Origin
Houston, TX
Night in Houston on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Monahans, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 38m
Distance
551.7 mi
888 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$83
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 30m
★
6 AM
9h 38m
8 AM
9h 56m
10 AM
9h 44m
12 PM
9h 43m
3 PM
9h 45m
5 PM
9h 55m
8 PM
9h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Monahans, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Houston, TX to Monahans, TX is 551.7 miles and takes about 9h 38m via I 10, with a fuel budget near $83 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early. This long-distance drive primarily traverses Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to a similar landscape further west. Given the 9.5-hour estimated driving time, it's generally recommended to split this trip over two days to allow for comfortable pacing and breaks. You'll be on major highways for most of the journey, so expect a straightforward but potentially long day behind the wheel if you attempt it in one go.
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
275.8 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 49m 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 |
| US 385 | 20.1 mi | 22m |
| Farm to Market Road 305 | 18.1 mi | 26m |
| I 20 | 16.8 mi | 16m |
| West 6th Street | 5.8 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 250.5 mi, about 3h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Monahans, 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
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 83
Toward 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 left onto TX 18
178 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Main Avenue
34
Turn left
104 ft
·
7 sec
35
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 551.7-mile trip, consider an overnight stay to break up the approximately 9.5 hours of driving. A good plan is to drive about half the distance on day one, stopping around the halfway point to rest. This allows you to tackle the remaining 250.5-mile stretch on I 10 fresh the next morning. Ensure your vehicle is fueled up before departing Houston, as services can become more spread out on the western portion of I 10. With a fuel cost estimated at $83, budget accordingly and keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the longer stretches.
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 275.8 miles from Houston, TX, or about 4h 49m 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 121 miles or 2h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 275.8 miles or 4h 49m 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 275.8 miles or 4h 49m
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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monahans, 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 276 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Monahans, TX
Aim for roughly 276 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 121 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.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
182 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
364 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 Junction, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
276 mi · about 4.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 276 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 121 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 275.8 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 276 miles or 4.8 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 255 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
$83.36 one way
$166.73 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
193 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $91.25 | $182.50 |
| premium | $4.54 | $98.50 | $197.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $121.81 | $243.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$83
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$213–$323
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 193 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $58 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 165.5 | 2 | $57.93 | $26.48 |
| Efficient EV | 137.9 | 1 | $48.27 | $22.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 220.7 | 2 | $77.24 | $35.31 |
Gas CO2
193 kg
EV CO2
65 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Monahans, TX
Night in Monahans on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
22 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
9h 38m 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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 190.2
View on nps.gov
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 247.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its 90% highway share, meaning you'll spend the vast majority of your time on high-speed, limited-access roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 250.5 miles on I 10, presenting a significant period of consistent driving. Expect a landscape that remains relatively consistent as you progress westward across Texas. While the Katy Freeway is part of the initial segment, the bulk of the journey is on I 10, offering a predictable and direct path. This drive is less about winding scenic byways and more about efficiently covering ground.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 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 Effort
9/10
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 25 significant decision points across 551.7 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.
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 Monahans, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 North, Fm 305: Iraan and Mccamey.
Loop 1604 North
185.3 mi in
|
~3h 19m
Fm 305: Iraan
455.1 mi in
|
~7h 40m
Mccamey
455.1 mi in
|
~7h 40m
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 276 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 Monahans, 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 9.6 hours each way, a round trip means 19.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Monahans, 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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