Spanning 639.6 miles from the Texas Panhandle to the Gulf Coast, this journey takes you across the expansive Great Plains. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 10 hours and 4 minutes behind the wheel. Given the distance, attempting this in a single day is exhausting, so I recommend splitting the trip over two days for a more comfortable experience. Expect to budget around $95 for fuel for the entire trek. Whether you are driving for business or visiting family, this route offers a significant look at the varied landscapes of Texas. It is a long-distance haul that requires careful pacing to manage the fatigue of such a substantial transit.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
327.7 miles from Perryton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Julius Schepps Freeway
237.2 mi
4h 9m
Central East Freeway
99.2 mi
1h 46m
State Highway 70
91.6 mi
1h 44m
US Highway 287
81.8 mi
1h 27m
US Highway 287 East
40.5 mi
42m
West 2nd Street
27.8 mi
30m
SH 183 TEXpress
15 mi
14m
Loop 171
9.1 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Julius Schepps Freeway
— 237.2 mi, about 4h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Perryton, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on TX 15
22 ft·3 sec·East Brillhart Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 83
3.2 mi·5 min·South Main Street
3
Continue on US 83
3.5 mi·3 min·US Highway 83
4
Turn right onto TX 70
53 mi·52 min·State Highway 70
5
Turn left onto Loop 171
6.2 mi·6 min·Loop 171
6
At end of road, turn right onto TX 273; Loop 171
0.1 mi·7 sec·State Highway 273
7
Continue on TX 273; Loop 171
2.9 mi·3 min·TX 273; Loop 171
8
At end of road, turn left onto SH 70
22 mi·26 min·State Highway 70
9
Continue on TX 70
0.3 mi·34 sec·I 40 Service Road
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 40 East: Oklahoma City
11
Merge onto I 40; TX 70
2.4 mi·2 min·I 40; TX 70
12
Take the exit onto TX 70
0.6 mi·1 min·TX 70
Exit 124Toward Texas 70 South: Clarendon
13
Turn slight right
148 ft·6 sec
14
Turn slight right onto TX 70
17 mi·24 min·State Highway 70
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 287; TX 70
28 mi·30 min·West 2nd Street
16
Turn slight right onto US 287
14 mi·13 min·US Highway 287
17
Continue on US 287
0.7 mi·58 sec·Burnett Street
18
Continue on US 287
14 mi·14 min·US Highway 287
19
Continue on US 287
2.8 mi·3 min·Avenue F Northwest
20
Continue on US 287
54 mi·58 min·US Highway 287
21
Continue on US 287
4.1 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on US 70; US 183; US 287
41 mi·42 min·US Highway 287 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on US 287
4.6 mi·4 min·Northwest Freeway
24
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
25
Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287
2.5 mi·3 min·Central Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
0.9 mi·1 min·Lloyd Ruby Overpass
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.9 mi·1 min·Central East Freeway
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; US 287
1.8 mi·1 min·Central East Freeway
29
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.
30
Continue on US 81; US 287
4.6 mi·4 min·US 81; US 287
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Merge onto I 35W; US 287
2.3 mi·2 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.4 mi·24 sec
Exit 57Toward I 820Use the slight right lane.
33
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 820 EastUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
34
Merge onto I 820
0.4 mi·24 sec·Northeast Loop
35
Take the exit
0.1 mi·7 sec
Toward I 820 Express East Toll
36
Merge onto I 820 TEXpress
5.5 mi·5 min·I 820 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on TX 121 TEXpress; TX 183 TEXpress
4.4 mi·4 min·SH 121/183 TEXpress
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on TX 183 TEXpress
12 mi·11 min·SH 183 TEXpress
Toward TX 183 Express EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 183 TEXpress
3.3 mi·3 min·SH 183 TEXpress
40
Merge onto TX 183
0.8 mi·50 sec·John W Carpenter Freeway
41
Merge onto I 35E
3.9 mi·4 min·North Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Take the exit
0.1 mi·22 sec
Exit 429BToward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street WestUse the slight right lane.
43
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
0.1 mi·18 sec·North Stemmons Freeway
44
Turn left onto Continental Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·Continental Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
45
Turn left onto McKinney Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·McKinney Avenue
46
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 75 North
47
Merge onto Spur 366
0.4 mi·37 sec·Woodall Rodgers Freeway
48
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 45 South: HoustonUse the slight right lane.
49
Merge onto I 45
3.1 mi·3 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
50
Keep slight left at fork onto I 45
234 mi·4 hr 5 min·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Continue on I 45
271 ft·3 sec·Gulf Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
52
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 48AToward I 10 East: BeaumontUse the slight left / straight lanes.
53
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Milam StreetUse the slight left lane.
54
Continue on Milam Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Milam Street
55
Turn right onto Prairie Street
328 ft·13 sec·Prairie Street
56
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
516 ft·16 sec·Louisiana Street
57
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
To tackle this 639.6-mile trip effectively, prioritize an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours on the road. Since the route requires two days of travel, map out your midpoint stop in advance to ensure you have a comfortable place to rest before finishing the final leg. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $95 estimate can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency and local pricing along these specific state highways. Because you are navigating Highway 83 and Highway 70 rather than major interstates, plan for varying speed limits and slower traffic through smaller towns. Staying flexible with your itinerary will help you manage the 10-hour drive duration without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 327.7 miles from Perryton, TX, or about 5h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 237.2 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 144 miles or 2h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 327.7 miles or 5h 59m 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 327.7 miles or 5h 59m
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 10h 44m
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 Perryton, 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 Perryton, TX
Aim for roughly 328 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Houston, TX
Aim for roughly 328 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 144 miles from Perryton, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 35
5 decision points cluster between mile 383.4 and 654.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
383.4 mi into trip|~6h 59m 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
7
383.8 mi into trip|~7h 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
8
414.8 mi into trip|~7h 32m 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
7
416.3 mi into trip|~7h 35m 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
7
654.1 mi into trip|~11h 46m 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
$99.02 one way
$198.03 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg229 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$108.38
$216.76
premium
$4.54
$117.00
$234.00
diesel
$5.61
$144.68
$289.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$99
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$229–$339
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 229.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $69 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
196.6
2
$68.81
$31.45
Efficient EV
163.8
1
$57.34
$26.21
EV Truck/SUV
262.1
3
$91.74
$41.94
Gas CO2
229 kg
EV CO2
77 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Perryton, TX
Night
in Perryton on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Houston, TX
Night
in Houston on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°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.
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
27 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
11h 49m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a grounded, steady experience as you navigate away from Perryton using South Main Street and transition onto Highway 83 and Highway 70. Unlike a high-speed interstate grind, this route relies on state highways that offer a more direct, localized feel as you traverse the state. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend your time on roads that connect communities rather than bypassing them entirely. The character of the drive remains consistent as you move through the Great Plains, demanding your full attention on secondary roads. You will find that the rhythm of the drive is steady, requiring you to remain alert as you transition between these specific highway segments.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
57 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 383.4 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 35 significant decision points across 655.3 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 383.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 383.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 414.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Perryton, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Texas 70 South: Clarendon and Commerce Street West.
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
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 — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 328 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 383.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 383.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 414.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 11.8 hours each way, a round trip means 23.6 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.
