Origin
Houston, TX
Late night in Houston on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Pinehurst, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
36.9 mi
59 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Pinehurst, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick getaway from Houston to Pinehurst, you are only looking at a 36.9-mile journey. This trip typically takes about 49 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a stress-free day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily through local streets like Franklin Street and Travis Street before transitioning to I-45 North. With a fuel budget of just $6, this is an incredibly economical excursion within the Great Plains region. Because both your origin and destination share the same regional identity, you can expect a familiar landscape throughout the entire drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tomball Parkway | 13.5 mi | 17m |
| North Freeway | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| Tomball Tollway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| West Mount Houston Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| MCTRA 249 Tollway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Farm to Market Road 1774 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Freeway Frontage Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Travis Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tomball Parkway
— 13.5 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Pinehurst, 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
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
MCTRA 249 Tollway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward FM 1774: Woodtrace Boulevard, Magnolia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on TX 249
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Tomball Parkway
15
Continue on FM 1774
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Tomball Parkway
16
Continue on FM 1774
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Farm to Market Road 1774
17
Arrive at destination
FM 1774
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.5 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 34.9 — 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
7
34.9 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward FM 1774: Woodtrace Boulevard, Magnolia
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 FM 1774: Woodtrace Boulevard, Magnolia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.58 one way
$11.15 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $6.10 | $12.21 |
| premium | $4.54 | $6.59 | $13.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.15 | $16.29 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.66
Tomball Tollway
(7.3 mi)
$0.51
MCTRA 249 Tollway
(2.2 mi)
$0.15
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.87 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Pinehurst, TX
Late night in Pinehurst on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
49m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, your focus will remain on navigating city streets and local connectors. The route requires active attention as you transition from downtown Houston thoroughfares onto I-45 North. Because there are no designated long, uninterrupted stretches, you should prepare for a drive that demands consistent engagement with your surroundings. It is a straightforward, short-distance transit that prioritizes urban navigation over open-road cruising.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.5 mi on Tomball Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Franklin Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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.
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.
On the drive from Houston, TX to Pinehurst, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Magnolia along the way.
Magnolia
34.9 mi in
|
~46m
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 49m. Total distance: 36.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.5 miles on Tomball Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.66 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pinehurst, TX before heading back.
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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