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Trip from Houston, TX to McCamey, TX

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
8h 9m ★
6 AM
8h 17m
8 AM
8h 32m
10 AM
8h 22m
12 PM
8h 21m
3 PM
8h 23m
5 PM
8h 31m
8 PM
8h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown houston-tx

Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

city in Upton County, Texas, United States

McCamey, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 10 — 250.5 mi, about 3h 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and McCamey, 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 591 Toward TX 1518: Schertz Use 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 Road Use 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 307 Toward 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

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Burleson Avenue
23

Arrive at destination

FM 305

Trip Plan

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.

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 239.5 miles from Houston, TX, or about 4h 14m 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 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.

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 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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 105 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.

Downtown Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

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, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

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 hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Brenham, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 105 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

Meal break

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 check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 250.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

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

$72.38 one way

$144.76 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 168 kg CO2
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.

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

1:04 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

McCamey, TX

Late night in McCamey on Sunday

Local time

1:04 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

8h 16m 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

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...

19 mi from route ~47 min detour Free near mile 181.7
View on nps.gov
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

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 ~69 min detour Free near mile 247.8
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

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.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 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?

8/10

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 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 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.

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 McCamey, 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.

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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 240 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 McCamey, 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 8.3 hours each way, a round trip means 16.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at McCamey, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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