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Trip from Houston, TX to Moody, TX

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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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 24m ★
6 AM
3h 36m
8 AM
4h 1m
10 AM
3h 45m
12 PM
3h 43m
3 PM
3h 46m
5 PM
4h 0m
8 PM
3h 29m

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

Downtown Moody, TX, TX

Moody, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: TX 6 — 49.8 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Moody, 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

8.3 mi · 10 min · North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 57B Toward TX 249 Use the slight right lane.
7

Turn straight onto North Freeway Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 39 sec · North Freeway Frontage Road
8

Turn left onto TX 249

2.9 mi · 4 min · West Mount Houston Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
9

Continue on TX 249

3.8 mi · 6 min · Tomball Parkway
10

Continue on TX 249

8.4 mi · 9 min · Tomball Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on TBT

7.3 mi · 8 min · Tomball Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on TX 249 Toll

3.6 mi · 4 min · MCTRA 249 Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on TX 249 Toll

25 mi · 27 min · Aggie Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on TX 105

5.8 mi · 6 min · State Highway 105
15

Turn right onto TX 105

0.2 mi · 16 sec · State Highway 6
16

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec
17

Merge onto TX 6

50 mi · 53 min · TX 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6

5.8 mi · 5 min · North State Highway 6
19

Continue on TX 6

2.2 mi · 3 min · South Main Street
20

Continue on TX 6

23 mi · 23 min · North State Highway 6
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
22

Turn straight onto TX 6 Business

2.5 mi · 3 min · South Business Highway 6
23

Turn straight onto TX 6 Business

0.7 mi · 1 min · Williams Street
24

Turn left onto TX 7

4.5 mi · 6 min · Bridge Street
25

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 7

4.9 mi · 7 min · TX 7
26

Turn right onto County Road 493

1.1 mi · 1 min · County Road 493
27

Turn right onto TX 7 Business

11 mi · 14 min · TX 7 Business
28

Continue on FM 107

3.2 mi · 6 min · 3rd Street
29

Continue on FM 107

3.4 mi · 5 min · 8th Street
30

Turn left onto TX 317

70 ft · 1 sec · Avenue D
31

Arrive at destination

TX 317

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 90.1 miles from Houston, TX, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.8 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 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.

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 180.2 miles and 3h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 TX 6 for about 49.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Grimes County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Navasota, TX

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Magnolia, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

College Station, TX

Meal break

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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

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.

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.
7
9.7 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward TX 249

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 57B Toward TX 249
5
67.1 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | TX 6

Merge onto TX 6

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.23 one way

$54.46 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO2
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

Tomball Tollway (7.3 mi) $0.51
MCTRA 249 Tollway (3.6 mi) $0.25

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Houston, TX

Morning in Houston on Tuesday

Local time

10:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Moody, TX

Morning in Moody on Tuesday

Local time

10:05 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°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

4 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

3h 36m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.8 mi on TX 6.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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.

Driving Effort 7/10

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.

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).

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 49.8 miles on TX 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.76 in tolls one way, starting with Tomball Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

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 Moody, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Moody, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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