Traveling from Addison to Houston covers 253.5 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 1 minute. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will remain in a familiar landscape throughout the duration of your trip. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $38 for fuel to complete the transit. While this is a straightforward trek, the turn-heavy nature of the local roads means you should plan for a focused, active driving experience rather than a passive cruise.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.2 miles from Addison, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway
237.2 mi
4h 9m
Dallas North Tollway
10.5 mi
12m
Addison Road
0.5 mi
1m
North Pearl Street
0.4 mi
1m
Belt Line Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Harry Hines Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
Milam Street
0.4 mi
1m
Louisiana Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 237.2 mi, about 4h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Addison, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on this road
84 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left
66 ft·6 sec
3
Turn right onto Addison Circle
200 ft·11 sec·Addison Circle
4
Turn left onto Addison Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Addison Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto Belt Line Road
0.4 mi·54 sec·Belt Line Road
6
Turn straight
283 ft·10 sec
7
Turn straight onto Dallas Parkway
163 ft·3 sec·Dallas Parkway
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward DNT South
9
Merge onto DNT
11 mi·12 min·Dallas North Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward Harry Hines Boulevard, Downtown
11
Continue on Harry Hines Boulevard
0.4 mi·53 sec·Harry Hines Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn slight left
370 ft·11 sec
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Moody Street
327 ft·8 sec·Moody Street
14
Continue on North Pearl Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Pearl Street
15
Turn left onto Woodall Rodgers Freeway
288 ft·5 sec·Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Use the left lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 45 SouthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Merge onto I 45
3.1 mi·3 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45
234 mi·4 hr 5 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 45
271 ft·3 sec·Gulf Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 48AToward I 10 East: BeaumontUse the slight left / straight lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Milam StreetUse the slight left lane.
22
Continue on Milam Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Milam Street
23
Turn right onto Prairie Street
328 ft·13 sec·Prairie Street
24
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
516 ft·16 sec·Louisiana Street
25
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 1-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid local congestion. Aim to incorporate at least one stop to break up the drive, which will help manage the fatigue that can come from navigating turn-heavy local roads. Since you are not sticking to high-speed highways, keep a close watch on your route navigation to ensure you remain on track through the various turns. Keep your $38 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling schedule, as local roads may offer different gas station accessibility compared to major interstates. Taking a short break midway will make the 253.5-mile journey much more manageable and comfortable behind the wheel.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 126.2 miles from Addison, TX, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237.2 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 56 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.2 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 42m
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 Addison, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Addison, TX
This is one driving day of about 252.3 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Addison, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Julius Schepps Freeway for about 237.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 251.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Addison Road
Turn left onto Addison Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
11.8 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Harry Hines Boulevard, Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Harry Hines Boulevard, Downtown
6
13.1 mi into trip|~18m in|Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Turn left onto Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
251.1 mi into trip|~4h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East: Beaumont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 48A
Toward I 10 East: Beaumont
7
251.5 mi into trip|~4h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Milam Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Milam Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.12 one way
$76.25 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$41.73
$83.46
premium
$4.54
$45.05
$90.09
diesel
$5.61
$55.70
$111.41
Estimated Tolls: $0.84
Dallas North Tollway
(10.5 mi)$0.84
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
$38
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.7
0
$26.49
$12.11
Efficient EV
63.1
0
$22.08
$10.09
EV Truck/SUV
100.9
1
$35.32
$16.15
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Addison, TX
Late night
in Addison on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Houston, TX
Late night
in Houston on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
7 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
4h 32m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route relies on local roads like Addison Circle, Addison Road, and Belt Line Road, resulting in a highway share of 0%. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on Addison Circle is 0 miles, you will navigate frequent turns and transitions throughout the drive. This configuration requires your full attention, as the road character demands constant maneuvering through local environments. You won't find long, straight stretches here, so prepare for a drive that feels more like a series of connected local segments than a high-speed highway transit.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 237.2 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Dallas North Tollway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Addison Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 252.3 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 0.1 miles (Addison Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.1 miles (Woodall Rodgers Freeway): Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 252.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 237.2 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.84 in tolls one way, starting with Dallas North Tollway. 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Addison Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.1 miles (Woodall Rodgers Freeway): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Houston, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
