Origin
Houston, TX
Late night in Houston on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 16m
Distance
479 mi
771 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$72
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
McCamey, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Embarking on this 479-mile journey from Houston, TX to McCamey, TX will take you approximately 8 hours and 16 minutes of pure driving time. Given the duration, this route is best experienced over two days, allowing for a comfortable pace and time to rest. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $72. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, covering 90% of the route on roads like I-10 and the Katy Freeway. This drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, moving you through the Great Plains region of Texas.
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
239.5 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 14m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 250.5 mi | 3h 59m |
| Katy Freeway | 174.9 mi | 3h 1m |
| Anderson Loop | 20.4 mi | 22m |
| Farm to Market Road 305 | 18.1 mi | 26m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 1518 | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| US 190 | 4 mi | 5m |
| Gordon A Blake Highway | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Burleson Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and McCamey, TX.
Start on Louisiana Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; US 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East
Turn right onto FM 1518
At end of road, turn left onto FM 78
Turn left
Take the ramp
Merge onto Loop 1604
Take the exit
Turn straight onto North Loop 1604 West
Turn right onto Interstate 10 West
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Take the exit
Continue on I 10 Service Road
Turn right onto US 190
Turn left onto FM 305
Continue on FM 305
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 479-mile drive, consider splitting it into two days to avoid fatigue. Departing early in the morning will help you beat potential Houston traffic and maximize your daylight hours. With two recommended stops, plan to break up the 8-hour and 16-minute drive into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 250.5 miles on I-10, as services can be spaced out in some areas. A practical tip: ensure your vehicle is in good condition before you leave, as much of this route involves consistent highway speeds.
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.
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 105 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 239.5 miles or 4h 14m 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 239.5 miles or 4h 14m
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 7h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McCamey, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 240 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into McCamey, TX
Aim for roughly 240 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
240 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Fair Oaks Ranch, TXNight 1
240 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Fair Oaks Ranch, TX after about 240 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 105 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 239.5 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 250.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 240 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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.
Merge onto I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward TX 1518: Schertz
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Frontage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$72.38 one way
$144.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $79.22 | $158.45 |
| premium | $4.54 | $85.52 | $171.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $105.76 | $211.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$72
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$202–$312
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 167.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 143.7 | 1 | $50.29 | $22.99 |
| Efficient EV | 119.8 | 1 | $41.91 | $19.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 191.6 | 2 | $67.06 | $30.66 |
Gas CO2
168 kg
EV CO2
56 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Houston on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in McCamey on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 90% of the route utilizing major roads like I-10 and the Katy Freeway. Expect long stretches of efficient travel, including a significant 250.5-mile segment on I-10 without needing to exit. While the Anderson Loop offers a brief departure from the main interstate, the overall character is one of consistent highway mileage. The landscape within the Great Plains generally remains consistent, making for a straightforward driving experience.
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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 479 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Houston, TX to McCamey, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 North along the way.
Loop 1604 North
“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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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