Trip from Cisco, TX to Houston, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 21m

Distance

329.8 mi

531 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

6h 9m ★

6 AM

6h 22m

8 AM

6h 47m

10 AM

6h 31m

12 PM

6h 28m

3 PM

6h 32m

5 PM

6h 46m

8 PM

6h 14m

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

Best Time

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Cisco, TX

Thomas balabaud

Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Trip Overview

Embarking on a 329.8-mile journey from Cisco, TX, to Houston, TX, this drive is designed for a single day, typically taking around 6 hours and 21 minutes. You'll primarily be on East State Highway 6 and I-20, with a significant portion of the drive being highway-focused. With an estimated fuel cost of $50, this route offers a straightforward path across the Great Plains region of Texas. It's a manageable distance for a day trip, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.

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

164.9 miles from Cisco, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 15m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East State Highway 6	46.6 mi	46m
East 2nd Street	42.4 mi	48m
I 20	37.2 mi	37m
North Earl Rudder Freeway	30.1 mi	31m
TX 6	28.5 mi	33m
Aggie Expressway	24.7 mi	27m
State Highway 108	22.2 mi	33m
South US Highway 281	17.4 mi	19m

Longest stretch: East State Highway 6 — 46.6 mi, about 46m

Traffic on I-20

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~909 veh/hr typical · worst 1,389

Quietest

2 AM

~165 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.5×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 98 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on TX 6

37 ft · 8 sec · East 8th Street

Turn left onto US 183

1.0 mi · 1 min · Conrad Hilton Boulevard

Continue on US 183

392 ft · 9 sec · US Highway 183

Turn left onto East Interstate 20

0.1 mi · 18 sec · East Interstate 20

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward I 20 East: Fort Worth

Merge onto I 20

37 mi · 37 min · I 20

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Exit 370 Toward SH 108 South, FM 919: Gordon, Stephenville

Turn straight onto TX 108

0.2 mi · 29 sec · West Interstate 20

Turn right onto TX 108

22 mi · 33 min · State Highway 108

Continue on TX 108

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Graham Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on TX 108

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Graham Avenue

Continue on TX 108

0.8 mi · 1 min · South State Highway 108

At end of road, turn right onto US 281

17 mi · 19 min · South US Highway 281

Continue on US 281; TX 6

0.6 mi · 40 sec · North 2nd Street

Continue on TX 6

42 mi · 48 min · East 2nd Street

Continue on TX 6

3.3 mi · 5 min · Avenue C

Continue on TX 6

29 mi · 33 min · TX 6

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec

Continue on TX 6

9.1 mi · 9 min · East State Highway 6

Continue on TX 6

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Memorial Street

Continue on TX 6

37 mi · 37 min · East State Highway 6

Continue on TX 6

2.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

Continue on TX 6

6.2 mi · 6 min · North State Highway 6

Continue on US 79; TX 6

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Market Street

Continue on US 190; TX 6

14 mi · 14 min · South State Highway 6

Continue on US 190; TX 6

30 mi · 31 min · North Earl Rudder Freeway

Continue on TX 6

3.4 mi · 3 min · State Highway 6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward East TX 105, Spur 515: Conroe

Turn straight onto TX 105

0.2 mi · 24 sec · State Highway 6

Turn left onto TX 105

5.9 mi · 6 min · State Highway 105

Turn straight onto TX 249

25 mi · 27 min · Aggie Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 249 Toll

3.6 mi · 4 min · MCTRA 249 Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TBT

7.0 mi · 8 min · Tomball Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 249

13 mi · 16 min · Tomball Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 249

1.8 mi · 3 min · West Mount Houston Road

Turn right onto Veterans Memorial Drive

1.8 mi · 3 min · Veterans Memorial Drive

Continue on North Freeway Frontage Road

0.1 mi · 13 sec · North Freeway Frontage Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

453 ft · 11 sec

Toward I 45 South

Merge onto I 45

7.4 mi · 9 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 45

271 ft · 3 sec · Gulf Freeway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Exit 48A Toward I 10 East: Beaumont Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward Milam Street Use the slight left lane.

Continue on Milam Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Milam Street

Turn right onto Prairie Street

328 ft · 13 sec · Prairie Street

Turn right onto Louisiana Street

516 ft · 16 sec · Louisiana Street

Arrive at destination

Louisiana Street

Trip Plan

For this 6-hour, 21-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Cisco to maximize your daylight hours. With only one suggested stop and a longest stretch of 46.6 miles, you can be flexible with your pacing. Keep an eye on fuel, especially as you get closer to Houston, and factor in the estimated $50 fuel cost. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of potential traffic congestion as you approach the Houston metropolitan area, which can significantly impact your arrival time.

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 164.9 miles from Cisco, TX, or about 3h 15m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.6 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 73 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 164.9 miles or 3h 15m 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 8m

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 Cisco, 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 Cisco, TX

This is one driving day of about 329.8 miles and 6h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Cisco, 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 East State Highway 6 for about 46.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Troy, TX

165 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Stephenville, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, TX

1.5 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

2 mi from route

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

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

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

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 38.6 and 328.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

38.6 mi into trip | ~39m in

Take the exit toward SH 108 South, FM 919: Gordon, Stephenville

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

Exit 370 Toward SH 108 South, FM 919: Gordon, Stephenvil...

263.1 mi into trip | ~4h 59m in

Take the exit toward East TX 105, Spur 515: Conroe

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

Toward East TX 105, Spur 515: Conroe

321.1 mi into trip | ~6h 9m in | I 45 / North Freeway

Merge onto I 45 / North Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

328.5 mi into trip | ~6h 18m 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

328.9 mi into trip | ~6h 19m 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

$50.50 one way

$100.99 round trip

$3.89/gal 25.4 MPG avg 115 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.29	$55.73	$111.46
premium	$4.64	$60.22	$120.44
diesel	$6.18	$80.23	$160.46

Estimated Tolls: $0.74

Tomball Tollway (7 mi) $0.49

MCTRA 249 Tollway (3.6 mi) $0.25

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

$51

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$76–$101

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 115.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	98.9	1	$34.63	$15.83
Efficient EV	82.5	0	$28.86	$13.19
EV Truck/SUV	131.9	1	$46.17	$21.11

Gas CO2

115 kg

EV CO2

39 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 Oct 17, 2026

Origin

Cisco, TX

Afternoon in Cisco on Saturday

Local time

4:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

40°F

Clear

N 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK

Destination

Houston, TX

Afternoon in Houston on Saturday

Local time

4:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Partly Cloudy

N 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK

65°F

Troy, TX

165 mi in

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

17 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

6h 21m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 147.8

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 78% of the route utilizing major roadways. You can expect stretches of consistent speed, particularly on I-20. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 46.6 miles along East State Highway 6, offering a solid period of cruising without frequent turns. While the character is largely highway-centric, transitions between East State Highway 6 and East 2nd Street will introduce slight variations in the driving experience as you navigate different road types.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Starting in Cisco, TX

Full guide →

Top landmarks

• Conrad Hilton Center — building in Cisco, Eastland County, 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 6h 21m. Total distance: 329.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 46.6 miles on East State Highway 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.74 in tolls one way, starting with Tomball 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.

Yes — we found about 14 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Cisco, TX to Houston, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-20

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

I-20 Westbound Picnic Area

I-20 Eastbound Picnic Area

Love's Travel Stop

Eastland County Eastbound Rest Area

Eastland County Westbound Rest Area

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

QuikTrip

Service Plaza

Flying J Travel Center

Downtown Aquarium

Union Station

Cidercade Houston

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

Midtown Park

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Lakewood Crossing Park

Children's Museum Houston

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Cisco, TX

Houston, TX

Same local time

17 degrees warmer at arrival

6h 21m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Cisco, TX

Arriving in Houston, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

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