Origin
Houston, TX
Morning in Houston on Tuesday
Local time
11:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Seminole, 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
10h 3m
Distance
540.9 mi
870 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$82
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 54m
★
6 AM
10h 3m
8 AM
10h 22m
10 AM
10h 10m
12 PM
10h 8m
3 PM
10h 11m
5 PM
10h 21m
8 PM
9h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Seminole, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Houston, TX to Seminole, TX is 540.9 miles and takes about 10h 3m via TX 71 and US Highway 87 North, with a fuel budget near $82 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route is recommended for two days, suggesting an overnight stop is ideal for a more relaxed pace. You'll be traveling primarily within Texas, moving from the fringes of the Great Plains region into its heartland. The majority of this trip involves highway driving, making it a straightforward long-haul option for those looking to cover distance efficiently.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
270.4 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 71 | 126.4 mi | 2h 15m |
| US Highway 87 North | 75.3 mi | 1h 15m |
| Katy Freeway | 74.1 mi | 1h 20m |
| United States Highway 87 | 71.2 mi | 1h 16m |
| East State Highway 71 | 44.1 mi | 59m |
| West US Highway 180 | 38.7 mi | 43m |
| West Highway 71 | 22.4 mi | 31m |
| US 87 | 18.6 mi | 20m |
Longest stretch:
TX 71
— 126.4 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Seminole, TX.
1
Start on Louisiana Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Louisiana Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
3
Merge onto I 10; US 90
74 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto TX 71
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
5
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
77 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on 71 Toll
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bastrop Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on TX 71
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
East Ben White Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 290; TX 71
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn slight right onto West Highway 71
22 mi
·
31 min
·
West Highway 71
11
Continue on TX 71
42 mi
·
56 min
·
East State Highway 71
Use the right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 71
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
TX 71
13
Turn left onto TX 29; TX 71
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Young Street
14
Continue on TX 71
47 mi
·
50 min
·
TX 71
15
Turn right onto US 87; US 377
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
US 87; US 377
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 190; US 377
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
Commerce Street
17
Turn straight onto US 87
71 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
United States Highway 87
18
Continue on US 87; Loop 306
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South Bryant Boulevard
19
Continue on US 87; US 277
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Koenigheim Street
20
Continue on US 87; US 277; US 67 Bus
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
North Bryant Boulevard
21
Continue on US 87
23 mi
·
23 min
·
US Highway 87 North
22
Continue on US 87
16 mi
·
16 min
·
US 87
23
Turn straight onto US 87; TX 158; TX 163
52 mi
·
52 min
·
US Highway 87 North
24
Continue on US 87
15 mi
·
15 min
·
North US Highway 87
25
Continue on US 87
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
William Crooker Highway
26
Continue on US 87
18 mi
·
18 min
·
South US Highway 87
27
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dallas Avenue
28
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lynn Avenue
29
Turn left onto US 180
0.7 mi
·
52 sec
·
North 4th Street
30
Continue on US 180
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Seminole Road
31
Continue on US 180
39 mi
·
43 min
·
West US Highway 180
32
Arrive at destination
US 180
Trip Plan
Given the 10-hour drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early on your first day to cover a significant portion, perhaps around 5-6 hours of driving. Plan your overnight stop strategically before reaching the halfway point. On day two, you'll have a shorter drive to Seminole, TX. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches on TX 71, as services can be spaced out. The Katy Freeway portion at the beginning will likely involve urban merging traffic, so factor that into your departure time from Houston.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 270.4 miles from Houston, TX, or about 5h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 119 miles or 2h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 270.4 miles or 5h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 270.4 miles or 5h 13m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seminole, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Houston, TX
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Seminole, TX
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 miles from Houston, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on TX 71 for about 126.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
178 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
357 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Live Oak, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
270 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Leander, TX after about 270 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 119 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 270.4 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before TX 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 126.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 270 miles or 5 hours on the road.
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 0.6 and 233.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
74.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
TX 71
Take the exit onto TX 71 toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
6
75.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
TX 71
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
163.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m in
|
US 290; TX 71
Keep slight left at fork onto US 290; TX 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
233.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m in
|
TX 71
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$81.73 one way
$163.46 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
189 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $89.46 | $178.92 |
| premium | $4.54 | $96.57 | $193.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $119.42 | $238.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$82
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$212–$322
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 189.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 162.3 | 2 | $56.79 | $25.96 |
| Efficient EV | 135.2 | 1 | $47.33 | $21.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 216.4 | 2 | $75.73 | $34.62 |
Gas CO2
189 kg
EV CO2
63 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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
Seminole, TX
Morning in Seminole on Tuesday
Local time
11:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
1 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
10h 3m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a long-haul drive where 94% of the route is on highways. You'll experience a stretch of 126.4 miles on TX 71, which will likely feel like consistent rural cruising. After the highway portion concludes, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining 6% of the trip. Expect a steady pace for most of your travel time.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.4 mi on TX 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 71 and US Highway 87 North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway.
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 9 significant decision points across 540.9 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 0.6 miles (I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.6 miles (TX 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.2 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Seminole, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Austin along the way.
Austin
74.6 mi in
|
~1h 22m
|
via TX 71
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 Seminole, TX
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 126.4 miles on TX 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 270 miles on day one.
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 Seminole, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.6 miles (TX 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.2 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.1 hours each way, a round trip means 20.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Seminole, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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