Origin
San Leon, TX
Late night in San Leon on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Leon, TX to Houston, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
40.2 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Leon, TX
Mark Direen
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Traveling from San Leon to Houston covers 40.5 miles across the Great Plains of Texas. You can expect the drive to take approximately 53 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Since the route involves zero highway driving, you will navigate entirely via local roads like Parke Street, Main Street, and Pine Street. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is sufficient for this straightforward journey. Because both the origin and destination are located within the same region, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the entire trip. This route is best suited for those who prefer navigating local corridors over high-speed interstate travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Gulf Freeway | 27.2 mi | 31m |
| FM 517 | 8.7 mi | 14m |
| Pine Drive | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Gulf Freeway Frontage Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Pine Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Parke Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Louisiana Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rusk Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Gulf Freeway
— 27.2 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Leon, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on Avenue I
165 ft
·
9 sec
·
Avenue I
2
Continue on FM 517
8.7 mi
·
14 min
·
FM 517
3
Turn left onto FM 517
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Parke Street
4
Turn straight onto FM 517
446 ft
·
9 sec
·
Main Street
5
Continue on FM 517
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Pine Street
6
Continue on FM 517
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Pine Drive
7
Turn right onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 45 North
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 45
27 mi
·
31 min
·
South Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 47B
Toward Houston Avenue, Memorial Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
444 ft
·
14 sec
Toward Memorial Drive
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Memorial Drive Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Memorial Drive Frontage Road
13
Continue on Rusk Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Rusk Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Louisiana Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from San Leon, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 40 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the ramp toward I 45 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 45 North
5
12 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 45 / South Gulf Freeway
Merge onto I 45 / South Gulf Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
39.1 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward Houston Avenue, Memorial Drive
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 47B
Toward Houston Avenue, Memorial Drive
8
39.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Memorial Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Memorial Drive
6
40 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
Louisiana Street
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.07 one way
$12.15 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $6.65 | $13.30 |
| premium | $4.54 | $7.18 | $14.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.88 | $17.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Late night in Houston on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
11 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
54m 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 as you make your way from San Leon to Houston. With a highway share of 0%, this route relies exclusively on local streets rather than fast-paced lanes. You will not find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment on Parke Street is effectively zero miles. The road’s personality is defined by frequent turns and a steady pace through local infrastructure. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience where constant attention to the road is required, rather than the monotonous cruising found on major interstates.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.2 mi on South Gulf Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Gulf Freeway and FM 517. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.2 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12 miles (I 45 / South Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in San Leon, TX
Full guide →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 54m. Total distance: 40.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.2 miles on South Gulf Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 11.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 12 miles (I 45 / South Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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