Trip from Houston, TX to Andrews, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 46m

Distance

513.7 mi

827 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$70

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

9h 37m ★

6 AM

9h 46m

8 AM

10h 4m

10 AM

9h 52m

12 PM

9h 51m

3 PM

9h 53m

5 PM

10h 3m

8 PM

9h 41m

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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Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

city in and county seat of Andrews County, Texas, United States

Andrews, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spanning 513.7 miles across the vast landscapes of Texas, this journey from Houston to Andrews typically takes about 9 hours and 46 minutes of drive time. You will primarily navigate via I-10 West, the Katy Freeway, and TX-71 West to reach your destination. While a single-day push is physically possible, it is a demanding trek, and we recommend splitting the trip over two days to keep your travel manageable. Expect to budget approximately $76 for fuel depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains, you can anticipate a consistent regional feel as you transition from the coastal plains toward the high plains of West Texas.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

256.9 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
TX 71	126.4 mi	2h 15m
Katy Freeway	74.1 mi	1h 20m
United States Highway 87	71.2 mi	1h 16m
US Highway 87 North	70.3 mi	1h 10m
State Highway 176	57.4 mi	1h 11m
East State Highway 71	44.1 mi	59m
West Highway 71	22.4 mi	31m
US 87	18.6 mi	20m

Longest stretch: TX 71 — 126.4 mi, about 2h 15m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

7 AM

~5,971 veh/hr typical · worst 7,284

Quietest

2 AM

~653 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 37 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 Houston, TX and Andrews, TX.

Start on Louisiana Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Louisiana Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward I 10 West: San Antonio

Merge onto I 10; US 90

74 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Katy Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto TX 71

0.5 mi · 33 sec · TX 71

Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71

77 mi · 1 hr 22 min · TX 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on 71 Toll

1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · East State Highway 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 71

7.4 mi · 8 min · East Ben White Boulevard

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 290; TX 71

4.9 mi · 5 min · US 290; TX 71

Use the straight lane.

Turn slight right onto West Highway 71

22 mi · 31 min · West Highway 71

Continue on TX 71

42 mi · 56 min · East State Highway 71

Use the right lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 71

1.5 mi · 2 min · TX 71

Turn left onto TX 29; TX 71

2.7 mi · 3 min · West Young Street

Continue on TX 71

47 mi · 50 min · TX 71

Turn right onto US 87; US 377

2.8 mi · 3 min · US 87; US 377

At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 190; US 377

0.3 mi · 19 sec · Commerce Street

Turn straight onto US 87

71 mi · 1 hr 16 min · United States Highway 87

Continue on US 87; Loop 306

4.1 mi · 5 min · South Bryant Boulevard

Continue on US 87; US 277

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Koenigheim Street

Continue on US 87; US 277; US 67 Bus

4.3 mi · 6 min · North Bryant Boulevard

Continue on US 87

23 mi · 23 min · US Highway 87 North

Continue on US 87

16 mi · 16 min · US 87

Turn straight onto US 87; TX 158; TX 163

47 mi · 47 min · US Highway 87 North

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward TX 176

Turn left onto TX 176

57 mi · 1 hr 11 min · State Highway 176

Continue on TX 115; TX 176

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Broadway Street

Turn left

76 ft · 5 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To tackle this 513.7-mile route comfortably, aim for an early departure to avoid peak congestion leaving the Houston metro area. We suggest scheduling at least two dedicated stops to break up the nearly 10-hour drive and prevent fatigue. Since you are crossing a significant distance, monitoring your fuel levels is vital as you head toward Andrews, as service intervals can become more spaced out in the more rural segments of the trip. Splitting your journey into two days will allow you to arrive in West Texas feeling refreshed rather than exhausted. A helpful tip for this specific transit is to keep a physical map or offline navigation handy, as connectivity can be inconsistent once you move away from the primary interstate corridors.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 256.9 miles from Houston, TX, or about 4h 58m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.4 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

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

First stop

Around 113 miles or 2h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 256.9 miles or 4h 58m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 256.9 miles or 4h 58m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 30m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Houston, 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.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Houston, TX

Aim for roughly 257 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Andrews, TX

Aim for roughly 257 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 113 miles from Houston, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on TX 71 for about 126.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Williamson County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Jarrell, TX

170 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Brownwood, TX

339 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Brownwood, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Kempner, TX

257 mi · about 4.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Kempner, TX after about 257 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Austin, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 113 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brownwood, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 256.9 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before TX 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 126.4 miles.

Overnight split

2.4 mi from route

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

San Angelo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18322743377

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 233.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway

Merge onto I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

74.6 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | TX 71

Take the exit onto TX 71 toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin

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

Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin

75.2 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | TX 71

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

163.9 mi into trip | ~2h 57m in | US 290; TX 71

Keep slight left at fork onto US 290; TX 71

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

233.1 mi into trip | ~4h 31m in | TX 71

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 71

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$70.36 one way

$140.72 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 180 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$78.59	$157.18
premium	$4.23	$85.45	$170.90
diesel	$4.80	$97.00	$193.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$70

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$200–$310

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 179.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	154.1	1	$53.94	$24.66
Efficient EV	128.4	1	$44.95	$20.55
EV Truck/SUV	205.5	2	$71.92	$32.88

Gas CO2

180 kg

EV CO2

60 kg (67% 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 Jul 20, 2026

Origin

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Monday

Local time

3:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Mostly Clear

SW 5 to 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 7:59PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 7:57PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Destination

Andrews, TX

Late night in Andrews on Monday

Local time

3:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy

S 5 to 10 mph 23% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 7:59PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 7:57PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

91°F

Brownwood, TX

339 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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 cooler at arrival

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

Road read

9h 46m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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.

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 212.6

Park Closure: Texas White House Complex Closure

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a long-distance drive that transitions from the heavy traffic of the Houston area onto the open stretches of West Texas. The route combines the high-speed utility of the Katy Freeway and I-10 with the shifting character of TX-71. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, which keeps the pace steady despite the significant mileage. As you move further inland, the road environment opens up significantly, offering a different driving experience than the dense urban sprawl of your starting point. Be prepared for a sustained, consistent flow that requires focus over several hours behind the wheel.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 126.4 mi on TX 71.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 71 and Katy Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 513.7 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 0.6 miles (I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.6 miles (TX 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.2 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,176 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

3,337 ft

Total Descent

196 ft

Highest Point

3,176 ft

~513.7 mi in

Elevation Range

3,141 ft

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 Houston, TX to Andrews, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Austin along the way.

Austin

74.6 mi in | ~1h 22m | via TX 71

About the Cities

Starting 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. === Welcome World Cup fans === Games will be played at NRG Stadium on the south side of Houston The best way to get to the stadium on game day is to use MetroRail trains (red line to NRG Stadium/Astrodome). Fare cards can be purchased at kiosks at train platforms and cost US$1.25 per ride The best hotels for football fans are downtown or near the medical center (both areas have easy access to MetroRail).

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

Arriving in Andrews, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1937

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 126.4 miles on TX 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 257 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 18 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 Andrews, 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.8 hours each way, a round trip means 19.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Andrews, 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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Explore more options from Houston, TX or browse trips ending in Andrews, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Houston, TX to Andrews, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-10

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Concho County Rest Area

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

Flying J Travel Center

Buc-ee's

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Coke County Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Pilot Travel Center

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area

Colorado County Westbound Rest Area

TXB Market

Downtown Aquarium

Union Station

Kirby Park

Cidercade Houston

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

Midtown Park

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

International Waterlily Collection

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Houston, TX

Andrews, TX

Same local time

7 degrees cooler at arrival

9h 46m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Houston, TX

Arriving in Andrews, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

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

Explore More

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