Traveling from Gladewater to Houston covers 213.7 miles, a journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 37 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate sprint, you should plan for a full day on the road. You can easily manage this trip in a single day, making it a straightforward trek across the Great Plains region of Texas. Budget approximately $32 for fuel to complete the transit. It is a practical choice if you prefer a more hands-on driving experience over the monotony of major freeways, though you should be prepared for constant navigation.
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
106.4 miles from Gladewater, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Gladewater, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on US 271
0.3 mi·24 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn slight right onto US 271
1.6 mi·1 min·South Tyler Street
3
Turn left onto TX 135
11 mi·13 min·State Highway 135
4
Keep slight left at fork
48 ft·0 sec
5
Enter roundabout onto Houston Street
103 ft·1 sec·Houston Street
6
Continue on Houston Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Houston Street
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 259 Business; TX 42
16 mi·19 min·South Henderson Boulevard
8
Continue on US 79; US 259
1.7 mi·2 min·Highway 79
9
Turn left onto US 259
16 mi·18 min·US Route 259
10
Continue on US 259
2.9 mi·3 min·North Railroad Avenue
11
Continue on US 259
3.0 mi·3 min·US Route 259
12
Continue on US 259
11 mi·12 min·US Highway 259
13
Take the exit
224 ft·6 sec
Toward US 59 South: Lufkin
14
Continue on this road
420 ft·11 sec·this road
15
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
16
Turn left
104 ft·4 sec
17
Turn right onto US 59
0.7 mi·47 sec·North US Highway 59
18
Continue on US 59
6.4 mi·7 min·Northwest Stallings Drive
19
Continue on US 59; TX 7; TX 21; Loop 224
0.4 mi·25 sec·Stallings Drive
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
21
Turn straight
223 ft·6 sec
22
Merge onto US 59
1.3 mi·1 min·South Street
23
Continue on US 59
19 mi·22 min·South US Highway 59
24
Take the exit
396 ft·9 sec
Toward South First Street
25
Turn straight onto South Medford Drive
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Medford Drive
26
Turn left onto US 59 Bus
4.1 mi·5 min·South First Street
27
Continue on US 59
1.3 mi·1 min·US 59
28
Continue on US 59
111 mi·2 hr 1 min·Diboll Relief Route
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 132Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
31
Merge onto I 10; US 90
0.5 mi·35 sec·East Freeway
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 769BToward San Jacinto Street, Main StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Turn straight onto Providence Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Providence Street
34
Continue on North San Jacinto Street
0.3 mi·31 sec·North San Jacinto Street
35
Continue on Fannin Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·Fannin Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
36
Turn right onto Prairie Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·Prairie Street
37
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
516 ft·16 sec·Louisiana Street
38
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
For the best experience, aim to depart early in the morning to account for the frequent turns and local traffic patterns inherent in this 3-hour and 37-minute drive. While the trip is short enough to complete in one go, scheduling at least one stop will help you stay alert during the navigation-intensive sections. Keep your $32 fuel budget handy and fill up before you leave Gladewater to avoid searching for stations along the more local stretches. Since this route avoids major highways, use a reliable GPS to stay on track through the various turns on Highway 135 and local streets. This flexibility allows you to set your own pace without the pressure of heavy interstate traffic.
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 106.4 miles from Gladewater, TX, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111 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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.4 miles or 2h 5m 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 20m
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 Gladewater, 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 Gladewater, TX
This is one driving day of about 212.7 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Gladewater, 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 Diboll Relief Route for about 111 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 211.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13.3 mi into trip|~15m in|Houston Street
Enter roundabout onto Houston Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
14 mi into trip|~17m in|US 259 Business; TX 42 / South Henderson Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto US 259 Business; TX 42 / South Henderson Boulevard
Navigation decision point
8
210.5 mi into trip|~4h in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 132
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Anto...
8
210.7 mi into trip|~4h in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
211.4 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Take the exit toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
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 769B
Toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.14 one way
$64.28 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$35.18
$70.36
premium
$4.54
$37.98
$75.95
diesel
$5.61
$46.96
$93.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.8
0
$22.33
$10.21
Efficient EV
53.2
0
$18.61
$8.51
EV Truck/SUV
85.1
1
$29.78
$13.61
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 13, 2026
Origin
Gladewater, TX
Late night
in Gladewater on Tuesday
Local time
5:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Houston, TX
Late night
in Houston on Tuesday
Local time
5:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 to 15 mph21% chanceLive 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
18 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 4m 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 very different experience than your typical interstate highway cruise on this 213.7-mile route. Since the highway share is 0%, your journey relies entirely on local roads like South Tyler Street, Highway 135, and Houston Street. This creates a technical, turn-heavy drive that requires your full attention behind the wheel. You will navigate through local transitions rather than settling into a long, uninterrupted stretch of pavement. The character of the road remains consistent in its local focus, demanding frequent adjustments and careful navigation as you make your way toward Houston.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111 mi on Diboll Relief Route.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 miles in near Houston Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 212.7 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 13.3 miles (Houston Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14 miles (US 259 Business; TX 42 / South Henderson Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 210.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gladewater is a city in the Central Piney Woods region of Texas. It's probably best known for being Elvis Presley's base early in his career, and Johnny Cash wrote "I Walk the Line" 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 4m. Total distance: 212.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111 miles on Diboll Relief Route. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 13.3 miles (Houston Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14 miles (US 259 Business; TX 42 / South Henderson Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 210.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Houston, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
