Free tool
When should I leave for the airport?
Enter your flight and where you are leaving from. This works backwards through bag drop, parking, and the drive to a recommended leave-home time — and shows every step, so you can argue with any of them.
Where these numbers come from
Terminal arrival buffersfollow each airport’s own guidance: DTX 90 min domestic, DFW 120 min domestic, DAL 120 min domestic. Both are editable. More on arrival times at DTX.
Parking and shuttle times reflect the lot you choose — a walk from DFW terminal parking is not the same as the Remote lot shuttle. Parking options and rates.
Drive times are non-rush-hour estimates. Drive times are non-rush-hour estimates and vary with traffic on US-75, US-380, and the tollways.
This tool does not read live traffic, live security wait times, or your airline’s check-in cutoff. Always confirm the cutoff with your airline — it is the deadline that actually makes people miss flights.
Questions about this tool
How early should I get to McKinney National Airport?
Plan to be inside the terminal about 90 minutes before a domestic departure. DTX is a four-gate airport with one checkpoint, so it clears faster than DFW or Love Field — but the airline's bag-drop cutoff, not the checkpoint, is usually the binding constraint.
How early should I arrive at DFW or Love Field?
Both recommend two hours for a domestic flight, and DFW recommends three for international. At DFW, add the shuttle ride if you are parking in Express or Remote — that alone can be 20 to 30 minutes.
Does this account for traffic?
No. Drive times are non-rush-hour estimates, and the tool warns you when your drive lands in a rush window. If you know your commute, enter your own drive time.
Can I share the result?
Yes. Copy the plan as text, or copy the link — the link carries your inputs, so whoever opens it sees the same breakdown.