Trip from Houston, TX to Jefferson, TX

Pin this trip

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

Drive Time

4h 27m

Distance

234.1 mi

377 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 14m ★

6 AM

4h 28m

8 AM

4h 54m

10 AM

4h 37m

12 PM

4h 34m

3 PM

4h 38m

5 PM

4h 53m

8 PM

4h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

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

Jefferson, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Houston to Jefferson is 234.1 miles and takes about 4h 27m via US 59/I-69, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, primarily within Texas. Expect a straightforward trip dominated by highway travel, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. The route is efficient, allowing you to reach your destination with ample time for other activities.

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

117 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 59	57.5 mi	1h 5m
I-69	42 mi	44m
US 59 Business	40.4 mi	46m
Eastex Freeway	37 mi	43m
TX 315	24.9 mi	25m
US Highway 259	11.2 mi	12m
Southwest Stallings Drive	5.9 mi	6m
Southwest Loop	3.1 mi	3m

Longest stretch: US 59 — 57.5 mi, about 1h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Jefferson, TX.

Start on Louisiana Street

474 ft · 19 sec · Louisiana Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn right onto Franklin Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Franklin Street

Turn left onto San Jacinto Street

0.4 mi · 49 sec · San Jacinto Street

Turn straight onto Rothwell Street

348 ft · 7 sec · Rothwell Street

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Toward US 59 East, I 10 East

Merge onto I 10; US 90

0.5 mi · 38 sec · East Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 770C Toward I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Merge onto I 69; US 59

37 mi · 43 min · Eastex Freeway

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69; US 59

0.7 mi · 44 sec · I 69; US 59

Continue on I-69; US 59

42 mi · 44 min · I-69; US 59

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 59; FM 942

36 mi · 40 min · US 59; FM 942

Take the exit onto US 59

5.7 mi · 7 min · US 59

Toward US 59 North, Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches

Keep slight right at fork onto US 59

16 mi · 17 min · US 59

Toward US 59 North: Nacogdoches

Turn left

0.7 mi · 1 min

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 41 sec · this road

Merge onto Loop 224

5.9 mi · 6 min · Southwest Stallings Drive

Continue on US 59

0.9 mi · 58 sec · North US Highway 59

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Use the left lane.

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 20 sec · this road

Merge onto US 259

11 mi · 12 min · US Highway 259

Continue on US 259

3.0 mi · 3 min · US Route 259

Continue on US 259

2.6 mi · 3 min · South Railroad Avenue

Turn right onto TX 315

25 mi · 25 min · TX 315

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Merge onto TX 149

3.1 mi · 3 min · Southwest Loop

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Turn left onto US 59 Business

40 mi · 46 min · US 59 Business

Turn right onto East Jefferson Street

0.4 mi · 54 sec · East Jefferson Street

Continue on West Henderson Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · West Henderson Street

Turn right onto FM 134

373 ft · 14 sec · North Polk Street

Turn right onto West Lafayette Street

80 ft · 3 sec · West Lafayette Street

Arrive at destination

West Lafayette Street

Trip Plan

Given the 4h 27m duration, departing Houston in the morning is ideal to maximize your time in Jefferson. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $35, you have flexibility in your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 57.5-mile stretch on US 59. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you can adjust your departure time based on your morning plans in Houston.

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 117 miles from Houston, TX, or about 2h 12m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.5 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 52 miles or 1h 1m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 117 miles or 2h 12m 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 Jefferson, 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 234.1 miles and 4h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 59 for about 57.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lufkin, TX

117 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

Patton Village, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lufkin, TX

2.3 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 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 118.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward US 59 East, I 10 East

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 59 East, I 10 East

1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 10; US 90 / East Freeway

Merge onto I 10; US 90 / East Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland

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

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 770C Toward I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland

2.4 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 69; US 59 / Eastex Freeway

Merge onto I 69; US 59 / Eastex Freeway

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

Use the straight lane.

118.3 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in | US 59

Take the exit onto US 59 toward US 59 North, Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches

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

Toward US 59 North, Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.06 one way

$64.13 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 82 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$35.82	$71.63
premium	$4.23	$38.94	$77.88
diesel	$4.80	$44.20	$88.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	70.2	0	$24.58	$11.24
Efficient EV	58.5	0	$20.48	$9.36
EV Truck/SUV	93.6	1	$32.77	$14.98

Gas CO2

82 kg

EV CO2

27 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

5:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

95°F

Partly Sunny

S 5 to 10 mph 7% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

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

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:53AM CDT until July 19 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Jefferson, TX

Late night in Jefferson on Sunday

Local time

5:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

95°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 0 to 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

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

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:53AM CDT until July 19 at 7:15PM 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

Very similar conditions

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

Road read

4h 27m 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 trip is predominantly highway driving, with 93% of the 234.1 miles on major roads like US 59 and I-69. You'll encounter the longest stretch without exits for 57.5 miles on US 59. The shift to surface roads will occur as you approach Jefferson, likely introducing more local traffic and intersections.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 57.5 mi on US 59.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 59 and I-69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.

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 20 significant decision points across 234.1 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 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 10; US 90 / East Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

493 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

548 ft

Total Descent

390 ft

Highest Point

493 ft

~150.5 mi in

Elevation Range

458 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 Jefferson, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches along the way.

Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches

118.3 mi in | ~2h 13m | via US 59

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 Jefferson, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1841

Jefferson is a historic town in Marion County, in the Central Piney Woods of east Texas. A center of tourism, Jefferson identifies itself as the "Bed & Breakfast Capital of Texas", and is home to a number of popular attractions.

Top landmarks

• Jefferson Historic District — historic district in Jefferson, Marion County, Texas
• Old United States Post Office and Courts Building — courthouse in Jefferson, Texas, United States
• Presbyterian Manse — building in Jefferson, Marion County, Texas

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 27m. Total distance: 234.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 57.5 miles on US 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 13 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 Jefferson, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Jefferson, 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Houston, TX or browse trips ending in Jefferson, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Houston, TX to Jefferson, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Center

Polk County Northbound Rest Area

Polk County Southbound Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

TA

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

TA Express

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

Jefferson, TX

Same local time

Very similar conditions

4h 27m 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 Jefferson, 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

Continue From Jefferson, TX

More from Houston, TX

More trips to Jefferson, TX