Trip from Odessa, 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

9h 19m

Distance

534 mi

859 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$73

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

9h 11m ★

6 AM

9h 20m

8 AM

9h 36m

10 AM

9h 25m

12 PM

9h 24m

3 PM

9h 26m

5 PM

9h 36m

8 PM

9h 15m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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city in Ector and Midland counties in Texas, United States, that is county seat of Ector County

Odessa, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Trip Overview

Spanning 536.9 miles across the Great Plains, your journey from Odessa to Houston is a significant haul that typically takes about 8 hours and 5 minutes of pure driving time. Because of this duration, planning for a two-day trip is highly recommended to keep you fresh behind the wheel. You should budget approximately $80 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this route involves a combination of North Grant Avenue, Highway 385, and Farm to Market Road 305 rather than a single major interstate. It is a long-distance drive that demands a steady pace, so consider your stamina before deciding to push through in one go.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

267 miles from Odessa, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	399 mi	6h 31m
South US Highway 385	51.3 mi	59m
Anderson Loop	25.4 mi	29m
Farm to Market Road 305	18.1 mi	26m
90th Infantry Division Highway	14.9 mi	15m
Katy Freeway	10.7 mi	13m
US 190	4.2 mi	6m
Katy Tollway	3.2 mi	4m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 399 mi, about 6h 31m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 88 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~1,584 veh/hr typical · worst 2,261

Quietest

2 AM

~235 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.7×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Odessa, TX and Houston, TX.

Start on US 385

11 ft · 7 sec · North Grant Avenue

Continue on US 385

3.1 mi · 4 min · North Grant Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 385

51 mi · 59 min · South US Highway 385

Continue on FM 305

18 mi · 26 min · Farm to Market Road 305

At end of road, turn right onto US 190

4.2 mi · 6 min · US 190

At end of road, turn left onto I 10 Service Road

412 ft · 8 sec · I 10 Service Road

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward I 10 East: San Antonio

Merge onto I 10

243 mi · 3 hr 51 min · I 10

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

5.4 mi · 5 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 556B Toward Frontage Road Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Interstate 10 West

Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West

0.4 mi · 43 sec · North Loop 1604 West

Use the straight lane.

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 13 sec

Toward Loop 1604 East

Merge onto Loop 1604

25 mi · 29 min · Anderson Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto Interstate 10 East

0.9 mi · 2 min · Interstate 10 East

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130

15 mi · 15 min · 90th Infantry Division Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10; TX 130

151 mi · 2 hr 34 min · I 10; TX 130

Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 10 Toll

3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 90

11 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway

Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Exit 769A Toward Downtown, Theatre District Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on Smith Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Smith Street

Turn left onto Preston Street

331 ft · 16 sec · Preston Street

Turn left onto Louisiana Street

179 ft · 5 sec · Louisiana Street

Arrive at destination

Louisiana Street

Trip Plan

To manage the 8-hour and 5-minute drive comfortably, aim to break your trip into two days as recommended. Planning for at least two stops along the way will help you stay alert and manage your $80 fuel budget effectively. Since the route utilizes specific roads like Farm to Market Road 305 and Highway 385, keep a reliable GPS handy to navigate the transitions between these smaller segments. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach your destination well before nightfall. By pacing your travel over two days, you can handle the distance without the exhaustion that often accompanies a single-day, long-distance trek.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

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

The halfway point lands around 267 miles from Odessa, TX, or about 4h 39m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 399 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 117 miles or 2h 16m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 267 miles or 4h 39m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 267 miles or 4h 39m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 13m

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 Odessa, 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.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Odessa, TX

Aim for roughly 267 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Houston, TX

Aim for roughly 267 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Odessa, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

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

The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 399 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Kimble County, Texas, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Junction, TX

176 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

San Antonio, TX

352 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in San Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Kerrville, TX

267 mi · about 4.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 267 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Big Lake, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 117 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kerrville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 267 miles from Odessa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 399 miles.

Overnight split

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

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 319.6 and 533.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

319.6 mi into trip | ~5h 29m in | I 10; US 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

324.9 mi into trip | ~5h 35m in

Take the exit toward Frontage Road

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 556B Toward Frontage Road

326 mi into trip | ~5h 37m in | North Loop 1604 West

Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

519 mi into trip | ~8h 59m in

Take the exit toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway

533.4 mi into trip | ~9h 17m 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

$73.14 one way

$146.28 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 187 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$81.70	$163.40
premium	$4.23	$88.82	$177.65
diesel	$4.80	$100.83	$201.66

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

$73

Tolls

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$203–$313

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 186.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	160.2	1	$56.07	$25.63
Efficient EV	133.5	1	$46.73	$21.36
EV Truck/SUV	213.6	2	$74.76	$34.18

Gas CO2

187 kg

EV CO2

62 kg (67% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Odessa, TX

Late night in Odessa on Monday

Local time

12:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 10 mph 49% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:47PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:46PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Destination

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Monday

Local time

12:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 19% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:47PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:46PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

10 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

9h 19m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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...

15 mi from route ~38 min detour Free near mile 349.9

View on nps.gov

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...

26 mi from route ~66 min detour Free near mile 294.6

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a unique driving experience as this route relies entirely on local roads and highways, with a highway share of 0%. You will spend your time navigating through the heart of the Great Plains, transitioning from the high desert feel of Odessa toward the coastal plains of Houston. The road personality is defined by these secondary routes, which offer a different pace than a standard interstate grind. Since there is no single major highway, you will need to remain attentive to the changing road designations throughout the 536.9-mile journey. Be prepared for a consistent, hands-on driving experience that requires focus as you transition between these specific local roads.

87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 399 mi on I 10.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and South US Highway 385. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 319.6 miles in near I 10; US 87.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 534 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 319.6 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 324.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 326 miles (North Loop 1604 West): Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,898 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

318 ft

Total Descent

3,181 ft

Highest Point

2,898 ft

Elevation Range

2,863 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Odessa, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.

Loop 1604 East

326.4 mi in | ~5h 38m

Austin

367.9 mi in | ~6h 25m | via I 10; TX 130

Waco

367.9 mi in | ~6h 25m | via I 10; TX 130

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Odessa, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Houston, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Th,Sa 05:30-19:30; Fr 05:30-20:00; Su...

Visit website

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Houston, TX

Visit website

Barnaby's Cafe

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Houston, TX

Cuisine: american

Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-15:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00

Visit website

Birraporetti's

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Houston, TX

Cuisine: italian

Hours: Mo-Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 10:00-24:00

Visit website

Hearsay Gastro Lounge

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Houston, TX

Hours: Mo-Th 11:00-24:00; Fr 11:00-02:00, Sa 12...

Visit website

Frank's Pizza

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route

Houston

Cuisine: pizza

Hours: Su-We 11:00-22:00, Th 11:00-01:00, Fr-Sa...

Visit website

Sambuca

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, TX

Hours: Mo-We 11:00-23:00, Th 11:00-24:00, Fr 11...

Visit website

Chipotle

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, TX

Hours: 24/7

Visit website

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Odessa, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1881

Odessa is a city of 120,000 people (2018) in West Texas, 20 mi (32 km) west of its sister city, Midland. Much of the major industry in the area is oil- and gas-related. As such, the Midland/Odessa area is colloquially known as the petroplex. Many of the attractions you will find in the area are in Midland, so if you're visiting Odessa, the Midland article deserves a look as well. It's also notable as the fountainhead for the Friday Night Lights media franchise, which began with a 1990 book that explored football at the city's Permian High School, later followed by a movie that was mostly faithful to the book, and then a TV series that was a looser adaptation.

Top landmarks

• White-Pool House — historic place in Odessa, Ector County, Texas

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).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 399 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 267 miles on day one.

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 57 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 57 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.3 hours each way, a round trip means 18.7 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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