Trip from Houston, TX to Shallowater, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 27, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 53m

Distance

545.4 mi

878 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$86

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

9h 44m ★

6 AM

9h 53m

8 AM

10h 11m

10 AM

10h 0m

12 PM

9h 58m

3 PM

10h 0m

5 PM

10h 10m

8 PM

9h 48m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Shallowater, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

Houston to Shallowater is 545.4 miles and takes about 9h 53m via US 84, with a fuel budget near $87 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though an overnight is recommended. This long-haul drive spans across Texas, taking you from the edge of the Great Plains region to its heart. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. Consider breaking this up over two days to make the 9-hour drive more comfortable.

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

272.7 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 84	104.9 mi	1h 49m
TX 71	77.7 mi	1h 22m
Katy Freeway	74.1 mi	1h 20m
North US Highway 183	72.6 mi	1h 18m
State Highway 153	69 mi	1h 14m
Highway 84	23.8 mi	23m
East Commerce Street	22 mi	25m
US 183	14.6 mi	16m

Longest stretch: US 84 — 104.9 mi, about 1h 49m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

7 AM

~5,971 veh/hr typical · worst 7,284

Quietest

2 AM

~653 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 37 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 Shallowater, TX.

Start on Louisiana Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Louisiana Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward I 10 West: San Antonio

Merge onto I 10; US 90

74 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Katy Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto TX 71

0.5 mi · 33 sec · TX 71

Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71

77 mi · 1 hr 22 min · TX 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on 71 Toll

1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · East State Highway 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 183

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway

Continue on 183 Toll

6.2 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

15 mi · 16 min · US 183

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on 183A Toll

15 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

36 mi · 38 min · North US Highway 183

Continue on US 183

2.3 mi · 4 min · South Key Avenue

Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281

0.2 mi · 14 sec · North US Highway 281

Keep slight left at fork onto US 183; US 190

37 mi · 40 min · North US Highway 183

At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 183; TX 16

30 mi · 34 min · US 84; US 183; TX 16

Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377

1.7 mi · 2 min · Early Boulevard

Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377

22 mi · 25 min · East Commerce Street

Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283

7.2 mi · 8 min · Wallis Avenue

Turn right onto TX 153

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street

Continue on TX 153; TX 206

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street

Continue on TX 153

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153

19 ft · 0 sec · State Highway 153

Turn right onto TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70

Continue on TX 70

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street

Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue

Take the ramp

340 ft · 8 sec

Toward I 20 West: Midland

Merge onto I 20; US 84

6.0 mi · 5 min · I 20; US 84

Take the exit onto US 84

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 84

Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 84

Turn right onto Loop 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Avenue F

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Avenue F

Turn straight onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Ralls Road

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 15th Street

Turn right onto US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 19 min · Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.6 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

Continue on US 84

6.8 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.9 mi · 6 min · Slaton Road

Continue on US 84

4.0 mi · 5 min · Avenue Q South Drive

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto US 84

6.0 mi · 7 min · Clovis Road

Continue on US 84

3.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 84

Turn right onto County Road 1500

0.3 mi · 45 sec · County Road 1500

Turn left onto Loop 388

0.4 mi · 1 min · Clovis Road

Turn slight left onto 7th Street

216 ft · 11 sec · 7th Street

Turn right

139 ft · 6 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 9h 53m estimated drive time, it's best to start early if you plan to complete it in one day, or split it into two days for a more relaxed pace. With two recommended stops, plan to take breaks roughly every 3-4 hours to stay alert. The fuel cost is estimated at $87, so ensure your tank is full before departing Houston. A practical tip for this route is to monitor your fuel levels closely, especially as you approach the longer stretches on US 84, as services can become more spread out in West Texas.

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 272.7 miles from Houston, TX, or about 4h 58m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.9 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 120 miles or 2h 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 272.7 miles or 4h 58m 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 272.7 miles or 4h 58m

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 46m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shallowater, 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 273 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Shallowater, TX

Aim for roughly 273 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 120 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 US 84 for about 104.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Montopolis, TX

180 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.

city in and county seat of Tom Green County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Angelo, TX

360 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 San Angelo, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Kempner, TX

273 mi · about 4.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Kempner, TX after about 273 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Montopolis, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 120 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brownwood, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 272.7 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 84 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.9 miles.

Overnight split

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

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17135336500

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 25

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 417.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.

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

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.

156.4 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in

Take the exit toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas

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 US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas

417.3 mi into trip | ~7h 38m in | US 84

Take the exit onto US 84 toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

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

Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$85.72 one way

$171.44 round trip

$3.99/gal 25.4 MPG avg 191 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.39	$94.20	$188.40
premium	$4.72	$101.33	$202.66
diesel	$5.60	$120.16	$240.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$86

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$216–$326

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 190.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-18.

Driving Electric?

About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	163.6	2	$57.27	$26.18
Efficient EV	136.4	1	$47.72	$21.82
EV Truck/SUV	218.2	2	$76.36	$34.91

Gas CO2

191 kg

EV CO2

64 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of May 27, 2026

Origin

Houston, TX

Afternoon in Houston on Wednesday

Local time

1:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

S 5 to 10 mph 87% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 12:38AM CDT until May 27 at 1:45AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 12:23AM CDT until May 27 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Destination

Shallowater, TX

Afternoon in Shallowater on Wednesday

Local time

1:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Patchy Fog

0 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 12:38AM CDT until May 27 at 1:45AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 12:23AM CDT until May 27 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi 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.

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

19 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

9h 53m 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?

With 86% of this trip on highways, you'll experience mostly high-speed cruising. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 104.9 miles on US 84. You can expect a significant portion of your drive to be on the Katy Freeway and TX 71 before transitioning onto US 84 for the bulk of the mileage. Prepare for a predominantly rural feel once you leave the immediate Houston area.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 104.9 mi on US 84.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 84 and TX 71. 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 9/10

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 25 significant decision points across 545.4 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.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,295 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

3,325 ft

Total Descent

65 ft

Highest Point

3,295 ft

~545.4 mi in

Elevation Range

3,260 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 Shallowater, TX, road signs point toward Austin, 183 Toll North: Lampasas and Lubbock.

Austin

74.6 mi in | ~1h 22m | via TX 71

183 Toll North: Lampasas

156.4 mi in | ~2h 49m

Lubbock

417.3 mi in | ~7h 38m | via US 84

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 104.9 miles on US 84. 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 273 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 21 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 Shallowater, 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. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.9 hours each way, a round trip means 19.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Shallowater, 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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Trip from Houston, TX to Shallowater, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-10

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area US-84 US-283

Llano Estacado Picnic Area

San Saba Picnic Area

Flying J Travel Center

Buc-ee's

Picnic Area

Service Plaza

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

Road Ranger

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Service Plaza

Eagles Landing Travel Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Flying J Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area

Colorado County Westbound Rest Area

Rest Area

Downtown Aquarium

Union Station

Cidercade Houston

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

Midtown Park

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Children's Museum Houston

Houston Zoo

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Houston, TX

Shallowater, TX

Same local time

19 degrees cooler at arrival

9h 53m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Houston, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

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

More from Houston, TX

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