# Apartment Locator McKinney TX | Free, No Credit Pull > McKinney apartment locator, free, with no credit pull. Rents fall from west to east, so we pick places that fit your income, credit and move date. URL: https://apartmentlocatordallas.com/neighborhoods/mckinney/ Serving McKinney and surrounding areas # McKinney Apartment Locator: Craig Ranch to SH-5, and the US-380 Traffic McKinney spreads wide, and rent falls as you head east. New midrise and garden communities line Custer Road, Lake Forest Drive and Craig Ranch on the west side. Central McKinney has lots of older garden buildings with plenty of three bedrooms. Near SH-5 and the courthouse square, older buildings still have a person reading applications. US-380 traffic shapes the commute from every one of them. Get My List [/get-my-list/ →](/get-my-list/) Call (945) 800-3851 [tel:+19458003851 →](tel:+19458003851) Areas covered 8 We reply Mon to Fri, 9:00am to 6:00pm Cost to you $0 Credit pull None - Costs you nothing Your list and our help are free - No credit pull We never touch your screening report - We reply during our hours Mon to Fri, 9:00am to 6:00pm. Your budget and move date are all we need. - TREC #562021 Spirit Real Estate Group The gap ## McKinney apartments by size this week We checked 58 places in McKinney on November 6, 2026. Prices count any firm free rent, spread over the lease, and are before fees. - Studio: $1,078 a month typical, from $863, 8 places with one available, 4 with a special - 1 Bedroom: $1,191 a month typical, from $874, 54 places with one available, 29 with a special - 2 Bedroom: $1,702 a month typical, from $1,139, 56 places with one available, 31 with a special - 3 Bedroom: $2,307 a month typical, from $1,696, 45 places with one available, 28 with a special - 4 Bedroom: $2,977 a month typical, from $2,440, 11 places with one available, 9 with a special ## McKinney rents this week We check these numbers every week. Updated November 6, 2026. Where a place has a firm move-in special, its rent counts the free rent spread evenly over the lease. Rents are before fees. 58 communities in McKinney had homes available; 33 listed a move-in special. Method: https://apartmentlocatordallas.com/rent-data-methodology/ Our read this week: Count their free rent, and newer buildings here cost only about $146 a month more than middle age ones ($1,271 vs. $1,126 for a 1 bedroom). That's not much extra for a newer home. 7 buildings here are brand new or still opening, and 4 of them have a move-in special right now. New buildings have to fill up fast, so they usually give the biggest deals. The typical 4 bedroom went up $92 since November 1. | Size | Communities with available apartments | Lowest rent | Middle half | Typical starting rent | Typical $/sq ft | Since November 1 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Studio | 8 | $863 | $1,004 to $1,188 | $1,078 | $2.21 | up $22 | | 1 bed | 54 | $874 | $1,082 to $1,285 | $1,191 | $1.81 | down $8 | | 2 bed | 56 | $1,139 | $1,492 to $1,880 | $1,702 | $1.54 | no change | | 3 bed | 45 | $1,696 | $1,988 to $2,693 | $2,307 | $1.56 | up $14 | | 4 bed | 11 | $2,440 | $2,717 to $3,259 | $2,977 | $1.45 | up $92 | | Building class | Communities | Typical 1 bed | $/sq ft | With a special | Typical weeks free | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Newer (Class A) | 24 | $1,271 | $1.88 | 67% | 6 | | Middle (Class B) | 33 | $1,126 | $1.51 | 48% | 4 | - Cheapest 1 bedroom here: 1 bed listed from $874 (515 sq ft), Class B - Cheapest 2 bedroom here: 2 bed listed from $1,395 (1082 sq ft), Class B. Special: $2,500 Off First Month + $500 Look and Lease - Cheapest studio here: Studio listed from $863 (497 sq ft), Class B - Cheapest 3 bedroom here: 3 bed listed from $1,845 (1530 sq ft), Class B - Most free rent here: 1 bed listed from $1,649 (709 sq ft), Class A. Special: 6 Weeks Free. About $1,459/mo net effective over a 12 month lease - Could be the cheapest 3 bedroom: 3 bed listed from $1,922 (1315 sq ft), Class B. Special: Up to 8 Weeks Free on Apartment Homes - Could be the cheapest 4 bedroom: 4 bed listed from $2,440 (1683 sq ft), Class B. Special: Up to 6 Weeks Free; up To 6 Weeks Free on Select Homes with Tour and Lease; Additional $500 Off Second Full Month with Look and Lease Rents are the lowest listed price for an available apartment of each size in our weekly check. We leave out income restricted, tax credit, 55+ and student communities. Prices can change any day, so get the final price in writing from the building before you apply. ## Areas we cover inside McKinney - **Craig Ranch**: Craig Ranch is the planned district in southwest McKinney near SH-121 and Alma Road, with the TPC Craig Ranch golf course. Newer midsize and garden apartments sit near its town center, and SH-121 is the route to Frisco and Plano. - **Adriatica Village**: Adriatica is the village built in a Croatian style at Stacy Road and SH-121 in southwest McKinney, with stone buildings around a central square. Homes sit above and beside its shops, along the small Lake Adriatica. - **Historic Downtown McKinney**: The square around the old Collin County courthouse is the center of McKinney's historic downtown. Older houses, duplexes and a few newer apartment buildings sit on the surrounding blocks, and most of the square is walkable. - **SH-5 Corridor**: SH-5 (McDonald Street) runs north and south through east McKinney near the rail line. Older apartments, rental houses and shops sit along it, and it runs straight to downtown. - **Custer Road Corridor**: On McKinney's west side, Custer Road crosses both SH-121 and US-380. Garden apartments and subdivisions line it, and the drive south toward Plano is easy. - **Lake Forest Drive**: Lake Forest Drive runs north and south through the west central part of McKinney. Garden apartments and subdivisions sit along it, with US-380 and SH-121 at either end. - **Eldorado Parkway**: Eldorado Parkway crosses west McKinney east to west toward Frisco and Prosper. Shopping centers and several apartment communities sit along it, and it connects to US-75 on the east end. - **Stonebridge Ranch**: Stonebridge Ranch is the large planned community in west McKinney, with golf, lakes and trails. Rentals are mostly houses under homeowners association rules, and Virginia Parkway and Eldorado Parkway carry most of the traffic. ## McKinney Apartments Get Cheaper the Farther East You Go - We price east, central and west McKinney on their own, since one citywide average fits none of them - East side buildings near SH-5 where a manager, not software, decides on your application - We look at commutes with the US-380 rush hour in mind, which can turn a short trip on the map into a long drive ## US-75, US-380 and the Rush Hour Drive Two roads decide most McKinney commutes: US-75, north and south toward Allen, Plano and Dallas, and US-380 (University Drive) across the middle of the city. US-380 jams at both rush hours, so two buildings a few miles apart on either side of US-75 can be very different drives at 5pm. Clock the trip from each address at the hour you'd really leave. There's no rail here, so every address means a car. Inside the city, Eldorado Parkway, Virginia Parkway and Stacy Road run east and west, and Custer Road, Lake Forest Drive and SH-5 run north and south. SH-121 on the southwest side is the tolled route toward Frisco. ## West, central and east McKinney The west side runs from Custer Road and Lake Forest Drive down to Craig Ranch and Adriatica. It has the newest garden and midrise buildings at the top of the city's prices, plus townhomes built to rent. Buildings still filling up there lead with free rent. Price it with our [specials guide](/move-in-specials/) before you compare. Central McKinney is the broad middle: older garden communities at moderate rents and plenty of three bedroom plans. They screen by written rules but take guarantor companies, bigger deposits and co-signers when income is steady. East toward SH-5 and the courthouse square, the buildings are older and many still have a manager on site who makes the call. Been turned down elsewhere? The east side is the place to look, though your income still has to meet their bar. ## What a week in McKinney looks like McKinney is a big Collin County city with an old courthouse square on the east side and newer shopping and parks out west. You'll drive for nearly everything, and many Saturdays start downtown. ### McKinney by car No train serves McKinney, so plan on driving. US-75 runs along the east side toward Allen and Plano, and the Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH-121) cuts across the southwest corner toward Frisco. Legacy West is about 18 minutes away in our 8am drive times. DFW Airport takes about 36, the Medical District 42 and Downtown Dallas 46, and the evening rush adds up to 11 more. The square is the one part of town made for walking. - **Sam Rayburn Tollway** (toll road): The fast way to Frisco and Legacy West from the southwest side; budget the tolls each month if you'll take it to work. ### Dog parks, lake loops and nature trails Bonnie Wenk Park on the west side is one of the busiest parks in town, with its own large dog park. Towne Lake Park, close to the center of the city, wraps around a lake with paths for an easy walk. Finch Park is an older park closer to the square, and Gabe Nesbitt Community Park on Eldorado Parkway has a loop trail and courts. To the south, the Heard museum and wildlife sanctuary mixes trails through wetlands with live animals. - **Towne Lake Park** (park): Our pick for a loop around the water before work, close to the middle of town and easy to reach from either side. - **Bonnie Wenk Park** (park): Bring the dog on a weekday evening, when the off leash area is calmer and the summer heat starts to break. - **Gabe Nesbitt Community Park** (park): Walk the loop trail on a weekday evening, or book a court for pickleball on Eldorado Parkway. ### Where McKinney eats out The square is the main place to go out, with restaurants and patios on the blocks around the old courthouse, busiest on Friday and Saturday nights. Hutchins BBQ is the barbecue name people know here, so go early for weekend lunch. Out west, The Yard McKinney and The Stix Icehouse are big open air hangouts with plenty of room to spread out. Craig Ranch and Adriatica Village add more sit down dinners on the southwest side. - **McKinney Square** (dining district): Park once and walk the blocks around the courthouse for dinner, dessert and a drink, busiest on weekend nights. - **Hutchins BBQ** (barbecue): Get there before the lunch rush on Saturday; the line moves, and the smoked meats are why people drive in. - **The Yard McKinney** (outdoor restaurant): A good pick on a mild evening when you want food, drinks and space outside without dressing up. - **The Stix Icehouse** (icehouse): Grab a cold drink and a seat outside on a Friday after work, when the west side heads out for the weekend. ### Groceries, shopping centers and the Saturday market Groceries are easy here. Trader Joe's, WinCo Foods and El Rancho Supermercado all sit within about 2 miles of the middle of the city. Cameron Crossing, Eldorado Plaza and Heritage Square cover the rest of the weekly run. On Saturdays, the McKinney Farmers Market sets up at Chestnut Square, a few blocks south of the square. It runs 8am to noon from April through December and 9am to noon the rest of the year. - **McKinney Farmers Market at Chestnut Square** (farmers market): Go right at opening on a Saturday for the best produce, then walk a few blocks north for coffee on the square. - **Cameron Crossing** (shopping center): A one stop lot for errands and a quick meal, close to the middle of town and easy to reach from US-75. - **Trader Joe's** (grocery): Stop in for snacks, frozen meals and flowers; the lot gets tight on weekend afternoons, so weekday evenings are easier. ### Festivals, shows and an old village Historic Downtown McKinney hosts the city's big street parties, led by Oktoberfest on a weekend in late September. The McKinney Performing Arts Center sits right on the square, with concerts and shows through the year. Chestnut Square Historic Village keeps a set of old homes and a museum a few blocks south. For a slower day outside, the Heard Museum's sanctuary trails are a short drive south. - **Historic Downtown McKinney** (historic district): Come for Oktoberfest in late September or any weekend stroll; parking near the square fills fast on festival days. - **McKinney Performing Arts Center** (theater): Check the calendar for a concert or show on the square, then make it a night with dinner a block away. - **Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary** (nature preserve): Plan a cool morning on the trails and boardwalks, then step inside to see the animals when it warms up. - **Chestnut Square Historic Village** (museum): Walk through the old homes on a Saturday after the farmers market, since both are on the same grounds. ### What we tell McKinney renters On Oktoberfest weekend and other big event days, parking downtown fills and the blocks around the square stay busy into the night. If quiet matters, tour a home near the square on an event day. The farmers market is busiest in the first hour, so go early or go late. If you'll drive to Legacy West every day, compare the Sam Rayburn Tollway with free roads before you choose a side of town. ## McKinney questions Which side of McKinney fits my budget? West of US-75, around Custer Road, Lake Forest Drive and Craig Ranch, rents sit at the top of the city's range. Central McKinney's older garden communities land in the middle, and the east side near SH-5 and the square runs lowest. Across McKinney, the middle one bedroom rent is $1,191 in this week's data. How bad is US-380 at 5pm? Bad enough to choose your side of town for you. University Drive backs up at both rush hours, so drive it from the address you like at the hour you'd really leave before you commit. Which school district covers my address here? McKinney ISD covers most of the city, with slices in Frisco, Prosper, Allen, Lovejoy and Melissa ISD. Look up the street on the district's website. Where are the flexible buildings on the east side? Near SH-5 and the historic square, where older buildings still have a manager deciding applications by hand. Income still has to meet their bar. A person reads your file, but not everyone gets in. Can I rent with bad credit? Often. Start on the east side near SH-5, where a person decides instead of scoring software. The central garden communities work with guarantor companies, bigger deposits and co-signers if pay is steady. Details are in our [low credit guide](/bad-credit-accepted/). Where are McKinney's three bedroom rentals? Mostly in the older central garden communities. For more privacy, the houses and townhomes built to rent around Craig Ranch and central McKinney add more three bedroom choices. Can I walk to the McKinney square? From some east side addresses near SH-5, yes. From Craig Ranch or Custer Road it's a drive across the city, so check the walk from the exact building. Is there an apartment locator near McKinney? Yes, and we work McKinney one side of town at a time. We ask the newest Craig Ranch buildings about this month's offers and the SH-5 managers about who they'll consider. Then we send places on the side that fits your budget and your drive. ## Near McKinney Frisco is the SH-121 neighbor to the southwest, Plano sits down US-75, and East Plano has older buildings close to the train. ### Frisco The Star District · Rail District · Stonebriar [Frisco →](/neighborhoods/frisco/) ### Plano Legacy West · Downtown Plano · Spring Creek [Plano →](/neighborhoods/plano/) ### East Plano Jupiter Road Corridor · Shiloh Road Area · 14th Street Corridor [East Plano →](/neighborhoods/east-plano/) ## Looking in McKinney? Give us a budget and a side of US-75, and we'll send McKinney places that fit, with the US-380 drive in mind. [low credit apartments](/bad-credit-accepted/) · [new McKinney area buildings](/new-apartments/) · [how specials really price](/move-in-specials/) [Get my list →](/get-my-list/) Free to renters · No credit pull · Brokered by Spirit Real Estate Group, TREC #562021