Origin
Houston, TX
Morning in Houston on Tuesday
Local time
10:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 36m
Distance
180.2 mi
290 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
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
Moody, TX
Thomas balabaud
Houston to Moody is 180.2 miles and takes about 3h 36m via TX 6, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to a similar landscape. The majority of your time will be spent on well-maintained highways, making for a straightforward drive. It's a practical route for a single-day trip, especially if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90.1 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 6 | 49.8 mi | 53m |
| North State Highway 6 | 29.1 mi | 29m |
| Aggie Expressway | 24.8 mi | 27m |
| Tomball Parkway | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| TX 7 Business | 11.3 mi | 14m |
| North Freeway | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| Tomball Tollway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 105 | 5.8 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Moody, TX.
Start on Louisiana Street
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Turn left onto Travis Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 45
Take the exit
Turn straight onto North Freeway Frontage Road
Turn left onto TX 249
Continue on TX 249
Continue on TX 249
Continue on TBT
Continue on TX 249 Toll
Continue on TX 249 Toll
Continue on TX 105
Turn right onto TX 105
Take the ramp
Merge onto TX 6
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6
Continue on TX 6
Continue on TX 6
Take the exit
Turn straight onto TX 6 Business
Turn straight onto TX 6 Business
Turn left onto TX 7
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 7
Turn right onto County Road 493
Turn right onto TX 7 Business
Continue on FM 107
Continue on FM 107
Turn left onto TX 317
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 36 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Aim to depart Houston in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $27, you have flexibility in your timing. Pay attention to your fuel gauge as you approach Moody, ensuring you have enough to reach your final destination comfortably.
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.
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 40 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.1 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moody, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Houston, TX
This is one driving day of about 180.2 miles and 3h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 90.1 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 0.1 and 67.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Travis Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 45 / North Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward TX 249
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto TX 6
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$27.23 one way
$54.46 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $29.80 | $59.61 |
| premium | $4.54 | $32.17 | $64.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.79 | $79.57 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.76
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.92 | $8.65 |
| Efficient EV | 45.1 | 0 | $15.77 | $7.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.1 | 0 | $25.23 | $11.53 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Morning in Houston on Tuesday
Local time
10:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Moody on Tuesday
Local time
10:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°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.
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
You'll be on highways for about 83% of this 180.2-mile drive, which means a good portion of your travel will be on North State Highway 6 and the Aggie Expressway. The longest continuous stretch on TX 6 is 49.8 miles. Expect some rural cruising as you leave the immediate Houston area, transitioning to a more open highway feel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 6 and North State Highway 6. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Franklin Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 180.2 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 0.1 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.
“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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 180.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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