Origin
Richmond, TX
Morning in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richmond, TX to Houston, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
28.8 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richmond, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Traveling from Richmond to Houston covers a short 28.8-mile distance, making it a quick trip that typically takes about 42 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will find the transition between them straightforward and familiar. You can easily complete this journey in a single day, as it functions perfectly as a local commute or a quick getaway. With an estimated fuel cost of only $4, it is an incredibly budget-friendly route for your itinerary. Because there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination without needing to plan for overnight stays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Freeway | 14.3 mi | 17m |
| East US Highway 90A | 9.9 mi | 15m |
| Louisiana Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Southwest Freeway Frontage Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| US 90 Alt | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Jackson Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Southwest Freeway
— 14.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on US 90 Alt
68 ft
·
3 sec
·
Jackson Street
2
Turn slight right onto US 90 Alt
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 90 Alt
3
Continue on US 90 Alt
9.9 mi
·
15 min
·
East US Highway 90A
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
240 ft
·
6 sec
Toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Houston, Victoria
5
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
this road
Toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Houston, Victoria
6
Keep slight left at fork
490 ft
·
13 sec
Toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Houston, Victoria
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Houston, Victoria
8
Turn slight left onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 59 North, I 69 North
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 69; US 59
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana Street
Use the slight left lane.
12
Take the exit
155 ft
·
3 sec
Toward Downtown, Louisiana Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Louisiana Street
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Louisiana Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 10.6 and 26.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
10.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Houston, Victoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Houston, Victo...
7
10.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Houston, Victoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 59 North, US 59 South: Houston, Victo...
6
11.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the ramp toward US 59 North, I 69 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 59 North, I 69 North
8
26 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana...
7
26.8 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Louisiana 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.
Toward Downtown, Louisiana Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.35 one way
$8.70 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $4.76 | $9.53 |
| premium | $4.54 | $5.14 | $10.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.36 | $12.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Houston, TX
Morning in Houston on Tuesday
Local time
8:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
42m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 28.8-mile stretch. You will navigate a mix of Highway 90A, US 59 North, and the Southwest Freeway Frontage Road to reach your destination. With a highway share of 0%, the route lacks long, uninterrupted high-speed segments, meaning you should prepare for frequent adjustments to your speed and focus. The longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on Highway 90A, highlighting the stop-and-go nature of this local transit. Behind the wheel, you will feel the shift from the quieter outskirts of Richmond into the dense, active traffic patterns of the Houston area.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.3 mi on Southwest Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southwest Freeway and East US Highway 90A. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 28.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
103 ft
35 ft
Total Climb
53 ft
Total Descent
110 ft
Highest Point
103 ft
~12.3 mi in
Elevation Range
68 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Richmond, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Victoria and Downtown.
Victoria
10.4 mi in
|
~16m
Downtown
26.8 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Starting in Richmond, TX
Full guide →Founded 1837
Top landmarks
- • John M. and Lottie D. Moore House — building in Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas
- • Lamar–Calder House — building in Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas
- • Fort Bend County Courthouse — historic place in Richmond, Fort Bend 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.
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?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 28.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.3 miles on Southwest Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Houston, TX before heading back.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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