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Trip from Houston, TX to Stowell, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 16m

Distance

62.8 mi

101 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 11m ★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m

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

Downtown houston-tx

Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Downtown Stowell, TX, TX

Stowell, TX

kingsley li

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick getaway from Houston, the 62.8-mile trek to Stowell is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes. This highway-focused journey stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a simple, direct drive rather than a multi-day expedition. You can easily complete this route in a single day, leaving plenty of time to enjoy your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of just $10, it is an affordable option for a spontaneous change of scenery. Since there are no mandatory stops required by the route, you have the flexibility to power through or take your time as you transition from the city toward the coast.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Freeway 58.5 mi 1h 8m
Gulfway Drive 2.6 mi 4m
San Jacinto Street 0.4 mi <1m
TX 73 0.4 mi <1m
Franklin Street 0.3 mi 1m
State Highway 73 0.2 mi <1m
Louisiana Street <0.1 mi <1m
Rothwell Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: East Freeway — 58.5 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Louisiana Street

474 ft · 19 sec · Louisiana Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2

Turn right onto Franklin Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Franklin Street
3

Turn left onto San Jacinto Street

0.4 mi · 49 sec · San Jacinto Street
4

Turn straight onto Rothwell Street

348 ft · 7 sec · Rothwell Street
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward US 59 East, I 10 East
6

Merge onto I 10; US 90

5.2 mi · 6 min · East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

13 mi · 16 min · East Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

40 mi · 46 min · East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto TX 73

0.4 mi · 27 sec · TX 73
Exit 828 Toward TX 73, TX 124: Winnie, Port Arthur
10

Keep slight right at fork

511 ft · 12 sec
Toward TX 124 South: Winnie
11

Turn straight onto State Highway 73

0.2 mi · 29 sec · State Highway 73
12

Turn right onto TX 124

2.5 mi · 4 min · Gulfway Drive
13

Continue on TX 124

63 ft · 5 sec · Gulfway Drive
14

Arrive at destination

TX 124

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Highlands, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Highlands, TX

31 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

Deer Park, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Baytown, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.4 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 59.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward US 59 East, I 10 East

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 59 East, I 10 East
5
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 10; US 90 / East Freeway

Merge onto I 10; US 90 / East Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.3 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 10 / East Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / East Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
19.6 mi into trip | ~25m in | I 10 / East Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / East Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
59.6 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in | TX 73

Take the exit onto TX 73 toward TX 73, TX 124: Winnie, Port Arthur

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

Exit 828 Toward TX 73, TX 124: Winnie, Port Arthur

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.49 one way

$18.98 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $10.39 $20.77
premium $4.54 $11.21 $22.43
diesel $5.61 $13.87 $27.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.8 0 $6.59 $3.01
Efficient EV 15.7 0 $5.49 $2.51
EV Truck/SUV 25.1 0 $8.79 $4.02

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Sunday

Local time

2:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Stowell, TX

Late night in Stowell on Sunday

Local time

2:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 16m 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 highly efficient transit, as 94% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the East Freeway, which accounts for a 58.5-mile stretch of uninterrupted travel. The road character is defined by this consistent, high-speed pace, supplemented by shorter segments on Gulfway Drive and San Jacinto Street as you navigate toward Stowell. Because the route is so heavily focused on major arteries, you will find it to be a reliable and predictable commute. It lacks the technical complexities of backroads, prioritizing speed and directness over winding scenic detours.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.5 mi on East Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East Freeway and Gulfway Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 10; US 90 / East Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (I 10 / East Freeway): 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.

On the drive from Houston, TX to Stowell, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Port Arthur along the way.

Port Arthur

59.6 mi in | ~1h 11m | via TX 73

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 1h 16m. Total distance: 62.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 58.5 miles on East Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Stowell, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 10; US 90 / East Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (I 10 / East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Stowell, 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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