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Trip from Abilene, TX to Houston, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 7m

Distance

382.1 mi

615 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$58

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
6h 56m ★
6 AM
7h 7m
8 AM
7h 29m
10 AM
7h 15m
12 PM
7h 13m
3 PM
7h 16m
5 PM
7h 28m
8 PM
7h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Abilene, TX, TX

Abilene, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown houston-tx

Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Trip Overview

This 367.6-mile journey from Abilene, TX to Houston, TX will take you approximately 5 hours and 52 minutes to complete. Designed as a single-day trip, it's a drive that stays entirely within the Great Plains region. You'll navigate using local roads like Chestnut Street, South 7th Street, and South Treadaway Boulevard, with no highway segments involved. Budget around $56 for fuel, and expect to make just one planned stop along the way. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive, offering a different pace than highway travel.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

191.1 miles from Abilene, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Texas State Highway 71 137 mi 2h 25m
US 183 51.8 mi 57m
US 83 44.8 mi 50m
South US Highway 183 35.3 mi 38m
US Highway 84 East 29.2 mi 33m
US 67 21.5 mi 24m
183A Toll Road 14.3 mi 14m
US 84 12 mi 13m
Longest stretch: Texas State Highway 71 — 137 mi, about 2h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Abilene, TX and Houston, TX.

1

Start on South Pine Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · South Pine Street
2

Turn left onto Chestnut Street

0.4 mi · 59 sec · Chestnut Street
3

Turn left onto South 7th Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · South 7th Street
4

Turn right onto US 83 Bus

4.1 mi · 6 min · South Treadaway Boulevard
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward US 83 South, US 84 East: Ballinger, Coleman
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 34 sec
7

Merge onto US 83; US 84

45 mi · 50 min · US 83; US 84
8

Continue on US 84; US 283; TX 206

0.6 mi · 46 sec · US 84; US 283; TX 206
9

Turn left onto US 84; US 283

11 mi · 12 min · US 84; US 283
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on US 67; US 84

21 mi · 24 min · US 67; US 84
11

Turn right onto US 84; US 183

1.3 mi · 1 min · Garmon Drive
12

Continue on US 84; US 183

29 mi · 33 min · US Highway 84 East
13

Turn right onto US 183; TX 16

22 mi · 25 min · US 183; TX 16
14

Continue on US 183; US 190

15 mi · 15 min · US 183; US 190
15

Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281

260 ft · 4 sec · North US Highway 281
16

Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281

2.3 mi · 4 min · North Key Avenue
17

Continue on US 183

35 mi · 38 min · South US Highway 183
18

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 29 sec · this road
19

Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll

14 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on US 183

15 mi · 17 min · US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Continue on 183 Toll

6.3 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Continue on US 183

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Use the slight left / straight lanes.
24

Continue on TX 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Turn straight onto 71 Toll

1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Continue on TX 71

0.5 mi · 29 sec · East State Highway 71
27

Continue on TX 71

137 mi · 2 hr 25 min · Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway Use the slight left lane.
29

Merge onto I 10 Toll

3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway
30

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Merge onto I 10; US 90

11 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
32

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 769A Toward Downtown, Theatre District Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Continue on Smith Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Smith Street
34

Turn left onto Preston Street

331 ft · 16 sec · Preston Street
35

Turn left onto Louisiana Street

179 ft · 5 sec · Louisiana Street
36

Arrive at destination

Louisiana Street

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour and 52-minute duration, departing Abilene in the morning is recommended to ensure you reach Houston with ample daylight. With only one suggested stop, plan this break strategically for fuel and a quick stretch. The estimated fuel cost is $56, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Abilene. Since this is a local, turn-heavy drive, pay close attention to your GPS and be ready for frequent changes in direction, especially as you navigate through the main roads like Chestnut Street and South Treadaway Boulevard.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 191.1 miles from Abilene, TX, or about 3h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 84 miles or 1h 39m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 191.1 miles or 3h 39m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houston, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Abilene, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Abilene, TX

This is one driving day of about 382.1 miles and 7h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Abilene, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Texas State Highway 71 for about 137 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Wells Branch, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wells Branch, TX

191 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Wells Branch, TX to Houston, TX

159.5 mi · 3h 13m

Pacing Suggestions

Brownwood, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Leander, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 191.1 miles from Abilene, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Houston, Texas

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Houston, Texas

1.1 mi

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13462417524

Visit website

Children's Museum Houston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+17135221138

Visit website

Rest Area

0 mi from route

Rest Area US-84 US-283

0 mi from route

San Saba Picnic Area

0 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.2 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.2 mi from route

TA

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.4 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

1.2 mi from route

Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area

2.1 mi from route

Colorado County Westbound Rest Area

2.1 mi from route

Paramount Theatre

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Abilene, Texas

+13256769620

Visit website

12th Armored Division Memorial

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13256776515

Visit website

Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Visit website

Union Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, Texas

+17132598070

Visit website

Brown County Museum of History

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Brownwood, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13256411926

Visit website

The Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Brownwood, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+13256436376

Visit website

The Discovery Center & Truth Bookstore

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Abilene, Texas

Hours: 1–5 pm

+13256735050

Visit website

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+17137520314

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 381.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
5.2 mi into trip | ~9m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
189.3 mi into trip | ~3h 37m in | 183A Toll / 183A Toll Road

Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll / 183A Toll Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
225.1 mi into trip | ~4h 16m in

Take the exit toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom Internation...
6
367.1 mi into trip | ~6h 47m in

Take the exit toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
8
381.5 mi into trip | ~7h 5m in

Take the exit toward Downtown, Theatre District

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 769A Toward Downtown, Theatre District

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$57.74 one way

$115.47 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 134 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $63.20 $126.39
premium $4.54 $68.22 $136.44
diesel $5.61 $84.36 $168.73

Estimated Tolls: $1.23

183A Toll Road (14.3 mi) $1.00
Katy Tollway (3.2 mi) $0.23

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$58

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$84–$109

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 133.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 114.6 1 $40.12 $18.34
Efficient EV 95.5 1 $33.43 $15.28
EV Truck/SUV 152.8 1 $53.49 $24.45

Gas CO2

134 kg

EV CO2

45 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Abilene, TX

Late night in Abilene on Tuesday

Local time

3:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Tuesday

Local time

3:47 AM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

7h 7m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Prepare for a route characterized by frequent turns, as indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on local roads for the entire 367.6 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the nature of the drive suggests a constant need for navigation adjustments rather than long periods of cruising. This route demands your attention as you transition through various local thoroughfares, making it a more engaging experience than a straight interstate run.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137 mi on Texas State Highway 71.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and US 183. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 382.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 189.3 miles (183A Toll / 183A Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 225.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Abilene, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward 71 Toll East along the way.

71 Toll East

227.8 mi in | ~4h 19m | via 71 Toll

About the Cities

Starting in Abilene, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1881

Abilene is a city in the North Central Plains of Texas, possibly best known as the destination the fictional family of the Abilene paradox travels to.

Top landmarks

  • • Hardin–Simmons University — private university in Abilene, Texas, United States
  • • Hotel Wooten — historic place in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas
  • • First Presbyterian Church — church at 402 Orange Street in Abilene, Texas

Arriving in Houston, TX

Full guide →

“Space City” · Founded 1836

Houston is a sprawling port city in Southeastern Texas. An oil boom and continuing international immigration has brought explosive growth to the city, and it is now the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and the most diverse large city since 2021. While at first glance, the city appears to be a 9-5 central business district surrounded by a sea of suburbs and strip malls, there are many hidden gems to be discovered.

Top landmarks

  • • Museum of Fine Arts, Houston — art museum in Houston, Texas
  • • Astrodome — historic place in Houston, Harris County, Texas
  • • Rothko Chapel — building in Houston, Harris County, Texas

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 7m. Total distance: 382.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.23 in tolls one way, starting with 183A Toll Road. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Houston, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 189.3 miles (183A Toll / 183A Toll Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 225.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Houston, TX before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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