Origin
Shady Hollow, TX
Late night in Shady Hollow on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shady Hollow, 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
3h 11m
Distance
170.9 mi
275 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 0m
★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 35m
10 AM
3h 20m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 21m
5 PM
3h 34m
8 PM
3h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shady Hollow, TX
Hector Portillo
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Shady Hollow, TX to Houston, TX is 170.9 miles and takes about 3h 11m via Texas State Highway 71 and Katy Freeway, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas and the Great Plains region for its entirety. With 94% of the route on highways, expect a fairly straightforward drive. Given the relatively short duration, it's a manageable one-day trip, perfect for getting to Houston without an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.5 miles from Shady Hollow, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Highway 71 | 137 mi | 2h 25m |
| Katy Freeway | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| US 290 | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| Brodie Lane | 5.2 mi | 10m |
| Katy Tollway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Bastrop Freeway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| East State Highway 71 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West US 290 Frontage Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Texas State Highway 71
— 137 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shady Hollow, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on Saddle Mountain Trail
311 ft
·
15 sec
·
Saddle Mountain Trail
2
Turn right onto Spotted Horse Trail
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Spotted Horse Trail
3
Turn left onto Brodie Lane
5.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Brodie Lane
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto West US 290 Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
West US 290 Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 290 East, TX 71 East
6
Merge onto US 290; TX 71
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn straight onto 71 Toll
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bastrop Freeway
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on TX 71
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
·
East State Highway 71
9
Continue on TX 71
137 mi
·
2 hr 25 min
·
Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 10 Toll
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Katy Tollway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 10; US 90
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smith Street
16
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft
·
16 sec
·
Preston Street
17
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
179 ft
·
5 sec
·
Louisiana Street
18
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a drive that can easily be completed in under four hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Shady Hollow in the morning will get you into Houston with plenty of daylight. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without significant services could be the 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71. Budgeting around $26 for fuel should cover the trip. Given the short distance, you likely won't need more than one brief stop.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.5 miles from Shady Hollow, TX, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.5 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
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 Shady Hollow, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Shady Hollow, TX
This is one driving day of about 170.9 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Shady Hollow, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Texas State Highway 71 for about 137 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.5 miles from Shady Hollow, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 170.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Spotted Horse Trail
Turn right onto Spotted Horse Trail
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Brodie Lane
Turn left onto Brodie Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
6.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
US 290; TX 71
Merge onto US 290; TX 71
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
155.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m 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
8
170.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m 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
$25.82 one way
$51.65 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $28.27 | $56.53 |
| premium | $4.54 | $30.51 | $61.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.73 | $75.47 |
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
$26
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.94 | $8.20 |
| Efficient EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.95 | $6.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.93 | $10.94 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Colorado, TX
85 mi in
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.
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
4 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
3h 11m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 94% of the 170.9 miles spent on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71 before transitioning. The remaining miles will involve Katy Freeway and US 290, leading into more developed areas with frequent exits as you approach Houston.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137 mi on Texas State Highway 71.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and Katy Freeway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Spotted Horse Trail.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 170.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (Spotted Horse Trail): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Brodie Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (US 290; TX 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Shady Hollow, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward 71 Toll East along the way.
71 Toll East
16.6 mi in
|
~24m
|
via 71 Toll
About the Cities
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 3h 11m. Total distance: 170.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Spotted Horse Trail): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Brodie Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (US 290; TX 71): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Houston, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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