Hinote accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy in 1995, and initially planned on a career with the FBI. He left the Academy in 1996 when he became the first NHL player ever to be drafted from West Point when the Colorado Avalanche selected him in the 7th round (167th overall pick) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

Dan subsequently spent one and a half seasons playing major junior hockey for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL before turning pro with Colorado's AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, midway through the 1997–98 season.

Hinote cracked the Avs' roster in the 1999–2000 season out of training camp, but spent most of that season in Hershey before making the NHL roster for good the next season. Hinote demonstrated good offensive potential as an NCAA, OHL and AHL player. However, at the NHL level he has been known more for his defensive skills and efficient penalty killing than for scoring. Hinote was a member of the Stanley Cup champion Avalanche in 2001.

In 2004–05, he joined Modo Hockey of the Swedish Elitserien during the NHL lockout.

On July 3, 2006, he signed a multi-year contract with the St. Louis Blues as an unrestricted free agent. A shoulder injury limited Hinote to only 41 games in his first season with the Blues. A recurring hip injury caused him to miss 24 games during the 2007–08 season.

On September 4, 2009, it was announced that Hinote would participate in the San Jose Sharks training camp for the 2009–10 season. He did not make the roster and was released by the Sharks on September 27, 2009. On November 18, 2009, Hinote signed a one-year contract with MoDo Hockey in the Swedish Elitserien, the club he played for during the 2004–05 NHL lockout.

After completing the 2009–10 season with Modo, Hinote retired from professional hockey and was named as an assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1, 2010.

On July 25, 2008, Hinote married Amy McCarthy, Playboy Cybergirl of the Week in September 2004 and younger sister of actress Jenny McCarthy.