Houston, TX to Maypearl, TX is 230.3 miles and takes about 4h 16m via North Freeway and US 287, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Texas. Given its focus on major roadways, this route is ideal if you prioritize efficiency and reaching your destination relatively quickly. It's a solid option for a single-day trip, allowing you to cover the distance without feeling overly rushed. Consider this if you're looking for a no-fuss drive with predictable conditions.
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
115.2 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Freeway
198.1 mi
3h 27m
US 287
15.3 mi
18m
Farm-to-Market Road 66
9.7 mi
17m
East US 287 Business
1.8 mi
2m
Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
South Rogers Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Monroe Street
0.5 mi
<1m
East Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 198.1 mi, about 3h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Maypearl, TX.
1
Start on Louisiana Street
474 ft·19 sec·Louisiana Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Franklin Street
3
Turn left onto Travis Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·Travis Street
4
Take the ramp
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward I 45 North Express Lane
5
Merge onto I 45
198 mi·3 hr 27 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 287
15 mi·18 min·US 287
Exit 247Toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort WorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
8
Turn left onto East US 287 Business
0.4 mi·43 sec·East US 287 Business
9
At end of road, turn right onto US 287 Bus
1.5 mi·2 min·East US 287 Business
10
Continue on US 287 Bus
1.5 mi·2 min·Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
11
Continue on US 287 Bus
0.3 mi·39 sec·East Main Street
12
Turn left onto US 77
0.5 mi·40 sec·South Monroe Street
13
Turn slight right onto US 77
91 ft·4 sec·South Highway 77
14
Turn right onto FM 66
0.8 mi·1 min·South Rogers Street
15
Continue on FM 66
9.7 mi·17 min·Farm-to-Market Road 66
16
Turn left
43 ft·3 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a duration of around 4 hours and 16 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving Houston in the morning, perhaps by 9 AM, should get you to Maypearl well before late afternoon. The longest stretch is substantial, so plan for a fuel stop before embarking on that segment to ensure you have plenty of gas. While there's only one recommended stop in the data, you might want to take a short break midway, especially during the 198.1-mile stretch on the North Freeway, to stretch your legs and stay alert. This shorter, efficient route offers flexibility, so you can depart when it's most convenient for you.
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 115.2 miles from Houston, TX, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 198.1 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 51 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.2 miles or 2h 2m 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 Maypearl, 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 230.3 miles and 4h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 North Freeway for about 198.1 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 0.1 and 216.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Franklin Street
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Travis Street
Turn left onto Travis Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|I 45 / North Freeway
Merge onto I 45 / North Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
199.5 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth
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 247
Toward US 287 North: Waxahachie, Fort Worth
4
216.1 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|US 287 Bus / East US 287 Business
At end of road, turn right onto US 287 Bus / East US 287 Business
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.80 one way
$69.60 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$38.09
$76.18
premium
$4.54
$41.12
$82.24
diesel
$5.61
$50.85
$101.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.1
0
$24.18
$11.05
Efficient EV
57.6
0
$20.15
$9.21
EV Truck/SUV
92.1
1
$32.24
$14.74
Gas CO2
81 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Houston, TX
Late night
in Houston on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Maypearl, TX
Late night
in Maypearl on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
7 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 16m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll spend most of your time on the North Freeway and then transition to US 287. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 198.1 miles, primarily on the North Freeway, meaning you can settle in for a significant portion of the drive. While the profile is predominantly highway, the final leg involves Farm-to-Market Road 66, offering a slight change of pace. Expect a consistent driving experience with good speeds for most of the trip.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 198.1 mi on North Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and US 287. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Franklin Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 16m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 1.4 miles (I 45 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Maypearl, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Worth 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
The longest stretch is about 198.1 miles on North Freeway. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 1.4 miles (I 45 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Maypearl, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
