19762)
End: Wharton (-96.10274, 29.31164)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 528 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.58 gal
43.84 L · about $43.76
Round trip
$87.52
23.16 gal · 87.68 L
Estimated CO2
102.9 kg one way
Round trip: 205.8 kg / 454 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $43.76 $87.52
Mid-grade $4.25 $49.24 $98.48
Premium $4.59 $53.16 $106.33
Diesel $3.99 $46.24 $92.48

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 Wharton. The current time is 03:01:37.

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.