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Voykit pocket guide · United States
McKinney
McKinney is a half-day stop for its historic square and preserved 1850s homes, not a base. Drive from Dallas (40 min) or skip unless you have a car and an interest in small-town Texas history.
McKinney, a fast-growing city in the Blackland Prairie 40 km north of Dallas, keeps a walkable historic core with the Chestnut Square Historic Park and the North Texas History Center. Without a car, getting around is impractical — no bus or taxi service. Most travellers use it as a lunch-and-stroll detour on a Dallas–Sherman or Dallas–Bonham drive.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–200 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $3–5 |
| Tex-Mex meal (El Fenix) | $10–15 |
| Burger at a pub (Londoner) | $12–18 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3–4 |
| Chestnut Square tour | $5–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DFW · Dallas/Fort Worth International
- About 50 min drive via Sam Rayburn Tollway or US 75; no public transport.
- DAL · Dallas Love Field
- About 45 min drive; no public transport.
Typical fares
- DFW → McKinney by rental car
- about 50 min, toll road possible
- Dallas → McKinney by car
- about 40 min via US 75
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is essential. McKinney has no bus or taxi service; the historic square is walkable once you park. US 75 and Sam Rayburn Tollway are the main routes.
See and do
Known for
- Chestnut Square Historic Park
- North Texas History Center
- Historic downtown square
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas | US 75 south, about 40 min | 40 min |
| Sherman | US 75 north, about 25 min | 25 min |
| Bonham | US 82 east, about 30 min | 30 min |
| Paris, Texas | US 82 east then TX 24, about 1 h 30 min | 1.5 h |
Sleep
- US 75 corridor
- Chain hotels (Days Inn, Quality Inn) near the highway; car needed for everything.
- Historic downtown
- Limited accommodation; walkable to the square and Chestnut Square.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Howdyhow-dee |
| Thank you | Thanksthanks |
| Yes / No | Yeah / Nahyeah / nah |
| Excuse me | Excuse meex-cuse me |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- No public transport: you must have a car or rideshare.
- Downtown parking fills on weekend evenings; look for free lots a block off the square.
- Summer heat can exceed 38°C; plan outdoor walks for morning or late afternoon.
McKinney is a low-crime suburb. Standard precautions apply: lock your car and don't leave valuables visible. Summer heat is the main hazard.
One and two days
No timed day plan for McKinney yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Chestnut Square Historic Park
- North Texas History Center
- Historic downtown square
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- McKinney official website: www.mckinneytexas.org/
- Wikivoyage: McKinney, revision 4869852 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4869852
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
McKinney
Take me to this address, please
Take me to this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
English is universal; no language barrier.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/mckinney). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.