Traveling from Waskom to Houston covers 223.9 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 56 minutes of active driving time. Since this journey stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent landscape as you head south. With only one recommended stop, it is a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $33 for fuel to complete the trek. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it offers a distinct, hands-on driving experience that differs from standard highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.4 miles from Waskom, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Waskom, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on South Lake Street
105 ft·9 sec·South Lake Street
2
Turn left onto US 80
0.5 mi·57 sec·West Texas Avenue
3
Turn left onto FM 9
1.0 mi·1 min·Elysian Fields Road
4
Continue on FM 9
3.0 mi·5 min·Farm-to-Market Road 9
5
Continue on FM 9
6.3 mi·11 min·Farm-to-Market Road 9
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 79
21 mi·24 min·United States Highway 79
7
Continue on US 59 Business; US 79 Business
294 ft·8 sec·US 59 Business; US 79 Business
8
Turn left onto US 59 Business; US 79 Business
364 ft·11 sec·North Saint Mary Street
9
Turn right onto West Sabine Street
1.9 mi·3 min·West Sabine Street
10
Continue on TX 315
25 mi·25 min·TX 315
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 259
2.6 mi·3 min·North Railroad Avenue
12
Continue on US 259
3.0 mi·3 min·US Route 259
13
Continue on US 259
11 mi·12 min·US Highway 259
14
Take the exit
224 ft·6 sec
Toward US 59 South: Lufkin
15
Continue on this road
420 ft·11 sec·this road
16
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
17
Turn left
104 ft·4 sec
18
Turn right onto US 59
0.7 mi·47 sec·North US Highway 59
19
Continue on US 59
6.4 mi·7 min·Northwest Stallings Drive
20
Continue on US 59; TX 7; TX 21; Loop 224
0.4 mi·25 sec·Stallings Drive
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
22
Turn straight
223 ft·6 sec
23
Merge onto US 59
1.3 mi·1 min·South Street
24
Continue on US 59
19 mi·22 min·South US Highway 59
25
Take the exit
396 ft·9 sec
Toward South First Street
26
Turn straight onto South Medford Drive
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Medford Drive
27
Turn left onto US 59 Bus
4.1 mi·5 min·South First Street
28
Continue on US 59
1.3 mi·1 min·US 59
29
Continue on US 59
111 mi·2 hr 1 min·Diboll Relief Route
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 132Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
32
Merge onto I 10; US 90
0.5 mi·35 sec·East Freeway
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 769BToward San Jacinto Street, Main StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Turn straight onto Providence Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Providence Street
35
Continue on North San Jacinto Street
0.3 mi·31 sec·North San Jacinto Street
36
Continue on Fannin Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·Fannin Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
37
Turn right onto Prairie Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·Prairie Street
38
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
516 ft·16 sec·Louisiana Street
39
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 223.9-mile trip, plan your single stop strategically to break up the nearly four-hour drive. Leaving early in the day is your best bet to manage the local roads while daylight is on your side, ensuring better visibility for the many turns ahead. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge throughout the journey, as the $33 cost estimate assumes efficient travel on local roads. Since you aren't tied to an interstate schedule, feel free to adjust your pace to match the flow of local traffic. A concrete tip for this specific route is to double-check your GPS frequently, as the reliance on Farm-to-Market roads requires navigating multiple junctions where navigation can easily become confusing.
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 111.4 miles from Waskom, TX, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111 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 49 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.4 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
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 Waskom, 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 Waskom, TX
This is one driving day of about 222.8 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Waskom, 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 Diboll Relief Route for about 111 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 222.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 80 / West Texas Avenue
Turn left onto US 80 / West Texas Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
220.6 mi into trip|~4h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 132
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Anto...
8
220.8 mi into trip|~4h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
221.5 mi into trip|~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
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 769B
Toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
5
222.7 mi into trip|~4h 19m in|Louisiana Street
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.94 one way
$69.87 round trip
$3.98/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.38
$38.43
$76.86
premium
$4.72
$41.43
$82.86
diesel
$6.20
$54.38
$108.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-05.
EV Charging Along Route
1 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: sparse
Tesla Supercharger
Carthage, Texas
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.39
$10.69
Efficient EV
55.7
0
$19.50
$8.91
EV Truck/SUV
89.1
1
$31.19
$14.26
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Waskom, TX
Morning
in Waskom on Saturday
Local time
8:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Clear
N 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Destination
Houston, TX
Morning
in Houston on Saturday
Local time
8:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
N 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 17 at 3:25AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 17 at 2:37AM CDT until October 20 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
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
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
4h 20m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating West Texas Avenue, Elysian Fields Road, and Farm-to-Market Road 9. The nature of the road means there are no long, uninterrupted stretches, with the longest segment on West Texas Avenue measuring 0 miles. Because you are avoiding major highways, you will need to stay alert for frequent turns and changing road conditions. It is a technical drive that requires your full attention behind the wheel compared to a typical high-speed cruise.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111 mi on Diboll Relief Route.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 80 / West Texas Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 222.8 miles you will encounter 18 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: near the start (US 80 / West Texas Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 220.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 220.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 222.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111 miles on Diboll Relief Route. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (US 80 / West Texas Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 220.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 220.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Houston, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
