Trip from Houston, TX to Junction, 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 23m

Distance

305.9 mi

492 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

5h 10m ★

6 AM

5h 24m

8 AM

5h 51m

10 AM

5h 33m

12 PM

5h 30m

3 PM

5h 34m

5 PM

5h 49m

8 PM

5h 16m

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 in and county seat of Kimble County, Texas, United States

Junction, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Houston to Junction, expect a journey covering 305.9 miles that typically takes about 5 hours and 23 minutes. You will primarily navigate via I-10 West and the Katy Freeway, with some segments involving TX-1518. Because this is a manageable distance, it works perfectly as a single-day trip without requiring an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $46 for fuel to complete the drive. Both your starting point and destination fall within the Texas Great Plains, keeping the landscape consistent throughout your transit across the state.

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

152.9 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Katy Freeway	174.9 mi	3h 1m
I 10	97.3 mi	1h 36m
Anderson Loop	20.4 mi	22m
Farm-to-Market Road 1518	5.4 mi	9m
South Loop 481	2.7 mi	3m
Gordon A Blake Highway	2 mi	3m
Main Street	0.6 mi	1m
Interstate 10 West	0.3 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Katy Freeway — 174.9 mi, about 3h 1m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~1,755 veh/hr typical · worst 2,482

Quietest

2 AM

~257 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.8×

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 Junction, 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

94 mi · 1 hr 32 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 460 Toward Loop 481: Junction

Continue on Loop 481

2.7 mi · 3 min · South Loop 481

Continue on Loop 481

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Turn right onto North 11th Street

28 ft · 1 sec · North 11th Street

Arrive at destination

North 11th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 5-hour and 23-minute excursion, try to depart early in the day to avoid peak traffic congestion near Houston. Since the route includes one planned stop, use that break to stretch your legs and ensure you have enough fuel for the final push into Junction. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local sections, keep your navigation tools accessible to help you stay on track through the TX-1518 segments. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the moderate duration leaves you plenty of time to arrive at your destination refreshed rather than exhausted.

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 152.9 miles from Houston, TX, or about 2h 39m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.9 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 67 miles or 1h 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 152.9 miles or 2h 39m 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 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Junction, 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 305.9 miles and 5h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 Katy Freeway for about 174.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Bexar County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Converse, TX

153 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

Katy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Marcos, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 152.9 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

1.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

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

Schreiner Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Junction, Texas

+13254463880

Visit website

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17137520314

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 0.6 and 207.7 — 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

185.3 mi into trip | ~3h 19m in | Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop

Merge onto Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.90 one way

$83.80 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 107 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$46.80	$93.60
premium	$4.23	$50.88	$101.77
diesel	$4.80	$57.76	$115.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 107 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	91.8	1	$32.12	$14.68
Efficient EV	76.5	0	$26.77	$12.24
EV Truck/SUV	122.4	1	$42.83	$19.58

Gas CO2

107 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (66% 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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Houston, TX

Morning in Houston on Sunday

Local time

9:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Partly Cloudy

SE 5 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:05AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:02AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Destination

Junction, TX

Morning in Junction on Sunday

Local time

9:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Chance Rain Showers

SSE 5 mph 47% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:05AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 4:02AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS San Angelo 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

10 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 23m 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.

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...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free near mile 179.3

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...

27 mi from route ~66 min detour Free near mile 242.6

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

Prepare for a drive that shifts from busy urban infrastructure to a more turn-heavy, local experience as you progress. You will spend a significant portion of your time transitioning off the main interstate corridors, meaning this is not a monotonous highway grind. Because the route relies on local roads rather than a high percentage of highway travel, you should stay alert for changing speed limits and curves. The road requires more active focus than a standard freeway cruise, so be ready to adjust your driving style once you exit the major interstates.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 174.9 mi on Katy Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Katy Freeway and I 10. 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 16 significant decision points across 305.9 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 185.3 miles (Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,167 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

2,160 ft

Total Descent

486 ft

Highest Point

2,167 ft

~284 mi in

Elevation Range

2,132 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 Junction, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 North along the way.

Loop 1604 North

185.3 mi in | ~3h 19m

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 Junction, TX

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Absolutely doable as a same-day drive, clocking in at just 5 hours and 23 minutes. You'll be back before you know it, with plenty of time for a quick stop.

Family Friendly

With a complexity rating of 8/10, this route might be a bit much for young kids to navigate. Plan on bringing plenty of entertainment for the 5+ hour drive, as there aren't obvious kid-friendly stops mentioned.

Solo Traveler

This 305.9-mile drive is a comfortable solo distance, with 89% highway making for straightforward cruising. The gently rolling terrain offers a pleasant, if not overly engaging, drive for a solo adventurer.

First-Time Driver

This route is mostly highway (89%) and a manageable 5h 23m, making it a decent option for a first-time driver looking to gain highway experience. However, the complexity rating of 8/10 suggests you'll want to be extra attentive to navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 174.9 miles on Katy Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 44 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 Junction, 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 44 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Junction, 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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