Origin
Santa Fe, TX
Late night in Santa Fe on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Fe, 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
48m
Distance
36.1 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Fe, TX
Mark Direen
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Traveling from Santa Fe to Houston covers a short 36.2-mile distance that typically takes about 46 minutes to complete. Because this journey is well within the range of a quick commute, it is perfect for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate primarily via Highway 6, Farm-to-Market Road 1764, and FM 1764 throughout this trek across the Great Plains region. With a fuel budget of approximately $5, this is an incredibly economical route to manage. Whether you are heading into the city for business or a change of pace, the simplicity of this connection makes it a straightforward drive. It is an ideal option for travelers who prefer to keep their time on the road minimal and predictable.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Gulf Freeway | 27.2 mi | 31m |
| FM 646 | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| FM 1764 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| FM 517 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Gulf Freeway Frontage Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Highway 6 | 0.4 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 Santa Fe, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on TX 6
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Highway 6
2
Turn right onto FM 1764
497 ft
·
8 sec
·
Farm-to-Market Road 1764
3
Continue on FM 1764
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
FM 1764
4
Turn left onto FM 646
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
FM 646
5
Turn right onto FM 517
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
FM 517
6
Turn left onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 45 North
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 45
27 mi
·
31 min
·
South Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 47B
Toward Houston Avenue, Memorial Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
444 ft
·
14 sec
Toward Memorial Drive
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Memorial Drive Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Memorial Drive Frontage Road
12
Continue on Rusk Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Rusk Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Louisiana Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18 miles from Santa Fe, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 7.6 and 35.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 45 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 45 North
5
7.8 mi into trip
|
~13m 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
34.9 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
35.2 mi into trip
|
~45m 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
35.8 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Louisiana Street
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.45 one way
$10.91 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $5.97 | $11.94 |
| premium | $4.54 | $6.45 | $12.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.97 | $15.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.79 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.05 | $2.31 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Webster, TX
18 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
48m 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 high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway share. The experience behind the wheel is characterized by constant adjustments rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of open road. In fact, you will encounter no long stretches on Highway 6, emphasizing the local nature of this path. Navigating these regional roads requires your full attention as you transition between FM 1764 and local thoroughfares. This is a practical, utilitarian drive that prioritizes connectivity over scenic highway cruising, making it feel more like a suburban transit route than a traditional road trip.
96% 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: 27.2 mi on South Gulf Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South Gulf Freeway and FM 646. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 36.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 45 / South Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 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 Santa Fe, 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 48m. Total distance: 36.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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.
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 7.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 45 / South Gulf Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 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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