Trip from Houston, TX to Crane, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 40m

Distance

499.9 mi

805 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$76

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

8h 33m ★

6 AM

8h 41m

8 AM

8h 56m

10 AM

8h 46m

12 PM

8h 44m

3 PM

8h 47m

5 PM

8h 55m

8 PM

8h 36m

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

Crane, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

Houston, TX to Crane, TX is 499.9 miles and takes about 8h 40m via I 10, with a fuel budget near $78 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip spans across the Great Plains, primarily within Texas, and offers a mostly highway experience. Given the 8 hour 40 minute drive time, it's recommended to split this drive over two days for a more relaxed pace. You'll encounter the Katy Freeway and Anderson Loop as part of your journey, with a significant portion on I 10.

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

250 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 24m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	250.5 mi	3h 59m
Katy Freeway	174.9 mi	3h 1m
Anderson Loop	20.4 mi	22m
US 385	20 mi	22m
Farm to Market Road 305	18.1 mi	26m
Farm-to-Market Road 1518	5.4 mi	9m
US 190	4 mi	5m
South Burleson Avenue	2.3 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 250.5 mi, about 3h 59m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~1,584 veh/hr typical · worst 2,261

Quietest

2 AM

~235 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.7×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Crane, 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

175 mi · 3 hr 1 min · Katy Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

1.9 mi · 1 min · I 10; US 90; TX 130

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 14 sec

Exit 591 Toward TX 1518: Schertz Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Interstate 10 East

Turn right onto FM 1518

5.4 mi · 9 min · Farm-to-Market Road 1518

At end of road, turn left onto FM 78

2.0 mi · 3 min · Gordon A Blake Highway

Turn left

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Take the ramp

265 ft · 6 sec

Toward Loop 1604 North

Merge onto Loop 1604

20 mi · 22 min · Anderson Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Toward Frontage Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Loop 1604 West

0.2 mi · 25 sec · North Loop 1604 West

Turn right onto Interstate 10 West

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Interstate 10 West

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Toward I 10 West, US 87 North

Merge onto I 10; US 87

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

247 mi · 3 hr 56 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 307 Toward US 190, FM 305: Iraan, McCamey

Continue on I 10 Service Road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · I 10 Service Road

Turn right onto US 190

4.0 mi · 5 min · US 190

Turn left onto FM 305

18 mi · 26 min · Farm to Market Road 305

Continue on FM 305

2.3 mi · 3 min · South Burleson Avenue

Continue on US 385

20 mi · 22 min · US 385

Arrive at destination

US 385

Trip Plan

For this 499.9-mile drive, consider splitting it into two days to avoid fatigue and fully enjoy the trip. An overnight stop would place you roughly halfway, allowing for a more manageable 4-5 hour drive each day. Plan your departure to maximize daylight, especially if you choose to drive it in a single push. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch on I 10 is over 250 miles, and it's wise to refuel before that segment if needed. The recommended 2-day plan allows for 2 stops along the way.

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 250 miles from Houston, TX, or about 4h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 250.5 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 110 miles or 1h 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 250 miles or 4h 24m 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 250 miles or 4h 24m

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 7h 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Crane, 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 250 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Crane, TX

Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 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 I 10 for about 250.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

census designated place in Bexar County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Timberwood Park, TX

250 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 Timberwood Park, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Timberwood Park, TX

250 mi · about 4.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Timberwood Park, TX after about 250 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

College Station, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Timberwood Park, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 250 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 I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 250.5 miles.

Overnight split

1.2 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 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17135336500

Visit website

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 0.6 and 455.1 — 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.

177.4 mi into trip | ~3h 5m in

Take the exit toward TX 1518: Schertz

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 591 Toward TX 1518: Schertz

205.7 mi into trip | ~3h 41m in

Take the exit toward Frontage Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Frontage Road

207.7 mi into trip | ~3h 44m in | I 10; US 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

455.1 mi into trip | ~7h 40m in

Take the exit toward US 190, FM 305: Iraan, McCamey

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

Exit 307 Toward US 190, FM 305: Iraan, McCamey

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$75.89 one way

$151.78 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 175 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$83.64	$167.29
premium	$4.58	$90.14	$180.28
diesel	$5.35	$105.29	$210.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$76

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$206–$316

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 174.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	150	1	$52.49	$24.00
Efficient EV	125	1	$43.74	$20.00
EV Truck/SUV	200	2	$69.99	$31.99

Gas CO2

175 kg

EV CO2

58 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 Jun 2, 2026

Origin

Houston, TX

Afternoon in Houston on Wednesday

Local time

3:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

E 0 to 10 mph 40% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued June 2 at 6:33AM CDT until June 4 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Destination

Crane, TX

Afternoon in Crane on Wednesday

Local time

3:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Partly Sunny

SE 10 to 15 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued June 2 at 6:33AM CDT until June 4 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi 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.

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

8h 40m 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.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

19 mi from route ~48 min detour Free near mile 189.6

View on nps.gov

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...

26 mi from route ~66 min detour Free near mile 241.3

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 about 90% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 250.5 miles on I 10. After this, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. Expect a consistent cruising speed for the majority of this route, with fewer complex intersections until you near your destination.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 250.5 mi on I 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 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 8/10

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 499.9 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: at 0.6 miles (I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 177.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 205.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,577 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

2,871 ft

Total Descent

329 ft

Highest Point

2,577 ft

~499.9 mi in

Elevation Range

2,542 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 Crane, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 North, Fm 305: Iraan and Mccamey.

Loop 1604 North

185.3 mi in | ~3h 19m

Fm 305: Iraan

455.1 mi in | ~7h 40m

Mccamey

455.1 mi in | ~7h 40m

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.

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 250.5 miles on I 10. 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 250 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 54 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 Crane, 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 54 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and 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 8.7 hours each way, a round trip means 17.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Crane, 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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