Origin
Huntsville, TX
Late night in Huntsville on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Huntsville, TX to Houston, 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 24m
Distance
69.1 mi
111 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Huntsville, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Traveling the 72.3 miles from Huntsville to Houston is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Because of the manageable distance and duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate via 11th Street, South Sam Houston Avenue, and Highway 19, keeping your travel costs low with an estimated fuel budget of just $11. Both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your transit. If you are looking for a quick transition between these two locations, this route offers a practical and efficient way to reach your destination without the need for multiple stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 45 | 63.6 mi | 1h 13m |
| South Sam Houston Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| TX 19 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 19 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Milam Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Louisiana Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Prairie Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 11th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 45
— 63.6 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Huntsville, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on University Avenue
90 ft
·
11 sec
·
University Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 190; TX 30
295 ft
·
12 sec
·
11th Street
3
Turn left onto TX 75
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
South Sam Houston Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
5
Merge onto TX 19
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
State Highway 19
6
Take the exit onto TX 19
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
TX 19
7
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 19
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
TX 19
8
Merge onto I 45
64 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
I 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 45
271 ft
·
3 sec
·
Gulf Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 48A
Toward I 10 East: Beaumont
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Milam Street
Use the slight left lane.
12
Continue on Milam Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Milam Street
13
Turn right onto Prairie Street
328 ft
·
13 sec
·
Prairie Street
14
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
516 ft
·
16 sec
·
Louisiana Street
15
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.6 miles from Huntsville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.6 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 69 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 190; TX 30 / 11th Street
Turn left onto US 190; TX 30 / 11th Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 45
Merge onto I 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
67.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East: Beaumont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 48A
Toward I 10 East: Beaumont
7
68.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Milam Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Milam Street
5
69 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
Louisiana Street
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.44 one way
$20.88 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $11.43 | $22.86 |
| premium | $4.54 | $12.34 | $24.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.26 | $30.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.26 | $3.32 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.67 | $4.42 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
Houston, TX
Late night in Houston on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 to 10 mph
8% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 2:50AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:47AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 24m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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, as this route contains zero highway mileage. You will spend your time navigating local roads, which demands a bit more focus than a monotonous highway slog. Because the route relies on 11th Street, South Sam Houston Avenue, and Highway 19, you should prepare for a varied driving experience that is more technical than a straight shot down an expressway. The lack of long, uninterrupted stretches means you will experience a more continuous driving cadence. This personality makes the 72.3-mile journey feel more engaged and connected to the local environment as you make your way toward Houston.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.6 mi on I 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 45 and South Sam Houston Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 190; TX 30 / 11th Street.
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 69.1 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (US 190; TX 30 / 11th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Huntsville, TX
Full guide →Founded 1836
Huntsville is a small city of about 45,000 residents, located in Walker County, part of the Piney Woods region of Texas. Huntsville is famous as the home of Texas hero, General Sam Houston with an enormous statue of Sam Houston next to Interstate 45, it's famous as a prison town, and is also home to Sam Houston State University.
Top landmarks
- • Woodland — building in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas
- • Steamboat House — historic place in Walker County, Texas
- • Sam Houston Memorial Museum
Arriving 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 24m. Total distance: 69.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m 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 63.6 miles on I 45. 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 Houston, 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: near the start (US 190; TX 30 / 11th Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles (I 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Houston, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Houston, TX
More from Huntsville, TX
More trips to Houston, TX
Explore more options from Huntsville, TX or browse trips ending in Houston, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.