Trip from Houston, TX to Cresson, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 1m

Distance

265.1 mi

427 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 48m ★

6 AM

5h 1m

8 AM

5h 28m

10 AM

5h 11m

12 PM

5h 8m

3 PM

5h 12m

5 PM

5h 27m

8 PM

4h 53m

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

city on tripoint of Hood, Johnson and Parker Counties in Texas, United States

Cresson, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Houston to Cresson is 265 miles and takes about 5 hours via TX 6, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the Great Plains, remaining entirely within the state. For the most part, you'll be on highway stretches, making it a fairly straightforward trip. If you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss, this option covers the distance efficiently, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.

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

132.6 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
TX 6	50 mi	53m
North State Highway 6	43.3 mi	43m
Purple Heart Trail	31.5 mi	31m
I 35W	26.1 mi	26m
Aggie Expressway	24.8 mi	27m
North State Highway 171	12.9 mi	18m
Tomball Parkway	12.3 mi	15m
West US Highway 67	9.9 mi	12m

Longest stretch: TX 6 — 50 mi, about 53m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~1,924 veh/hr typical · worst 2,733

Quietest

2 AM

~303 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.3×

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 Cresson, TX.

Start on Louisiana Street

474 ft · 19 sec · Louisiana Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn right onto Franklin Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Franklin Street

Turn left onto Travis Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Travis Street

Take the ramp

1.0 mi · 2 min

Toward I 45 North Express Lane

Merge onto I 45

8.3 mi · 10 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 57B Toward TX 249 Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto North Freeway Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 39 sec · North Freeway Frontage Road

Turn left onto TX 249

2.9 mi · 4 min · West Mount Houston Road

Use the straight / left lanes.

Continue on TX 249

3.8 mi · 6 min · Tomball Parkway

Continue on TX 249

8.4 mi · 9 min · Tomball Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TBT

7.3 mi · 8 min · Tomball Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 249 Toll

3.6 mi · 4 min · MCTRA 249 Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 249 Toll

25 mi · 27 min · Aggie Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 105

5.8 mi · 6 min · State Highway 105

Turn right onto TX 105

0.2 mi · 16 sec · State Highway 6

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Merge onto TX 6

50 mi · 53 min · TX 6

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6

5.8 mi · 5 min · North State Highway 6

Continue on TX 6

2.2 mi · 3 min · South Main Street

Continue on TX 6

37 mi · 37 min · North State Highway 6

Continue on TX 6

2.2 mi · 2 min · South Memorial Street

Continue on TX 6

9.1 mi · 9 min · East State Highway 6

Take the exit onto TX 6

0.3 mi · 33 sec · TX 6

Turn right onto Loop 340

4.9 mi · 6 min · East Loop 340

Take the exit

354 ft · 10 sec

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 23 sec

Toward I 35 North

Merge onto I 35; US 77

31 mi · 31 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

26 mi · 26 min · I 35W

Toward I 35W: Fort Worth Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 26A Toward US 67: Cleburne, Dallas Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on South Interstate 35W

0.3 mi · 36 sec · South Interstate 35W

Turn left onto US 67

9.9 mi · 12 min · West US Highway 67

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Toward TX 174 North: Burleson

Turn right onto TX 174

0.1 mi · 21 sec · North Main Street

Turn left onto West Industrial Boulevard

1.3 mi · 3 min · West Industrial Boulevard

Turn right onto TX 171

3.2 mi · 4 min · Weatherford Highway

Continue on TX 171

13 mi · 18 min · North State Highway 171

Turn right onto US 377

31 ft · 0 sec · East US Highway 377 Business

Arrive at destination

US 377

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour duration, leaving Houston in the morning makes sense for a same-day arrival in Cresson. You'll likely only need one stop for fuel and a break, which you can plan around the 50-mile stretch on TX 6. The estimated fuel cost of $40 is helpful for budgeting, but always check current prices. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time slightly based on traffic or your personal schedule. Keep an eye out as you approach Cresson, as the highway may give way to more local roads.

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 132.6 miles from Houston, TX, or about 2h 32m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50 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 58 miles or 1h 11m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 132.6 miles or 2h 32m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cresson, 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 265.1 miles and 5h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 TX 6 for about 50 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Somerville, TX

133 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

Washington, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Groesbeck, TX

1.5 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 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 236.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

Turn right onto Franklin Street

Navigation decision point

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Travis Street

Turn left onto Travis Street

Navigation decision point

9.7 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward TX 249

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 57B Toward TX 249

210.7 mi into trip | ~3h 53m in | I 35W

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 35W: Fort Worth

236.9 mi into trip | ~4h 20m in

Take the exit toward US 67: Cleburne, Dallas

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 26A Toward US 67: Cleburne, Dallas

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.31 one way

$72.62 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$40.56	$81.12
premium	$4.23	$44.10	$88.19
diesel	$4.80	$50.06	$100.11

Estimated Tolls: $0.76

Tomball Tollway (7.3 mi) $0.51

MCTRA 249 Tollway (3.6 mi) $0.25

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 92.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	79.5	0	$27.84	$12.72
Efficient EV	66.3	0	$23.20	$10.60
EV Truck/SUV	106	1	$37.11	$16.97

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% 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 Sunday

Local time

4:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 1:41AM CDT until July 21 at 11:48PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 1:40AM CDT until July 22 at 9:50AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Cresson, TX

Late night in Cresson on Sunday

Local time

4:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Partly Cloudy

S 10 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 1:41AM CDT until July 21 at 11:48PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 1:40AM CDT until July 22 at 9:50AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

96°F

Somerville, TX

133 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.

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

5 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

5h 1m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

6 mi from route ~15 min detour Free near mile 182.9

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is primarily highway driving, with 77% of the route on roads like TX 6 and North State Highway 6. You can expect a long stretch of 50 miles on TX 6 without needing to divert. As you get closer to Cresson, expect the highway feel to gradually transition to more local roads. The profile is mostly highway, so anticipate a relatively consistent driving experience with fewer complex intersections compared to a purely urban route.

77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 50 mi on TX 6.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 6 and North State Highway 6. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Franklin Street.

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 22 significant decision points across 265.1 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 0.1 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Travis Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,055 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

1,131 ft

Total Descent

111 ft

Highest Point

1,055 ft

~265.1 mi in

Elevation Range

1,020 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 Cresson, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Dallas along the way.

Dallas

236.9 mi in | ~4h 20m

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 Cresson, TX

Full guide →

Founded 2001

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 5h 1m. Total distance: 265.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 50 miles on TX 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.76 in tolls one way, starting with Tomball Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 10 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 Cresson, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cresson, 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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Trip from Houston, TX to Cresson, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-35

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Buc-ee's

TA

Service Plaza

Downtown Aquarium

Union Station

Cidercade Houston

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

Midtown Park

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Children's Museum Houston

Houston Zoo

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Houston, TX

Cresson, TX

Same local time

5 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 1m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Waco Mammoth National Monument

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 Cresson, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

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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