Trip from Pecos, 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 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 26m

Distance

558.4 mi

899 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$76

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

9h 18m ★

6 AM

9h 27m

8 AM

9h 44m

10 AM

9h 33m

12 PM

9h 31m

3 PM

9h 34m

5 PM

9h 43m

8 PM

9h 22m

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 and county seat of Reeves County, Texas, United States

Pecos, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Trip Overview

Spanning 560.3 miles across Texas, this journey from Pecos to Houston is a significant cross-state undertaking. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 8 hours and 10 minutes, making this a heavy lift for a single day behind the wheel. Given the distance, we recommend breaking this trip into two days to keep your energy levels steady. You will be traveling primarily via Interstate 10 East, starting in the Great Plains region and remaining within the same geographic expanse as you head toward the Gulf Coast area. Budgeting about $83 for fuel will cover your transit, though it is wise to keep a little extra set aside for fluctuations. Approach this as a serious long-distance drive that requires careful planning rather than a quick jaunt.

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

279.2 miles from Pecos, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor	292.5 mi	4h 38m
I 10	156.5 mi	2h 40m
South Cedar Street	51.1 mi	58m
Anderson Loop	25.4 mi	29m
90th Infantry Division Highway	14.9 mi	15m
Katy Freeway	10.7 mi	13m
Katy Tollway	3.2 mi	4m
Interstate 10 East	0.9 mi	2m

Longest stretch: La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor — 292.5 mi, about 4h 38m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 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 Pecos, TX and Houston, TX.

Start on East 6th Street

67 ft · 4 sec · East 6th Street

Turn right onto US 285

51 mi · 58 min · South Cedar Street

Turn left onto Interstate 10 West

425 ft · 11 sec · Interstate 10 West

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward I 10 East: San Antonio

Merge onto I 10; US 67

292 mi · 4 hr 38 min · La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor

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 tackle this 8-hour and 10-minute drive effectively, try to depart early in the morning to beat traffic near major hubs. We suggest scheduling at least two deliberate stops to stretch your legs and refresh your focus, as the sheer length of the trip can lead to fatigue. Since your fuel budget is estimated at $83, monitor your gauge carefully on the more remote stretches to avoid unnecessary anxiety between stations. If you decide to split the trip over two days, look for lodging options roughly halfway to ensure your second day is manageable. Always check your tire pressure before leaving Pecos, as the sustained highway speeds on I-10 can be demanding on your vehicle over such a long distance.

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 279.2 miles from Pecos, TX, or about 4h 35m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 292.5 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 123 miles or 2h 7m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 279.2 miles or 4h 35m 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 279.2 miles or 4h 35m

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 21m

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 Pecos, 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 Pecos, TX

Aim for roughly 279 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Houston, TX

Aim for roughly 279 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 123 miles from Pecos, 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 La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor for about 292.5 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

184 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

369 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

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

279 mi · about 4.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Fair Oaks Ranch, TX after about 279 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Big Lake, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 123 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kerrville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 279.2 miles from Pecos, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 292.5 miles.

Overnight split

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Pecos, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+14324455076

Visit website

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

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+17137520314

Visit website

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 344 and 557.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

344 mi into trip | ~5h 37m 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.

349.3 mi into trip | ~5h 43m 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

350.4 mi into trip | ~5h 45m in | North Loop 1604 West

Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

543.4 mi into trip | ~9h 7m 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

557.8 mi into trip | ~9h 25m 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

$76.48 one way

$152.97 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 195 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$85.43	$170.86
premium	$4.23	$92.88	$185.77
diesel	$4.80	$105.44	$210.87

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

$76

Tolls

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$207–$317

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 195.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $59 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	167.5	2	$58.63	$26.80
Efficient EV	139.6	1	$48.86	$22.34
EV Truck/SUV	223.4	2	$78.18	$35.74

Gas CO2

195 kg

EV CO2

65 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 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 16, 2026

Origin

Pecos, TX

Late night in Pecos on Sunday

Local time

2:03 AM

CDT

Current temp

88°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

E 5 mph 28% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:21PM CDT until July 16 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:19PM CDT until July 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Sunday

Local time

2:03 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 4:21PM CDT until July 16 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:19PM CDT until July 16 at 8:00PM 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.

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

3 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 26m 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...

20 mi from route ~50 min detour Free near mile 365.8

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...

28 mi from route ~71 min detour Free near mile 308.1

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 classic long-distance interstate experience as you navigate the vast stretches of Texas. The route relies heavily on Interstate 10 East, providing a consistent, high-speed corridor that facilitates steady progress across the state. While you start by navigating local streets like South Cedar Street, you will quickly transition into the rhythmic, wide-open highway driving that defines this part of the country. This drive is characterized by its scale, requiring you to maintain focus over the full 560.3-mile distance. Because this is a high-mileage trek, the experience is less about technical maneuvering and more about settling into the long, uninterrupted flow of the interstate.

30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

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

Longest single stretch: 292.5 mi on La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

At 9h 26m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 344 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 19 significant decision points across 558.4 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: at 344 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 349.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 350.4 miles (North Loop 1604 West): Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,883 ft 35 ft

Total Climb

744 ft

Total Descent

3,293 ft

Highest Point

2,883 ft

~39.9 mi in

Elevation Range

2,848 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

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

Loop 1604 East

350.8 mi in | ~5h 45m

Austin

392.2 mi in | ~6h 32m | via I 10; TX 130

Waco

392.2 mi in | ~6h 32m | via I 10; TX 130

About the Cities

Starting in Pecos, TX

Full guide →

Pecos is a town in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. The town claims to have been the site of the first rodeo, on July 4, 1883.

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?

Solo Traveler

9h 26m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 292.5 miles on La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor. 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 279 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 63 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 63 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 9.4 hours each way, a round trip means 18.9 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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