Trip from Houston, TX to Bishop, TX

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

Drive Time

4h 25m

Distance

227.9 mi

367 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 12m ★

6 AM

4h 25m

8 AM

4h 52m

10 AM

4h 34m

12 PM

4h 32m

3 PM

4h 36m

5 PM

4h 50m

8 PM

4h 17m

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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Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Bishop, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

Houston to Bishop is 227.9 miles and takes about 4h 25m via US Highway 59 and US Highway 77 South, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. You'll start in the Great Plains region of Texas and stay within the same region for the entire trip, making for a consistent landscape. This route is predominantly highway driving, offering a straightforward path with minimal complexity. Given its manageable length and duration, it's a solid choice for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.

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

113.9 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US Highway 59	74.7 mi	1h 22m
Alamo Street	37.1 mi	43m
US Highway 77 South	33.2 mi	37m
Southwest Freeway	32.8 mi	37m
I 69E	21.8 mi	23m
US 59	15.8 mi	18m
Smith Street	2.7 mi	5m
I 37	2.5 mi	2m

Longest stretch: US Highway 59 — 74.7 mi, about 1h 22m

Traffic on I-69

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~682 veh/hr typical · worst 936

Quietest

2 AM

~109 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 51 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 Bishop, TX.

Start on Louisiana Street

148 ft · 11 sec · Louisiana Street

Turn left onto Congress Street

298 ft · 14 sec · Congress Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto Smith Street

2.7 mi · 5 min · Smith Street

Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 69; US 59

33 mi · 37 min · Southwest Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 94 Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Merge onto US 59

9.2 mi · 10 min · US 59

Keep slight left at fork onto US 59

6.6 mi · 7 min · US 59

Take the exit

1.5 mi · 2 min

Continue on US 59

75 mi · 1 hr 22 min · US Highway 59

Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91

1.0 mi · 1 min · Spur 91

Merge onto US 77

33 mi · 37 min · US Highway 77 South

Turn straight onto US 77

37 mi · 43 min · Alamo Street

Take the exit onto US 77

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 77

Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77

22 mi · 23 min · I 69E; US 77

Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road

0.1 mi · 17 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road

Turn right onto FM 70

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Farm-to-Market Road 70

Turn left onto US 77 Business

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 77 Business

Arrive at destination

US 77 Business

Trip Plan

Starting your drive from Houston in the morning is recommended to take full advantage of daylight and complete the 4h 25m trip in one go. The estimated fuel cost is around $36, so ensure your tank is full before departing. While the route is a reasonable 227.9 miles, consider a brief stop to break up the longest stretch of 74.7 miles on US Highway 59. Given that this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, pay attention to the transition from highway to surface streets as you near Bishop to avoid missing any turns.

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 113.9 miles from Houston, TX, or about 2h 14m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 50 miles or 1h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 113.9 miles or 2h 14m 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 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bishop, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Houston, TX

This is one driving day of about 227.9 miles and 4h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Houston, 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 US Highway 59 for about 74.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Edna, TX

114 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

Eagle Lake, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Victoria, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 113.9 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 US Highway 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.7 miles.

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Kendleton, Texas

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+12818359419

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 204.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Congress Street

Turn left onto Congress Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Smith Street

Turn left onto Smith Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

2.8 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway

Merge onto I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

35.6 mi into trip | ~44m in

Take the exit toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

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

Exit 94 Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartle...

204.5 mi into trip | ~3h 58m in | I 69E; US 77

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

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. Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.22 one way

$62.43 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 80 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$34.87	$69.73
premium	$4.23	$37.91	$75.82
diesel	$4.80	$43.03	$86.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	68.4	0	$23.93	$10.94
Efficient EV	57	0	$19.94	$9.12
EV Truck/SUV	91.2	1	$31.91	$14.59

Gas CO2

80 kg

EV CO2

27 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 Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Tuesday

Local time

4:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

95°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 5 mph 16% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Bishop, TX

Late night in Bishop on Tuesday

Local time

4:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

96°F

Partly Sunny

SE 15 to 20 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

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

1 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 25m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is mostly highway, with 81% of the 227.9 miles spent on major roadways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 74.7 miles on US Highway 59, indicating a significant amount of uninterrupted cruising. Expect to transition from highway to surface roads, like Alamo Street, as you approach Bishop. The high highway share suggests a generally smooth experience with fewer frequent stops typical of urban areas.

81% 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: 74.7 mi on US Highway 59.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 59 and Alamo Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Congress Street.

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 16 significant decision points across 227.9 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: near the start (Congress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Smith Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

102 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

119 ft

Total Descent

92 ft

Highest Point

102 ft

~48.8 mi in

Elevation Range

67 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Houston, TX and Bishop, TX, road signs point toward Spur 10: Cottonwood and Brownsville.

Spur 10: Cottonwood

35.6 mi in | ~44m

Brownsville

204.5 mi in | ~3h 58m | via I 69E; US 77

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 Bishop, TX

Full guide →

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 4h 25m. Total distance: 227.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 74.7 miles on US Highway 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 11 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 Bishop, 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 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Bishop, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Houston, TX to Bishop, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-69

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Victoria County Southbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Victoria County Northbound Rest Area

Buc-ee's

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area

Downtown Aquarium

Union Station

Cidercade Houston

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

Midtown Park

The Black Cowboy Museum

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Bates Allen Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Houston, TX

Bishop, TX

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 25m on the road

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 Bishop, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

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?

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

How this page is built

Explore More

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