Where Is Allen, Texas? Location, County, Region, and Nearby Cities

Introduction

Allen is a city in Collin County, Texas, in North Central Texas. It lies about 25 miles north of downtown Dallas and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Allen sits between Plano to the south and McKinney to the north, making it part of the large suburban area north of Dallas. The city is also near U.S. Highway 75, a major north-south route through the region.

Featured Snippet Answer

Allen, Texas, is a city in Collin County in North Central Texas. It is about 25 miles north of downtown Dallas and sits between Plano and McKinney. Allen is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and is located along the U.S. 75 corridor in the northern Dallas suburbs.

Quick Facts

Fact	Information
City	Allen
State	Texas
County	Collin County
Region	North Central Texas
Metro Area	Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington
Country	United States
Approximate Coordinates	33.1° N, 96.7° W
Nearby Major City	Dallas
Nearby Cities	Plano, McKinney, Frisco
Major Highway	U.S. Highway 75
Time Zone	Central Time
Elevation	About 200 meters
Land Area	About 26.4 square miles

Allen is officially a city in Collin County, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area. The U.S. Census Bureau identifies Allen as a Texas city with about 26.4 square miles of land area.

Where Is Allen, Texas Located?

Allen is in North Central Texas, in the northern part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Its position places it north of Dallas and between several major communities in Collin County.

The city is approximately 25 miles north of downtown Dallas. Plano lies directly to the south and southwest, while McKinney is north of Allen. Lucas is east of Allen, and parts of the surrounding area connect with other North Texas communities.

On a map of Texas, Allen is well away from the state’s borders. It is located in the northeastern part of the state’s broad North Central Texas region, where the Dallas metropolitan area extends north into Collin County.

What County Is Allen, Texas In?

Allen is in Collin County.

Collin County is one of the major counties in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area. It includes cities such as Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Wylie, and Allen. The county has grown rapidly and had an estimated population of more than 1.29 million in 2025.

Allen’s location within Collin County helps explain its position between Plano and McKinney. The city is part of a connected suburban area that extends north from Dallas.

What Region Is Allen, Texas In?

Allen is generally described as being in North Central Texas.

For broad U.S. regional classification, Texas is part of the South. However, North Central Texas is more useful when describing Allen’s local geographic position.

Allen is also closely tied to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, often called the DFW area or Metroplex. This larger metropolitan region includes Dallas, Fort Worth, and many surrounding cities and suburbs.

The city’s regional setting is important because Allen is not an isolated community. It is connected to the larger North Texas urban area through major roads and nearby cities.

Is Allen North or South of Dallas?

Allen is north of Dallas.

Downtown Dallas is about 25 miles south of Allen. The two cities are connected by major north-south transportation routes, including U.S. Highway 75.

This makes Allen one of the northern suburban communities associated with Dallas. As you travel north from Dallas, you pass through communities such as Richardson and Plano before reaching Allen and then McKinney farther north.

The exact distance can vary depending on the starting point in Dallas and the point in Allen being measured.

How Far Is Allen From Plano?

Allen is immediately north of Plano.

Plano borders Allen on its southern and southwestern sides. Because the two cities are directly connected, the distance between them is relatively short compared with the distance from Allen to central Dallas.

This close relationship also makes Plano one of the most useful reference points for understanding Allen’s location.

How Far Is Allen From McKinney?

McKinney is north of Allen, and the two cities are neighboring communities in Collin County.

Allen is roughly 8 miles south of McKinney by road, although the exact distance depends on the locations used for the measurement.

McKinney is also the county seat of Collin County, making it an important geographic reference for Allen.

How Far Is Allen From Dallas?

Allen is about 25 miles north of downtown Dallas.

The city’s location along the U.S. 75 corridor provides a direct north-south connection toward Dallas. A distance of roughly 25 miles is a useful geographic estimate, although road distance can change depending on the starting and ending points.

Dallas itself is the largest nearby major city and the main urban reference point for Allen’s location.

What Cities Are Near Allen, Texas?

Several cities are close to Allen:

• Plano — south and southwest
• McKinney — north
• Lucas — east
• Parker — south
• Fairview — north and northeast
• Frisco — west and northwest

These communities are all part of the broader North Texas urban area. Collin County lists Allen, McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Lucas, Parker, and Fairview among its cities and towns.

This network of nearby cities gives Allen its distinct position within the northern Dallas suburbs.

What Is Allen’s Position on a Map?

Allen is located at approximately 33.1° north latitude and 96.7° west longitude. The Texas State Historical Association lists coordinates near 33.1087° N and 96.6736° W for Allen.

These coordinates place Allen in the inland portion of North Central Texas, north of Dallas and within Collin County.

The city’s map position can be understood with three simple reference points:

Dallas is south, McKinney is north, and Plano is immediately to the south and southwest.

That arrangement makes Allen relatively easy to locate within the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area.

What Major Roads Are Near Allen?

U.S. Highway 75 is one of the most important transportation routes through Allen. The highway runs north and south through the Dallas-area suburbs and connects Allen with Plano, Dallas, McKinney, and communities farther north.

State Highway 121 also provides an important connection westward across the North Texas region. The City of Allen’s planning information identifies U.S. 75 and State Highway 121 as major transportation routes serving the city.

These roads help place Allen within the larger transportation network of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Is Allen Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Area?

Yes. Allen is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Although Allen is a separate incorporated city and is located in Collin County, its close connection to Dallas and other North Texas cities makes it part of the larger DFW metropolitan region.

The city is about 25 miles north of central Dallas, while Fort Worth is much farther west. For everyday geographic reference, Dallas is the more useful major-city landmark when describing Allen’s location.

What Time Zone Is Allen, Texas In?

Allen uses the Central Time Zone.

During daylight saving time, the city observes Central Daylight Time (CDT), UTC−5. During standard time, it observes Central Standard Time (CST), UTC−6.

The time zone is the same as Dallas and most of Texas.

Is Allen in East Texas or West Texas?

Allen is not in East Texas or West Texas. It is in North Central Texas.

The city sits in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, north of Dallas and within Collin County. This places it in the central-northern part of the state rather than in the eastern or western sections of Texas.

Is Allen a City or a Town?

Allen is an incorporated city in Texas.

The city is officially identified as Allen, Texas, and is located in Collin County. The U.S. Census Bureau classifies Allen as a city, while the Texas State Historical Association’s historical entry also records its incorporation and its place in Collin County.

Allen had a population of 104,627 in the 2020 Census, and the U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population at 113,447 in July 2025.

Allen, Texas, on the North Texas Map

A simple way to understand Allen’s location is to picture the northern Dallas area as a line of connected cities.

Dallas → Plano → Allen → McKinney

Allen sits between Plano and McKinney along the U.S. 75 corridor. Frisco is farther west, while Lucas and other Collin County communities are to the east.

This position makes Allen part of one of the most developed suburban areas north of Dallas. It is close enough to Dallas to be strongly connected to the city while remaining a separate municipality in Collin County.

FAQs

What state is Allen, Texas in?

Allen is in Texas, in the southern United States. It is located in North Central Texas and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

What county is Allen, Texas in?

Allen is in Collin County, Texas. Collin County also includes Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Wylie, and several other cities.

How far is Allen from Dallas?

Allen is approximately 25 miles north of downtown Dallas. The exact distance varies depending on the locations used for the measurement.

Is Allen near Plano?

Yes. Plano is directly south and southwest of Allen, making it one of the closest major cities to Allen.

Is Allen near McKinney?

Yes. McKinney is directly north of Allen. The cities are only about 8 miles apart by road in a typical city-to-city measurement.

What region of Texas is Allen in?

Allen is in North Central Texas and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

What time zone is Allen, Texas in?

Allen is in the Central Time Zone. It observes CDT during daylight saving time and CST during standard time.

What are the coordinates of Allen, Texas?

Allen is located at approximately 33.1° N, 96.7° W. More precise geographic references place the city near 33.1087° N and 96.6736° W.

Conclusion

Allen, Texas, is a city in Collin County in North Central Texas, about 25 miles north of downtown Dallas. It sits between Plano and McKinney and forms part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Its location along U.S. Highway 75 places it within the connected network of northern Dallas suburbs.