Origin
Houston, TX
Late night in Houston on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Richardson, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 26m
Distance
250.7 mi
403 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 14m
★
6 AM
4h 27m
8 AM
4h 54m
10 AM
4h 36m
12 PM
4h 34m
3 PM
4h 38m
5 PM
4h 52m
8 PM
4h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Richardson, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Houston to Richardson is 250.7 miles and takes about 4h 26m via North Freeway, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, moving north from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's well-suited for a single day. You won't encounter much in the way of scenic detours, but you will get where you're going efficiently. Plan for a relatively quick transit between these two Texas cities.
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
125.3 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Freeway | 237.1 mi | 4h 9m |
| North Central Expressway | 11 mi | 11m |
| South Central Expressway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Polk Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Travis Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Louisiana Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Greenville Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Freeway
— 237.1 mi, about 4h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Richardson, 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
237 mi
·
4 hr 9 min
·
North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 75
11 mi
·
11 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 24
Toward Belt Line Road, Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto South Central Expressway
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
South Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Turn right onto West Polk Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Polk Street
10
Turn left onto South Greenville Avenue
329 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Greenville Avenue
11
Turn right
54 ft
·
4 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 26m drive time, leaving Houston in the morning should get you to Richardson with plenty of daylight to spare. The total distance of 250.7 miles makes it easy to complete in one day, so flexibility is on your side. You'll only have one recommended stop, so consider making it around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 237 miles. The estimated fuel cost is $38, so budget accordingly.
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 125.3 miles from Houston, TX, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237.1 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 55 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.3 miles or 2h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richardson, 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 250.7 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 North Freeway for about 237.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.3 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 237.1 miles.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 250.3 — 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.
8
249.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 24m in
Take the exit toward Belt Line Road, Main Street
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 24
Toward Belt Line Road, Main Street
4
250.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 25m in
|
West Polk Street
Turn right onto West Polk Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.88 one way
$75.76 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $41.46 | $82.93 |
| premium | $4.54 | $44.76 | $89.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.35 | $110.70 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.92
Central Expressway
(11.5 mi)
$0.92
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
$38
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.32 | $12.03 |
| Efficient EV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.94 | $10.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.3 | 1 | $35.10 | $16.04 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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
Richardson, TX
Late night in Richardson on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 26m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 99% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all of your time on freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch on a freeway is 237.1 miles, primarily on North Freeway. You'll transition from North Freeway to North Central Expressway and then South Central Expressway, all of which are high-speed, limited-access roads. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits as you approach your destination.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 237.1 mi on North Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Freeway and North Central Expressway. 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
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 26m drive. You will face about 9 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
629 ft
35 ft
Total Climb
797 ft
Total Descent
203 ft
Highest Point
629 ft
~250.7 mi in
Elevation Range
594 ft
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
Arriving in Richardson, TX
Full guide →Founded 1840
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 4h 26m. Total distance: 250.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 237.1 miles on North Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.92 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Richardson, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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