Spanning 574.8 miles from Houston to Kermit, this trek across Texas requires a significant time commitment of approximately 10 hours and 12 minutes of pure driving. Because of the length, it is highly recommended to split this journey over two days rather than attempting it in a single grueling push. You will primarily utilize I-10 West and the Katy Freeway to navigate your way out of the city before transitioning toward your destination. Budget roughly $86 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Great Plains locations. While the drive is straightforward, its sheer duration makes careful planning essential for a comfortable experience.
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
287.4 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
250.5 mi
3h 59m
Katy Freeway
174.9 mi
3h 1m
FM 1601
25.4 mi
25m
Anderson Loop
20.4 mi
22m
State Highway 18 North
20.1 mi
29m
US 385
20.1 mi
22m
Farm to Market Road 305
18.1 mi
26m
I 20
16.8 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 250.5 mi, about 3h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Kermit, TX.
1
Start on Louisiana Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·Louisiana Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
3
Merge onto I 10; US 90
175 mi·3 hr 1 min·Katy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
1.9 mi·1 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 591Toward TX 1518: SchertzUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East
0.1 mi·21 sec·Interstate 10 East
7
Turn right onto FM 1518
5.4 mi·9 min·Farm-to-Market Road 1518
8
At end of road, turn left onto FM 78
2.0 mi·3 min·Gordon A Blake Highway
9
Turn left
0.2 mi·21 sec
10
Take the ramp
265 ft·6 sec
Toward Loop 1604 North
11
Merge onto Loop 1604
20 mi·22 min·Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward Frontage RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto North Loop 1604 West
0.2 mi·25 sec·North Loop 1604 West
14
Turn right onto Interstate 10 West
0.3 mi·24 sec·Interstate 10 West
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North
16
Merge onto I 10; US 87
1.1 mi·1 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 307Toward US 190, FM 305: Iraan, McCamey
19
Continue on I 10 Service Road
0.1 mi·18 sec·I 10 Service Road
20
Turn right onto US 190
4.0 mi·5 min·US 190
21
Turn left onto FM 305
18 mi·26 min·Farm to Market Road 305
22
Continue on FM 305
2.3 mi·3 min·South Burleson Avenue
23
Continue on US 385
20 mi·22 min·US 385
24
Turn left onto TX 329
5.8 mi·8 min·West 6th Street
25
Turn right onto FM 1601
25 mi·25 min·FM 1601
26
Turn left onto Interstate Highway 20 Service Drive
0.1 mi·18 sec·Interstate Highway 20 Service Drive
27
Continue on East Interstate 20 State Route North
0.3 mi·44 sec·East Interstate 20 State Route North
28
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward I 20 West: El Paso
29
Merge onto I 20
17 mi·16 min·I 20
30
Take the exit
0.1 mi·11 sec
Exit 83Toward I 20 Business West: Monahans
31
Continue on I 20 Bus
0.1 mi·11 sec·East Sealy Avenue
32
Continue on I 20 Bus
3.0 mi·5 min·East Interstate 20
33
Turn right onto TX 18
1.7 mi·2 min·North Main Avenue
34
Continue on TX 18
20 mi·29 min·State Highway 18 North
35
Continue on TX 18
1.3 mi·1 min·South Poplar Street
36
Turn right onto TX 115
167 ft·5 sec·East Austin Street
37
Turn right
111 ft·8 sec
38
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To manage the 574.8-mile distance effectively, plan for at least two deliberate stops to break up the 10-hour drive. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid initial congestion on the Katy Freeway and ensure you aren't finishing the final leg of the trip in the dark. Keep a close watch on your gas gauge, as the $86 fuel estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local price variations in more remote segments. Since this is a multi-day commitment, pick a midpoint town for an overnight stay to keep your energy levels high. Consistency is key, so pace yourself to avoid fatigue during the long stretches on I-10 West.
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 287.4 miles from Houston, TX, or about 5h 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 126 miles or 2h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 287.4 miles or 5h 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 287.4 miles or 5h
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 8h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kermit, 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 287 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Kermit, TX
Aim for roughly 287 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 126 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 26
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.
5
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.
7
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
6
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
6
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.
6
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
$86.85 one way
$173.71 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg201 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$95.07
$190.14
premium
$4.54
$102.63
$205.25
diesel
$5.61
$126.91
$253.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$87
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$217–$327
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 201.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $60 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
172.4
2
$60.35
$27.59
Efficient EV
143.7
1
$50.29
$22.99
EV Truck/SUV
229.9
2
$80.47
$36.79
Gas CO2
201 kg
EV CO2
67 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Houston, TX
Night
in Houston on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kermit, TX
Night
in Kermit on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
10h 12m 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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 178.4
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 237.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a long-distance haul that transitions from the dense traffic of the Katy Freeway into the open stretches of I-10 West. The route maintains a steady, high-speed pace throughout the journey, though you will eventually navigate regional roads like TX 1518 to reach Kermit. Because the highway share is minimal, you should prepare for a mix of major interstate travel and secondary road navigation. The experience behind the wheel is characterized by a persistent, steady rhythm that defines a classic Texas long-haul drive. Stay alert as the landscape shifts from the coastal environment of Houston toward the arid, expansive terrain of the Great Plains.
90% 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: 250.5 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
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 26 significant decision points across 574.8 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.
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 Kermit, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 North, Fm 305: Iraan and Mccamey.
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
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 287 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Kermit, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
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 10.2 hours each way, a round trip means 20.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kermit, TX before the return drive.
