This 229.4-mile drive from Morton, TX to Houston, TX is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 28 minutes. You'll primarily travel on Diboll Relief Route and South US Highway 59, with a portion on US Route 259. The journey offers a mixed driving experience and is estimated to cost around $35 in fuel. Given the relatively short duration, it's perfectly feasible to complete this in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape throughout.
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
114.7 miles from Morton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Morton, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on Eagleton Road
37 ft·0 sec·Eagleton Road
2
Keep slight left at fork onto Eagleton Road
87 ft·3 sec·Eagleton Road
3
Turn left onto TX 154
6.4 mi·9 min·TX 154
4
Turn left onto US 259
11 mi·12 min·US Hwy 259 South
5
Continue on US 259
8.6 mi·12 min·North Eastman Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
At end of road, turn left onto TX 322; TX 149
1.9 mi·2 min·Estes Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Turn right onto TX 322
1.4 mi·2 min·Gardiner Mitchell Parkway
8
Continue on TX 322
15 mi·16 min·TX 322
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on TX 322
0.5 mi·53 sec·TX 322
10
Turn left onto US 259
1.9 mi·2 min·Kilgore Drive
11
Continue on US 79; US 259
1.7 mi·2 min·Highway 79
12
Turn left onto US 259
16 mi·18 min·US Route 259
13
Continue on US 259
2.9 mi·3 min·North Railroad Avenue
14
Continue on US 259
3.0 mi·3 min·US Route 259
15
Continue on US 259
11 mi·12 min·US Highway 259
16
Take the exit
224 ft·6 sec
Toward US 59 South: Lufkin
17
Continue on this road
420 ft·11 sec·this road
18
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
19
Turn left
104 ft·4 sec
20
Turn right onto US 59
0.7 mi·47 sec·North US Highway 59
21
Continue on US 59
6.4 mi·7 min·Northwest Stallings Drive
22
Continue on US 59; TX 7; TX 21; Loop 224
0.4 mi·25 sec·Stallings Drive
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
24
Turn straight
223 ft·6 sec
25
Merge onto US 59
1.3 mi·1 min·South Street
26
Continue on US 59
19 mi·22 min·South US Highway 59
27
Take the exit
396 ft·9 sec
Toward South First Street
28
Turn straight onto South Medford Drive
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Medford Drive
29
Turn left onto US 59 Bus
4.1 mi·5 min·South First Street
30
Continue on US 59
1.3 mi·1 min·US 59
31
Continue on US 59
111 mi·2 hr 1 min·Diboll Relief Route
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 132Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
33
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
34
Merge onto I 10; US 90
0.5 mi·35 sec·East Freeway
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 769BToward San Jacinto Street, Main StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Turn straight onto Providence Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Providence Street
37
Continue on North San Jacinto Street
0.3 mi·31 sec·North San Jacinto Street
38
Continue on Fannin Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·Fannin Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
39
Turn right onto Prairie Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·Prairie Street
40
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
516 ft·16 sec·Louisiana Street
41
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
For this approximately 4.5-hour journey, you can leave Morton, TX at your convenience. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 111-mile stretch on Diboll Relief Route, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $35 should help you budget. Since this is a single-day trip, consider an early start if you want to maximize your time in Houston upon arrival.
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 114.7 miles from Morton, TX, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111 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 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.7 miles or 2h 20m 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 40m
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 Morton, 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 Morton, TX
This is one driving day of about 229.4 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Morton, 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 Diboll Relief Route for about 111 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 228.1 — 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|Eagleton Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Eagleton Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
26 mi into trip|~35m in|TX 322; TX 149 / Estes Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto TX 322; TX 149 / Estes Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
227.2 mi into trip|~4h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Antonio
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 132
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Anto...
8
227.4 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
228.1 mi into trip|~4h 25m in
Take the exit toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
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 769B
Toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.66 one way
$69.33 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$37.94
$75.88
premium
$4.54
$40.96
$81.92
diesel
$5.61
$50.65
$101.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.8
0
$24.09
$11.01
Efficient EV
57.4
0
$20.07
$9.18
EV Truck/SUV
91.8
1
$32.12
$14.68
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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Morton, TX
Late night
in Morton on Tuesday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Houston, TX
Late night
in Houston on Tuesday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 28m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied driving experience on this 229.4-mile route, with 39% of it being highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 111 miles on the Diboll Relief Route, offering a chance to settle in. While much of the drive involves efficient travel on main roads like South US Highway 59, the inclusion of US Route 259 suggests some changes in road type and pace. This mixed profile means you'll encounter both faster highway sections and potentially more local road segments as you progress towards Houston.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111 mi on Diboll Relief Route.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Eagleton Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 229.4 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: near the start (Eagleton Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 26 miles (TX 322; TX 149 / Estes Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 227.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 229.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111 miles on Diboll Relief Route. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Eagleton Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 26 miles (TX 322; TX 149 / Estes Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 227.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Houston, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
