Origin
Stanton, TX
Late night in Stanton on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stanton, 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
8h 48m
Distance
468.5 mi
754 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 40m
★
6 AM
8h 48m
8 AM
9h 4m
10 AM
8h 54m
12 PM
8h 52m
3 PM
8h 54m
5 PM
9h 3m
8 PM
8h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stanton, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Stanton, TX to Houston, TX is 468.5 miles and takes about 8h 48m via Texas State Highway 71 and US 87, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive cuts across the vast Texas landscape, transitioning from the open country of the Great Plains to the energy of the Houston metro area. While it's possible to complete in a single day, the 8h 48m duration suggests that breaking it into two days would offer a more relaxed pace. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward, mostly highway trip to reach the Gulf Coast.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
234.2 miles from Stanton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Highway 71 | 137 mi | 2h 25m |
| US 87 | 104.4 mi | 1h 55m |
| TX 71 | 63.3 mi | 1h 25m |
| State Highway 71 | 47.2 mi | 50m |
| William B Crooker Memorial Highway | 44.3 mi | 44m |
| US Highway 87 South | 14.6 mi | 14m |
| I 20 | 13.6 mi | 13m |
| US 290 | 13.6 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
Texas State Highway 71
— 137 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stanton, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on South Saint Mary Street
85 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Saint Mary Street
2
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
East Front Street
3
Continue on I 20 Bus
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Business I-20
4
Turn straight onto I 20 Bus
389 ft
·
14 sec
·
I 20 Bus
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 20 East: Abilene
6
Merge onto I 20
14 mi
·
13 min
·
I 20
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 173
Toward US 87 South: San Angelo
8
Turn straight onto West Interstate 20
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
West Interstate 20
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
10
Merge onto US 87
44 mi
·
44 min
·
William B Crooker Memorial Highway
11
Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
4th Street
12
Continue on US 87
15 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 87 South
13
Continue on US 87
104 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
US 87
14
Turn right onto US 87; US 190; US 377
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Bridge Street
15
Turn left onto TX 71
47 mi
·
50 min
·
State Highway 71
16
Turn left onto TX 29; TX 71
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
TX 29; TX 71
17
Turn right onto TX 16; TX 71
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Bessemer Avenue
18
Continue on TX 16; TX 71
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Ford Street
19
Turn left onto TX 71
63 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
TX 71
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on State Highway 71 West
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 71 West
21
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
this road
22
Merge onto US 290
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
West US Highway 290
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Toward US 290 East, TX 71 East
24
Merge onto West US Highway 290
202 ft
·
2 sec
·
West US Highway 290
25
Continue on US 290; TX 71
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
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.
27
Continue on TX 71
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
·
East State Highway 71
28
Continue on TX 71
137 mi
·
2 hr 25 min
·
Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Use the slight left lane.
30
Merge onto I 10 Toll
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Katy Tollway
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto I 10; US 90
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
33
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smith Street
35
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft
·
16 sec
·
Preston Street
36
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
179 ft
·
5 sec
·
Louisiana Street
37
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
Given the nearly 9-hour drive time, it's highly recommended to split this trip into two days, especially if you prefer not to drive after dark. Plan to stop for the night around the halfway point, which would be approximately 4.5 hours into your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a significant break is 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71. If you decide to push through in one day, ensure you leave Stanton early to maximize daylight hours.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 234.2 miles from Stanton, TX, or about 4h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137 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 103 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 234.2 miles or 4h 14m 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 234.2 miles or 4h 14m
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 7h 40m
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 Stanton, 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 Stanton, TX
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Houston, TX
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Stanton, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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
Overnight candidate
234 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Leander, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
234 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Leander, TX after about 234 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 234.2 miles from Stanton, 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.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 234 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
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 225 decision points cluster between mile 15.5 and 467.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward US 87 South: San Angelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 173
Toward US 87 South: San Angelo
5
235.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 15m in
|
TX 71
Turn left onto TX 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
300.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 44m in
Take the exit toward US 290 East, TX 71 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 290 East, TX 71 East
6
453.5 mi into trip
|
~8h 28m 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
467.9 mi into trip
|
~8h 46m 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
$70.79 one way
$141.58 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
164 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $77.49 | $154.97 |
| premium | $4.54 | $83.65 | $167.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $103.44 | $206.88 |
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
$71
Tolls
$0
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 163.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 140.5 | 1 | $49.19 | $22.49 |
| Efficient EV | 117.1 | 1 | $40.99 | $18.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 187.4 | 2 | $65.59 | $29.98 |
Gas CO2
164 kg
EV CO2
55 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
8h 48m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 88% of the route on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71, which will likely feel like continuous cruising. The drive begins on surface roads in Stanton and transitions to the highway network, eventually leading you into the more developed areas around Houston. Expect many exits as you approach your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and US 87. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 468.5 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 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 235.1 miles (TX 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 300.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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 Stanton, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward 71 Toll East along the way.
71 Toll East
314.1 mi in
|
~6h
|
via 71 Toll
About the Cities
Starting in Stanton, 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).
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.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 234 miles on day one.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 235.1 miles (TX 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 300.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.8 hours each way, a round trip means 17.6 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.
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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