Houston, TX to Kingsland, TX is 220.1 miles and takes about 4h 17m via TX 71, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward journey from one Texas locale to another. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll spend most of your time on the highway, making it an efficient option for getting from point A to point B. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path without many detours, focusing on covering ground with minimal fuss.
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
110 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
TX 71
77.7 mi
1h 22m
Katy Freeway
74.1 mi
1h 20m
West Highway 71
22.4 mi
31m
East State Highway 71
13.4 mi
15m
West Ranch Road 1431
12.4 mi
21m
East Ben White Boulevard
7.4 mi
8m
US 290
4.9 mi
5m
South US Highway 281
4.8 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
TX 71
— 77.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Kingsland, 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
74 mi·1 hr 20 min·Katy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto TX 71
0.5 mi·33 sec·TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
5
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on 71 Toll
1.9 mi·2 min·Bastrop Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi·2 min·East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on TX 71
7.4 mi·8 min·East Ben White Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 290; TX 71
4.9 mi·5 min·US 290; TX 71
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn slight right onto West Highway 71
22 mi·31 min·West Highway 71
11
Continue on TX 71
11 mi·12 min·East State Highway 71
12
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward US 281 North: Marble Falls
13
Merge onto US 281
4.8 mi·7 min·South US Highway 281
14
Turn left onto RM 1431
12 mi·21 min·West Ranch Road 1431
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto CR 320
9 ft·0 sec·Euel Moore Drive
16
Arrive at destination
CR 320
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 17m estimated drive time, starting your trip in Houston in the morning will comfortably get you to Kingsland before evening. The route is a single-day affair, so you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops, though only one is officially noted. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a break is over 77 miles on TX 71; plan your refueling accordingly. With a fuel cost estimated around $33, budgeting is straightforward for this direct Texas hop.
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 110 miles from Houston, TX, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.7 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 48 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110 miles or 1h 59m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingsland, 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 220.1 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 71 for about 77.7 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 9
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.
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.
5
74.6 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|TX 71
Take the exit onto TX 71 toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
6
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|TX 71
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
163.9 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|US 290; TX 71
Keep slight left at fork onto US 290; TX 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
207.7 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|RM 1431 / West Ranch Road 1431
Turn left onto RM 1431 / West Ranch Road 1431
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.26 one way
$66.52 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$36.40
$72.81
premium
$4.54
$39.30
$78.59
diesel
$5.61
$48.60
$97.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66
0
$23.11
$10.56
Efficient EV
55
0
$19.26
$8.80
EV Truck/SUV
88
1
$30.81
$14.09
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Houston, TX
Late night
in Houston on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kingsland, TX
Late night
in Kingsland on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°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.
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
19 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
4h 17m 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.
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 204.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with a substantial 91% of the journey taking place on main roads like TX 71 and the Katy Freeway. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the trip, including one notable stretch of 77.7 miles on TX 71 without significant interruptions. Expect a fairly uniform driving experience as you navigate these primary arteries, designed for efficient travel across the Texas landscape. The character remains largely highway-centric throughout its 220.1-mile length.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.7 mi on TX 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 71 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 220.1 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 0.6 miles (I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.6 miles (TX 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.2 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Houston, TX to Kingsland, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Austin along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 220.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.7 miles on TX 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Kingsland, 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. 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 74.6 miles (TX 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.2 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Kingsland, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
