Origin
Waller, TX
Morning in Waller on Tuesday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waller, 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
55m
Distance
42.4 mi
68 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 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waller, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Driving from Waller to Houston is a straightforward 42-mile commute that typically takes about 45 minutes to complete. Because of the short distance, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel for the journey, making it a very budget-friendly transit across the Great Plains region. Since both cities are located within the same regional landscape, the drive maintains a consistent environmental feel throughout. It serves as a practical connection for those moving between the smaller community of Waller and the major metropolitan hub of Houston.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 290 | 31.6 mi | 36m |
| Katy Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Hempstead Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| FM 2920 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Hempstead Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Mangum Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Northwest Freeway Frontage Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Washington Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 290
— 31.6 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waller, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on US 290 Bus
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Hempstead Highway
2
Continue on US 290 Bus
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
US 290 Business
3
Continue on US 290 Bus
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Hempstead Highway
4
Turn left onto FM 2920
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
FM 2920
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto US Highway 290
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
US Highway 290
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 290 East, TX 6 South
7
Merge onto US 290; TX 6
32 mi
·
36 min
·
US 290; TX 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward Mangum Road, Dacoma Street
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto Northwest Freeway Frontage Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Freeway Frontage Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Turn right onto Mangum Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Mangum Road
11
Continue on Hempstead Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hempstead Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on Washington Avenue
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Washington Avenue
13
Continue on Westcott Street
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
Westcott Street
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
15
Merge onto I 10; US 90
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smith Street
18
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft
·
16 sec
·
Preston Street
19
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
179 ft
·
5 sec
·
Louisiana Street
20
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.2 miles from Waller, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 41.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
FM 2920
Turn left onto FM 2920
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward US 290 East, TX 6 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 290 East, TX 6 South
5
2.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 290; TX 6
Merge onto US 290; TX 6
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
33.7 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Mangum Road, Dacoma Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Mangum Road, Dacoma Street
8
41.8 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
$6.41 one way
$12.81 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $7.01 | $14.03 |
| premium | $4.54 | $7.57 | $15.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.36 | $18.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.71 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.94 | $2.71 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Morning in Houston on Tuesday
Local time
8:24 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
14 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
55m 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 sprint, as this route relies on US 290, Hempstead Highway, and FM 2920. With a highway share of 0%, the experience is defined by local roads that require more driver engagement than a typical freeway haul. You will navigate through varying traffic patterns as you transition from the outskirts into the denser infrastructure near Houston. Because there are no designated stops required, you can maintain a steady pace throughout the entire 45-minute duration. The road’s personality remains functional and steady, prioritizing local connectivity over scenic highway cruising.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.6 mi on US 290.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 290 and Katy Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near FM 2920.
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 12 decision points packed into just 42.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (FM 2920): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (US 290; TX 6): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Waller, 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 55m. Total distance: 42.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m 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 31.6 miles on US 290. 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 0.9 miles (FM 2920): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles (US 290; TX 6): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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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