This 228.8-mile journey from Jourdanton, TX, to Houston, TX, is a straightforward drive that can easily be accomplished in a single day. Expect to spend about 4 hours and 5 minutes on the road, with a projected fuel cost of around $35. The route primarily utilizes I-10 and I-37, making it a highway-focused experience. Given its manageable length and focused road profile, this drive is well-suited for a day trip, allowing for a flexible departure time. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region for both your origin and destination.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
114.4 miles from Jourdanton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
151.1 mi
2h 34m
I 37
23.2 mi
23m
90th Infantry Division Highway
21.7 mi
22m
Katy Freeway
10.7 mi
13m
Connally Loop
7 mi
7m
Oak Street
4.7 mi
7m
East State Highway 97
3.5 mi
5m
Katy Tollway
3.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 151.1 mi, about 2h 34m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,432 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,335
Quietest
2 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Jourdanton, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on TX 16
94 ft·5 sec·Zanderson Avenue
2
Turn right onto TX 97
4.7 mi·7 min·Oak Street
3
Turn left onto US 281; TX 97
0.1 mi·14 sec·South Main Street
4
Continue on US 281; TX 97
0.7 mi·1 min·2nd Street
5
Turn right onto TX 97
3.5 mi·5 min·East State Highway 97
6
Turn left onto I-37 Frontage Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·I-37 Frontage Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 37 North
8
Merge onto I 37
23 mi·23 min·I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 133Toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 SouthUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 410 North, TX 130 NorthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 410; TX 130
7.0 mi·7 min·Connally Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto TX 130
0.1 mi·14 sec·TX 130
Exit 33Toward I 10, US 90, TX 130: San Antonio, HoustonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 130
0.4 mi·53 sec·TX 130
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, TX 130 North: Houston, Seguin
14
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 130
0.2 mi·25 sec·TX 130
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East
15
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
22 mi·22 min·90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on I 10; TX 130
151 mi·2 hr 34 min·I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy TollwayUse the slight left lane.
18
Merge onto I 10 Toll
3.2 mi·4 min·Katy Tollway
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 10; US 90
11 mi·13 min·Katy Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 769AToward Downtown, Theatre DistrictUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi·29 sec·Smith Street
23
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft·16 sec·Preston Street
24
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
179 ft·5 sec·Louisiana Street
25
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
With a duration of just over 4 hours, this trip is ideal for a single-day adventure, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving early to maximize your daylight hours. You'll only need to plan for one primary stop along the 228.8-mile route, so pace yourself accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest 151.1-mile stretch on I-10, where services might be more spaced out. The $35 fuel estimate is a helpful guide for budgeting this highway-focused drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 114.4 miles from Jourdanton, TX, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.1 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 50 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.4 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 19m
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 Jourdanton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jourdanton, TX
This is one driving day of about 228.8 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Jourdanton, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 151.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 32.7 and 228.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
32.7 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South
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 133
Toward I 410, TX 130, US 281 South
8
32.9 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 410 North, TX 130 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 410 North, TX 130 North
8
40.3 mi into trip|~47m in|TX 130
Take the exit onto TX 130 toward I 10, US 90, TX 130: San Antonio, Houston
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.
Exit 33
Toward I 10, US 90, TX 130: San Antonio, Housto...
6
40.4 mi into trip|~47m in|TX 130
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 130 toward I 10 East, US 90 East, TX 130 North: Houston, Seguin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, TX 130 North: Hou...
8
228.2 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Theatre District
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.
Exit 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.34 one way
$62.68 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$35.00
$70.01
premium
$4.23
$38.06
$76.12
diesel
$4.80
$43.20
$86.40
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Katy Tollway
(3.2 mi)$0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.6
0
$24.02
$10.98
Efficient EV
57.2
0
$20.02
$9.15
EV Truck/SUV
91.5
1
$32.03
$14.64
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Jourdanton, TX
Evening
in Jourdanton on Monday
Local time
6:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Houston, TX
Evening
in Houston on Monday
Local time
6:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 12:27PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
98°F
Brownsboro, TX
114 mi in
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
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
4h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 83% of the route on major interstates. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 151.1 miles on I-10, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is largely defined by these high-speed corridors, interspersed with sections on I-37 and 90th Infantry Division Highway. Expect a relatively uninterrupted flow for most of the 228.8 miles, with minimal deviations from the primary interstate network.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.1 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 37. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 21 significant decision points across 228.8 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 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles (TX 130): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
642 ft35 ft
Total Climb
214 ft
Total Descent
640 ft
Highest Point
642 ft
~49 mi in
Elevation Range
607 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jourdanton, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Seguin, Austin and Waco.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 5m. Total distance: 228.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.1 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.23 in tolls one way, starting with Katy Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 30 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.3 miles (TX 130): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Houston, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
