Trip from Iowa Park, TX to Houston, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

Distance

391.7 mi

630 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$54

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min

4 AM

6h 49m ★

6 AM

7h 0m

8 AM

7h 23m

10 AM

7h 8m

12 PM

7h 6m

3 PM

7h 9m

5 PM

7h 22m

8 PM

6h 53m

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

Best Time

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city in Wichita County, Texas, United States

Iowa Park, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Trip Overview

Iowa Park, TX to Houston, TX is 391.7 miles and takes about 7 hours via Julius Schepps Freeway, Central East Freeway, and SH 183 TEXpress, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip is entirely within Texas, starting in the Great Plains and ending in the same region. Expect a mostly highway experience, making it a straightforward drive. You'll want to plan for a full day of driving to comfortably cover the 391.7 miles and arrive in Houston with time to spare.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

195.9 miles from Iowa Park, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 32m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway	237.2 mi	4h 9m
Central East Freeway	99.2 mi	1h 46m
SH 183 TEXpress	15 mi	14m
US 287	8.1 mi	8m
I 820 TEXpress	5.5 mi	5m
US 81	4.6 mi	4m
SH 121/183 TEXpress	4.4 mi	4m
North Stemmons Freeway	4 mi	5m

Longest stretch: Julius Schepps Freeway — 237.2 mi, about 4h 9m

Traffic on I-45

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,256 veh/hr typical · worst 3,806

Quietest

2 AM

~407 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 48 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 Iowa Park, TX and Houston, TX.

Start on West Cash Street

147 ft · 11 sec · West Cash Street

Turn left onto North Yosemite Street

133 ft · 9 sec · North Yosemite Street

Turn right onto US 287 Bus; FM 368

0.2 mi · 37 sec · West Highway Street

Turn right onto FM 368

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Pacific Avenue

Turn right onto Southwest Access Road

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Southwest Access Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec

Merge onto US 287

8.1 mi · 8 min · US 287

Keep slight right at fork onto US 287

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Northwest Freeway

Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls

Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287

2.5 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 281; US 287

0.9 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287

1.8 mi · 1 min · Central East Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287

97 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Central East Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 81; US 287

4.6 mi · 4 min · US 81; US 287

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35W; US 287

2.3 mi · 2 min · North Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 24 sec

Exit 57 Toward I 820 Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min

Toward I 820 East Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 820

0.4 mi · 24 sec · Northeast Loop

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 7 sec

Toward I 820 Express East Toll

Merge onto I 820 TEXpress

5.5 mi · 5 min · I 820 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress

4.4 mi · 4 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 183 TEXpress

12 mi · 11 min · SH 183 TEXpress

Toward TX 183 Express East Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress

3.3 mi · 3 min · SH 183 TEXpress

Merge onto TX 183

0.8 mi · 50 sec · John W Carpenter Freeway

Merge onto I 35E

3.9 mi · 4 min · North Stemmons Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 22 sec

Exit 429B Toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway

0.1 mi · 18 sec · North Stemmons Freeway

Turn left onto Continental Avenue

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Continental Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto McKinney Avenue

0.2 mi · 24 sec · McKinney Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward US 75 North

Merge onto Spur 366

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Woodall Rodgers Freeway

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 45 South: Houston Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 45

3.1 mi · 3 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 45

234 mi · 4 hr 5 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 45

271 ft · 3 sec · Gulf Freeway

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Exit 48A Toward I 10 East: Beaumont Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward Milam Street Use the slight left lane.

Continue on Milam Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Milam Street

Turn right onto Prairie Street

328 ft · 13 sec · Prairie Street

Turn right onto Louisiana Street

516 ft · 16 sec · Louisiana Street

Arrive at destination

Louisiana Street

Trip Plan

Given the 7-hour duration, leaving Iowa Park in the early morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With only 2 planned stops, you can afford to be flexible. Keep an eye on fuel prices, especially as you get closer to Houston; budget around $57 for gas. The vast majority of this drive is on highways, so ensure your vehicle is in good condition for sustained speed. The 237.2-mile stretch on Julius Schepps Freeway is the longest continuous highway segment, so plan a break before or after that if needed.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 195.9 miles from Iowa Park, TX, or about 3h 32m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237.2 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 86 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 195.9 miles or 3h 32m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houston, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Iowa Park, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Iowa Park, TX

This is one driving day of about 391.7 miles and 7h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Iowa Park, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Julius Schepps Freeway for about 237.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dallas, TX

196 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

Plainview, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waxahachie, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 195.9 miles from Iowa Park, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.4 mi from route

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Union Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, Texas

+17132598070

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+17135221138

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 32

5 decision points cluster between mile 119.8 and 390.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

119.8 mi into trip | ~2h 10m in

Take the exit toward I 820

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 57 Toward I 820

120.2 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 820 East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 820 East

151.2 mi into trip | ~2h 43m in

Take the exit toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West

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 429B Toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West

152.7 mi into trip | ~2h 46m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Houston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 45 South: Houston

390.5 mi into trip | ~6h 57m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$53.65 one way

$107.30 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 137 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$59.93	$119.85
premium	$4.23	$65.15	$130.31
diesel	$4.80	$73.96	$147.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$54

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 137 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	117.5	1	$41.13	$18.80
Efficient EV	97.9	1	$34.27	$15.67
EV Truck/SUV	156.7	1	$54.84	$25.07

Gas CO2

137 kg

EV CO2

46 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Iowa Park, TX

Late night in Iowa Park on Monday

Local time

12:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

103°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Monday

Local time

12:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Partly Cloudy

SE 5 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 11:12PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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.

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

24 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

7h on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 98% highway, so you'll be on high-speed roads for almost the entire 391.7 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 237.2 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. You'll notice dense exits and merging traffic as you approach and move through urban areas, especially on the freeways mentioned. The highway driving means you'll be covering ground quickly, with minimal time spent on slower surface streets.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 237.2 mi on Julius Schepps Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Julius Schepps Freeway and Central East Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 119.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 32 significant decision points across 391.7 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 119.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 120.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 151.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,058 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

339 ft

Total Descent

1,340 ft

Highest Point

1,058 ft

~56 mi in

Elevation Range

1,023 ft

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 Iowa Park, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Commerce Street West along the way.

Commerce Street West

151.2 mi in | ~2h 43m

About the Cities

Starting in Iowa Park, TX

Full guide →

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. === Welcome World Cup fans === Games will be played at NRG Stadium on the south side of Houston The best way to get to the stadium on game day is to use MetroRail trains (red line to NRG Stadium/Astrodome). Fare cards can be purchased at kiosks at train platforms and cost US$1.25 per ride The best hotels for football fans are downtown or near the medical center (both areas have easy access to MetroRail).

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 7h. Total distance: 391.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 237.2 miles on Julius Schepps Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 38 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 Houston, 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 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Houston, 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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Explore More

Explore more options from Iowa Park, TX or browse trips ending in Houston, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Iowa Park, TX to Houston, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-45

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

Wise County Northbound

Texas Travel Information Center at Wichita Falls

Navarro County Northbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Flying J Travel Center

Rest Area

Navarro County Southbound Rest Area

Rest Area

Service Plaza

QuikTrip

Buc-ee's

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

TA Express

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Walker County Southbound Rest Area

Walker County Northbound Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

TA Express

Buc-ee's

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Flying J Travel Center

Service Plaza

TA

Mr. Fuel Travel Center

Service Plaza

Downtown Aquarium

Union Station

The Woodlands Waterway

Cidercade Houston

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

Midtown Park

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Children's Museum Houston

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Iowa Park, TX

Houston, TX

Same local time

24 degrees cooler at arrival

7h 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 Iowa Park, TX

Arriving in Houston, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

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?