Visiting McKinney
A weekend in McKinney, Texas
Flying into McKinney National Airport? Here's what to do once you land — the historic Square, the best outdoor stops, what's worth the drive to Frisco and Plano, and the weekends to plan around.
Historic Downtown Square
Downtown
Chestnut Square Historic Village
Downtown
TUPPS Brewery
Mill District, a few blocks east of the Square
Wine rooms on the Square
Downtown
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
About 9 min from DTX
Third Monday Trade Days
West McKinney on US-380
Towne Lake Park
Central McKinney
Adriatica Village
Stonebridge Ranch, west McKinney
Omni PGA Frisco Resort
Frisco, about 23 min
The Star in Frisco
Frisco, about 23 min
Legacy West
Plano, about 21 min
Hotels
Where to stay in McKinney.
Restaurants
Where to eat on and around the Square.
At a glance
Why McKinney works for a short trip
- ~9 min
- drive from the DTX terminal to the historic downtown Square, without traffic
- 200+
- shops, galleries, and restaurants in historic downtown McKinney
- Free
- downtown trolley loop, Thursday through Sunday
- Nov 27–29
- Home for the Holidays, McKinney's biggest downtown weekend of 2026
Getting here
How to fly to McKinney
McKinney National Airport (DTX) opens to airline passengers in November 2026, with Avelo nonstops from nine cities. From anywhere else, fly into DFW or Dallas Love Field and drive north.
Nonstop into DTX on Avelo
- Fort Myersfrom Nov 11
- Las Vegasfrom Nov 12
- Orlandofrom Nov 12
- Fort Lauderdalefrom Nov 19
- Tampafrom Nov 19
- Atlantafrom Dec 16
- Denverfrom Dec 16
- Nashvillefrom Dec 17
- New Orleansfrom Dec 17
From everywhere else
Dallas Love Field is about 32 miles from McKinney (37 minutes without traffic). DFW is about 37 miles (45 minutes). Both are longer at rush hour on US-75 and the Dallas North Tollway.
Rental cars →Downtown
Start at the historic Square
Everything here is walkable from the courthouse. Park once and spend the day on foot.
Downtown
Historic Downtown Square
The old 1876 Collin County Courthouse anchors a walkable grid of independent shops, galleries, wine rooms, and restaurants — the reason most people visit McKinney. Start here and plan the rest of the weekend around it.
Free trolley loop (about 20 minutes): Thu–Sat 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun noon–5 p.m.
Official siteDowntown
Chestnut Square Historic Village
Six restored homes covering Collin County life from 1854 to 1920, with guided village tours. On Saturday mornings the grounds host McKinney's year-round farmers market.
Farmers market every Saturday, 8 a.m.–noon April–December (9 a.m. start January–March)
Official siteMill District, a few blocks east of the Square
TUPPS Brewery
A taproom inside a restored grain mill on a four-acre site, with a restaurant, lawn, and outdoor stage. The easiest late-afternoon stop within walking distance of downtown.
Official siteDowntown
Wine rooms on the Square
Several Texas wineries run tasting rooms within a block of the courthouse, including Landon Winery on Kentucky Street — an easy way to fill an evening without moving the car.
Official siteAround town
Beyond downtown
Spread around McKinney, so plan on a car or a rideshare.
About 9 min from DTX
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
A 289-acre nature sanctuary with more than 6.5 miles of trails and an indoor museum. From September its trails fill with life-size animatronic dinosaurs, included with admission — the best pick for families.
Tue–Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun 1–5 p.m., closed Mondays and Thanksgiving
Official siteWest McKinney on US-380
Third Monday Trade Days
A monthly outdoor flea market that bills itself as the oldest and largest in North Texas. It only runs one weekend a month, so check the dates against your trip.
Friday–Sunday before the third Monday of each month, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Official siteCentral McKinney
Towne Lake Park
A 1.1-mile loop around the lake that connects to the 5.3-mile Wilson Creek Trail, with app-based kayak rentals, disc golf, and playgrounds.
Daily, 5:30 a.m.–11 p.m.
Official siteStonebridge Ranch, west McKinney
Adriatica Village
A 45-acre Croatian-style village modeled on the island town of Supetar, with a bell tower, chapel, restaurants, and shops. Worth an hour and a meal, mostly for the setting.
Official siteWithin 25 minutes
Worth the drive
Frisco and Plano are close enough to fit into a McKinney weekend. Drive times are from the Square, without traffic.
Frisco, about 23 min
Omni PGA Frisco Resort
Next to PGA of America headquarters, with two championship courses, a 10-hole par-3 course, and a two-acre putting course.
Official siteFrisco, about 23 min
The Star in Frisco
The Dallas Cowboys' headquarters and practice campus, with guided tours and the Ring of Honor Walk.
Official sitePlano, about 21 min
Legacy West
A walkable shopping and dining district with 20-plus restaurants and the Legacy Hall food hall.
Official siteEvents
Weekends to plan around
Free to attend and centered on downtown McKinney. Book a room early for these weekends.
November 27–29, 2026 (Thanksgiving weekend)
Home for the Holidays
Downtown McKinney's signature holiday festival, with a tree lighting on the Square. Free admission. It lands two weeks after Avelo's first DTX flights, so book a room early.
Event detailsUsually the second weekend of April
Arts in Bloom
A free spring arts festival across downtown McKinney, held Friday through Sunday.
Event detailsJuly 4
Red, White and BOOM!
A downtown parade and block party in the morning, then a concert and fireworks at Towne Lake Park.
Event detailsUsually the last weekend of September
McKinney Oktoberfest
A three-day festival around the downtown Square. Free to enter, with paid add-ons.
Event detailsGetting around
The new terminal is about 4.5 miles from the Square, roughly a 9-minute drive. Uber serves McKinney, and downtown has a free trolley Thursday through Sunday, but no DART rail or bus runs in the city. For anything past downtown, a rental car is the practical choice.
Rental cars at DTX →Hotels near your destination
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Closed right now
- McKinney Performing Arts Center. The historic courthouse venue closed February 1, 2026 for renovation, with reopening estimated for fall 2026. Check before buying tickets. Source
- Erwin Park. Closed for roughly a year of renovations, including all trails and camping. Source
Hours, dates, and closures checked against each venue's or the City of McKinney's site on September 17, 2026. For the full events calendar, see Visit McKinney.
Visiting McKinney FAQ
Can you fly into McKinney, Texas?
Yes, starting November 2026. McKinney National Airport (DTX) opens to airline passengers with Avelo Airlines nonstops from Fort Myers (Nov 11), Las Vegas and Orlando (Nov 12), Tampa and Fort Lauderdale (Nov 19), Denver and Atlanta (Dec 16), and Nashville and New Orleans (Dec 17).
What airport do you fly into for McKinney, TX?
McKinney National Airport (DTX) if you're coming from one of Avelo's nine nonstop cities. Otherwise fly into Dallas Love Field, about 32 miles away, or DFW International, about 37 miles away, and drive or take a rideshare north.
How far is McKinney National Airport from downtown McKinney?
About 4.5 miles — roughly a 9-minute drive from the new commercial terminal on FM 546 to the historic Square without traffic.
Do I need a rental car to visit McKinney?
Downtown is walkable and has a free trolley Thursday through Sunday, and Uber operates in McKinney. But there is no DART rail or bus service in the city, so anything beyond downtown — the Heard Museum, Frisco, Legacy West — is much easier with a car.
Is McKinney worth a weekend trip?
If you like small-town downtowns, yes: the historic Square alone fills a day, and Frisco and Plano are 20–25 minutes away for golf, the Cowboys' headquarters, and bigger dining districts. Time it for Home for the Holidays or a Third Monday Trade Days weekend and it's an easy two nights.
How far is McKinney from Dallas?
About 30 miles north of downtown Dallas — roughly 40 minutes without traffic, longer at rush hour on US-75.
When is Home for the Holidays in McKinney in 2026?
Friday through Sunday, November 27–29, 2026 — Thanksgiving weekend — on the downtown Square. Admission is free.