Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
73.1 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Brenham, TX
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick getaway from Houston, the 73.1-mile trek to Brenham is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 28 minutes. Since this is a short journey, you can easily complete it as a one-day excursion, though staying overnight allows for a more relaxed pace. You will navigate using a combination of I-10 West, the Katy Freeway, and I-610 to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel makes this an affordable escape within the Texas Great Plains. Because the entire route remains within the same region, you will find the transition between these two Texas locales to be seamless and manageable for any driver.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Freeway | 46.2 mi | 53m |
| US Highway 290 | 14.3 mi | 15m |
| Katy Freeway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| South Blue Bell Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Gun and Rod Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Alamo Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Louisiana Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Brenham, TX.
Start on Louisiana Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; US 90
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 290
Continue on US 290
Take the exit
Turn right onto FM 577
Continue on FM 577
Turn left onto East Alamo Street
Continue on East Main Street
Turn left onto South Park Street
Turn left onto US 290 Bus
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 8.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 610
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 610 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward US 290 West: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward US 290 West: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward West 34th Street, Antoine Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$11.05 one way
$22.09 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $12.09 | $24.18 |
| premium | $4.54 | $13.05 | $26.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.14 | $32.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.68 | $3.51 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.40 | $2.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.23 | $4.68 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Houston on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Brenham on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you start by navigating major arteries like I-610 and the Katy Freeway, the route quickly shifts away from high-speed highway travel. You will find no long, uninterrupted stretches on I-10 West, as the journey emphasizes local roads that demand your full attention behind the wheel. This profile creates a more engaging, hands-on driving atmosphere compared to a typical long-haul commute. Prepare for a road that rewards focused driving as you transition from the dense urban infrastructure of Houston toward the smaller-scale roads leading into Brenham.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Northwest Freeway and US Highway 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
“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
Founded 1844
Brenham is a city in the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas. It is the county seat of Washington, County and is about halfway between Houston and Austin on U.S. Highway 290. Brenham is largely known throughout Texas for its proximity to the Birthplace of Texas (Washington, Texas) and its largest employer, Blue Bell Creameries. Brenham has a humid subtropical climate so expect very hot, humid summers. Conversely, the winters are very mild, and the coldest temperatures of the year rarely get below freezing.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 73.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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