Trip from Houston, TX to North Alamo, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 39m

Distance

344.8 mi

555 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

6h 27m ★

6 AM

6h 39m

8 AM

7h 3m

10 AM

6h 48m

12 PM

6h 45m

3 PM

6h 49m

5 PM

7h 2m

8 PM

6h 32m

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

Best Time

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Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

North Alamo, TX

Al d'Vilas

Trip Overview

Houston, TX to North Alamo, TX is 344.8 miles and takes about 6h 39m via US Highway 59, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward path south. Expect a largely uninterrupted highway experience for most of the trip. With a recommended single day of travel, this route is ideal for those looking to reach their destination efficiently without needing an overnight stop. Consider this a solid option if you prefer less time planning and more time on the road.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

172.4 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 20m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US Highway 59	74.7 mi	1h 22m
Falfurrias Expressway	55.8 mi	58m
Alamo Street	37.1 mi	43m
US Highway 77 South	33.2 mi	37m
Southwest Freeway	32.8 mi	37m
I 69E	28.6 mi	31m
I 69C	21.6 mi	23m
East King Avenue	16.2 mi	20m

Longest stretch: US Highway 59 — 74.7 mi, about 1h 22m

Traffic on I-69

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~682 veh/hr typical · worst 936

Quietest

2 AM

~109 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and North Alamo, TX.

Start on Louisiana Street

148 ft · 11 sec · Louisiana Street

Turn left onto Congress Street

298 ft · 14 sec · Congress Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto Smith Street

2.7 mi · 5 min · Smith Street

Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 69; US 59

33 mi · 37 min · Southwest Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 94 Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Merge onto US 59

9.2 mi · 10 min · US 59

Keep slight left at fork onto US 59

6.6 mi · 7 min · US 59

Take the exit

1.5 mi · 2 min

Continue on US 59

75 mi · 1 hr 22 min · US Highway 59

Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91

1.0 mi · 1 min · Spur 91

Merge onto US 77

33 mi · 37 min · US Highway 77 South

Turn straight onto US 77

37 mi · 43 min · Alamo Street

Take the exit onto US 77

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 77

Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77

29 mi · 31 min · I 69E; US 77

Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward TX 141

Turn straight onto South US Highway 77 Bypass

0.1 mi · 25 sec · South US Highway 77 Bypass

Turn right onto TX 141

16 mi · 20 min · East King Avenue

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 49 sec

Merge onto US 281

11 mi · 12 min · US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

9.5 mi · 10 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

56 mi · 58 min · Falfurrias Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

12 mi · 12 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec

Exit 4 Toward Canton Road, Veterans Boulevard Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto South Expressway 281

0.2 mi · 18 sec · South Expressway 281

Continue on South Expressway 281

0.4 mi · 39 sec · South Expressway 281

Turn slight left onto South I Road

1.9 mi · 3 min · South I Road

Continue on North Veterans Boulevard

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Veterans Boulevard

Turn left onto FM 3461

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Nolana Loop

Turn right onto FM 1426

0.5 mi · 59 sec · Raul Longoria Road

Turn left onto East Eldora Road

1.3 mi · 3 min · East Eldora Road

Turn right onto North Cesar Chavez Road

0.1 mi · 24 sec · North Cesar Chavez Road

Turn left

256 ft · 11 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 6-hour, 39-minute drive, consider leaving Houston in the morning to give yourself plenty of daylight. The fuel cost is estimated at around $51, so ensure your tank is full before you head out, especially as you get further south. With only one recommended stop, you can be selective about where you choose to stretch your legs. A good strategy is to take a break around the halfway point to break up the 74.7-mile longest stretch on US Highway 59. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services might become less frequent the further south you travel.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 172.4 miles from Houston, TX, or about 3h 20m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 76 miles or 1h 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 172.4 miles or 3h 20m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Alamo, 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 344.8 miles and 6h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 US Highway 59 for about 74.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aransas Pass, TX

172 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

Bay City, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aransas Pass, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 172.4 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.1 mi from route

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Brazos River Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Sugar Land, Texas

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+12812752825

Visit website

Union Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, Texas

+17132598070

Visit website

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13462417524

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

El Campo, Texas

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 26

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 338.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Congress Street

Turn left onto Congress Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

35.6 mi into trip | ~44m in

Take the exit toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 94 Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartle...

204.5 mi into trip | ~3h 58m in | I 69E; US 77

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

270.5 mi into trip | ~5h 14m in | I 69C; US 281 / Falfurrias Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281 / Falfurrias Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

338.3 mi into trip | ~6h 26m in

Take the exit toward Canton Road, Veterans Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 4 Toward Canton Road, Veterans Boulevard

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.23 one way

$94.45 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 121 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$52.75	$105.50
premium	$4.23	$57.35	$114.71
diesel	$4.80	$65.10	$130.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 120.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	103.4	1	$36.20	$16.55
Efficient EV	86.2	0	$30.17	$13.79
EV Truck/SUV	137.9	1	$48.27	$22.07

Gas CO2

121 kg

EV CO2

40 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 Jul 19, 2026

Origin

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Monday

Local time

1:40 AM

CDT

Current temp

96°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 0 to 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 12:39PM CDT until July 19 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:33AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

North Alamo, TX

Late night in North Alamo on Monday

Local time

1:40 AM

CDT

Current temp

100°F

Mostly Sunny

SSE 17 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 12:39PM CDT until July 19 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:33AM CDT until July 19 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

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 warmer at arrival

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

Road read

6h 39m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend about 81% of the 344.8 miles on highways, meaning you'll experience considerable highway cruising. The longest stretch without needing to exit is 74.7 miles, also on US Highway 59. As you approach North Alamo, the route transitions from the main highway to Falfurrias Expressway and then Alamo Street, indicating a shift to more local road conditions. Watch for the numerous exits and interchanges as you get closer to your destination.

81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 74.7 mi on US Highway 59.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 59 and Falfurrias Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Congress Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 26 significant decision points across 344.8 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: near the start (Congress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.5 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

140 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

219 ft

Total Descent

156 ft

Highest Point

140 ft

~270.9 mi in

Elevation Range

105 ft

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 North Alamo, TX, road signs point toward Spur 10: Cottonwood and Brownsville.

Spur 10: Cottonwood

35.6 mi in | ~44m

Brownsville

204.5 mi in | ~3h 58m | via I 69E; US 77

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Houston, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Park

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

A Tribute to American Statesmanship

Artwork

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Passage Inachevé

Artwork

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Large Spindle Piece

Artwork

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Museum of Printing History

Museum

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Hours: closed "pending relocation"

Visit website

First United Methodist Church of Sinton

Memorial

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Camp San Fernando

Memorial

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

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. === Welcome World Cup fans === Games will be played at NRG Stadium on the south side of Houston The best way to get to the stadium on game day is to use MetroRail trains (red line to NRG Stadium/Astrodome). Fare cards can be purchased at kiosks at train platforms and cost US$1.25 per ride The best hotels for football fans are downtown or near the medical center (both areas have easy access to MetroRail).

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

Arriving in North Alamo, TX

Full guide →

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 6h 39m. Total distance: 344.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 39m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 74.7 miles on US Highway 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 North Alamo, 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. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at North Alamo, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Houston, TX or browse trips ending in North Alamo, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Houston, TX to North Alamo, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-69

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Victoria County Southbound Rest Area

Brooks County Rest Area

Service Plaza

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Victoria County Northbound Rest Area

Buc-ee's

Flying J Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area

Downtown Aquarium

Brazos River Park

Union Station

Cidercade Houston

Legacy Park

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

Midtown Park

Zlotnik Park at Legacy Fields

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Houston, TX

North Alamo, TX

Same local time

4 degrees warmer at arrival

6h 39m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Detours Along the Way

Starbucks

Brasserie 19

Starbucks

Barnaby's Cafe

Birraporetti's

Frank's Pizza

Chipotle

Hard Rock Cafe

Brasa's Steakhouse

Welder Park

A Tribute to American Statesmanship

Passage Inachevé

Large Spindle Piece

Museum of Printing History

First United Methodist Church of Sinton

Camp San Fernando

About the Cities

Starting in Houston, TX

Arriving in North Alamo, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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