Why go
- City in Texas, United States.
- Served by McAllen Miller International Airport (MFE).
History
McAllen is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located at the southern tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley, on the Mexican border. The city limits extend south to the Rio Grande, across from the Mexican city of Reynosa. As of the 2025 census estimate, McAllen's population was 150,640, making it the most populous city in Hidalgo County, the second most populous city in the Rio Grande Valley, and the 23rd-most populous city in Texas. The city anchors the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan area, the fifth largest metropolitan area in the state of Texas, with 921,549 residents as of 2025. The binational Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan area counts a population of more than 1.5 million.
Where to stay
4801 W Expy 83, McAllen, TX 78503 · wyndhamhotels.com
1921 S 10th St, McAllen, TX 78503 · wyndhamhotels.com
101 N Main St, McAllen, TX 78501 · wyndhamhotels.com
901 S Shary Rd, Mission, TX 78572 · ihg.com
805 Travis St, Mission, TX 78572 · wyndhamhotels.com
101 Grapefruit Blvd Suite A, Mission, TX 78572 · ihg.com
701 S Ware Rd, McAllen, TX 78501 · choicehotels.com
800 Convention Center Blvd, McAllen, TX 78501 · hilton.com
1500 Wichita Ave, McAllen, TX 78503 · bestwestern.com
525 S Ware Rd, McAllen, TX 78501 · hilton.com
3801 W Expy 83, McAllen, TX 78503 · hilton.com
2505 Victoria Dr, Mission, TX 78572 · hilton.com
2721 S 10th St, McAllen, TX 78503 · marriott.com
501 S Ware Rd, McAllen, TX 78501 · marriott.com
609 E Interstate Hwy 2, Mission, TX 78572 · bestwestern.com
Indoor
1813 E Expressway 83, Mission, TX 78572 · motel6.com
Restaurants & places to go
American, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-24:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-01:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery · 306 East Mile 3 Road, Palmhurst,… · restaurants.applebees.com
Ice Cream, Ice Cream · Opening hours: 11:00-22:00 · 1420 East Expressway 83, McAllen, 78503 · locations.baskinrobbins.com
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: 06:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 400 North Jackson Road, Pharr, 78577 · bk.com
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su off Features: takeaway, delivery · 7340 North 10th Street, McAllen, 78504 · chick-fil-a.com
Mexican, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:45-22:00 Features: takeaway · 3400 Expressway 83, McAllen, 78501 · locations.chipotle.com
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 07:30-22:00, Su 07:30-21:00 Features: takeaway · 3400 Expressway 83, McAllen, 78501 · cornerbakerycafe.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-01:00; Su 10:00-24:00 Features: takeaway · 2016 West Nolana Avenue, McAllen, 78504 · pizza.dominos.com
Chinese, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:30; Su 10:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 1401 East Jackson Avenue, McAllen, 78503 · pandaexpress.com
Sandwich, Fast Food · Opening hours: 09:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 3300 Expressway 83, McAllen, 78501 · restaurants.subway.com
Restaurant · live music, karaoke · 601 W Expressway 83, McAllen, 78501 · ponchosrestaurant.com
Seafood, Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00 · 2500 East Expressway 83, Mission, 78572 · el7mares.com
Food Court · Various food trucks with outdoor eating (tables & chairs) Variable hours (each business keeps its own hours - see website for details) · 1200 Ash… · exploremcallen.com
Tex-Mex, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 6617 North 10th Street, McAllen, 78504 · locations.tacobell.com
Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream · Frozen Yogurt ice cream · 201 South Shary Road, Mission, 78572 · menchies.com
Mongolian, Barbecue, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-21:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00 · 529 East Nolana Avenue · khansgrill.com
Snackbar, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 12:00-20:30 · 3501 North Conway Avenue, Mission, 78573-2876 · lapalmaazul.shop
Japanese, Sushi, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 11:00-22:00; Sa 13:00-22:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, delivery · 2229 South 10th Street,… · yasukemcallen.com
Wings, Restaurant · Features: takeaway · 1933 South 10th Street, McAllen, 78503
Donut, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 1420 East Expressway 83, McAllen, 78501
Mediterranean, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 3400 Expressway 83, McAllen, 78501
Filipino, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · 6700 North 23rd Street, McAllen, 78504
Bar And Grill, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-02:00 · 2402 Brock Street, Mission, 78572
Barbecue, Restaurant · Barbecue restaurant · 111 East Nolana Avenue, McAllen, 78504 · acesbbqtexas.com
Juice, Fast Food · Juice fast food · 4217 North McColl Road, McAllen, 78504 · theshacksupplementsandshakes.com
Pretzel, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Italian, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 1943 Expressway 83, Pharr, 78577
Breakfast, Pancake, Restaurant · Breakfast/Pancake restaurant · 1900 South 10th Street
Steak House, Restaurant · Steak House restaurant · 3600 Expressway 83, McAllen, 78501
Asian, Restaurant · Asian restaurant · 3100 Expressway 83, McAllen, 78501
Indian, Restaurant · Indian restaurant
Sushi, Japanese, Restaurant · Sushi/Japanese restaurant · 5025 West Expressway 83, McAllen, 78503
Korean, Restaurant · Korean restaurant · 400 W. Nolana Avenue, McAllen, 78504
French, Restaurant · French restaurant
Cafe · cafe · 4217 North McColl Road, McAllen, 78504 · reservacoffee.com
American, Restaurant · Opening hours: 11:00-19:00 Features: air conditioning · 4901 North 10th Street, McAllen, 78504 · lubys.com
Ice Cream, Ice Cream · Ice Cream ice cream · 3300 Expressway 83, McAllen, 78501
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: takeaway · 703 South Jackson Road, Pharr, 78577 · locations.jackinthebox.com
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: 10:00-22:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · 400 East Nolana Avenue, McAllen, 78504 · popeyes.com
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 17:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 7824 North 23rd Street, McAllen, 78504 · facebook.com
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: 05:00-24:00 Features: takeaway · 1700 South 10th Street, McAllen, 78503 · starbucks.com
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: 10:30-23:00 Features: takeaway · 6101 North 23rd Street, McAllen, 78504 · littlecaesars.com
Chinese, Restaurant · Features: air conditioning · 4008 North 10th Street, McAllen, 78504 · houseofchina.biz
Sandwich, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-22:00 · 1308 East Expressway 83, McAllen, 78503
Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 17:00-02:00; Sa-Su 14:00-02:00 · 4037 West Expressway 83, McAllen, 78503 · nowherelounge.com
119 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
General Lucio Blanco International Airport (REX) 14 mi to the centre
Reynosa, TAM, MX — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 4 airlines (Birmingham European, AeroMéxico, Aeromar, Interjet (ABC Aerolineas)) · direct flights to 5 destinations incl. Mexico City, Poza Rico, Cancun, Guadalajara, Vera Cruz (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 4 airlines, 5 direct destinations
- Birmingham European VB (737-300) · 4 routes: Cancun, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Vera Cruz
- AeroMéxico AM (Embraer 170, ATR) · 2 routes: Mexico City, Poza Rico
- Aeromar VW (ATR) · 1 route: Poza Rico
- Interjet (ABC Aerolineas) 4O (SU9) · 1 route: Mexico City
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
McAllen Miller International Airport (MFE) 3.4 mi to the centre
McAllen, TX, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 5 airlines (Aeromar, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, United Airlines…) · direct flights to 5 destinations incl. Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Las Vegas, Mexico City, San Luis Potosi (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 5 airlines, 5 direct destinations
- Aeromar VW (CRJ, ATR) · 2 routes: Mexico City, San Luis Potosi
- Allegiant Air G4 (757, MD-80) · 1 route: Las Vegas
- American Airlines AA (A319, M83, MD-80) · 1 route: Dallas-Fort Worth
- United Airlines UA (CRJ, ERJ) · 1 route: Houston*
- US Airways US (A319, M83, MD-80) · 1 route: Dallas-Fort Worth
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
South Texas International at Edinburg Airport 19 mi to the centre
Edinburg, TX, US
Gross Private Airport 3.5 mi to the centre
Mc Allen, TX, US
Mid-Valley Dusters Inc Airport 9.6 mi to the centre
Alamo, TX, US
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is McAllen Miller International Airport (MFE); 16 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: MFE has direct flights to 5 destinations on 5 airlines (incl. Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Las Vegas, Mexico City, San Luis Potosi).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for McAllen-Mission, Texas. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach