Origin
Wharton, TX
Afternoon in Wharton on Sunday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wharton, 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
1h 18m
Distance
59.8 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wharton, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Wharton to Houston is 59.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 18 minutes via Southwest Freeway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region on its way to the bustling city of Houston. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, ideal for a quick transit or an easy day trip. Given its relatively short duration, you'll likely find it's a simple commute rather than an extended journey, with most of your time spent on main roadways.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Freeway | 32.6 mi | 37m |
| US Highway 59 | 15.7 mi | 18m |
| US 59 Northbound Frontage Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Louisiana Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| 59 Northbound Frontage Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Southwest Freeway Frontage Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North Richmond Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Milam Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Southwest Freeway
— 32.6 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wharton, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on TX 60
110 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Milam Street
2
Turn right onto US 59 Business; TX 60
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Richmond Road
3
Turn left
1.7 mi
·
3 min
4
Merge onto US 59
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US Highway 59
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
6
Continue on 59 Northbound Frontage Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
59 Northbound Frontage Road
7
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
this road
8
Continue on US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
9
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 69 North, US 59 North
11
Merge onto I 69; US 59
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana Street
Use the slight left lane.
13
Take the exit
155 ft
·
3 sec
Toward Downtown, Louisiana Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on Louisiana Street
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Louisiana Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.9 miles from Wharton, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.8 — 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 59 Business; TX 60 / North Richmond Road
Turn right onto US 59 Business; TX 60 / North Richmond Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
24.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway
Merge onto I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana...
7
57.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Louisiana 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.
Toward Downtown, Louisiana Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.04 one way
$18.07 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $9.89 | $19.78 |
| premium | $4.54 | $10.68 | $21.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.20 | $26.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.28 | $2.87 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.23 | $2.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.37 | $3.83 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
2:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
15 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
1h 18m 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 route is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on the Southwest Freeway and US Highway 59 Northbound Frontage Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.6 miles on Southwest Freeway, offering a consistent pace. Expect a driving experience characterized by smooth, high-speed travel for the majority of the journey, with minimal deviations from the main thoroughfare.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.6 mi on Southwest Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southwest Freeway and US Highway 59. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 59 Business; TX 60 / North Richmond Road.
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 59.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 59 Business; TX 60 / North Richmond Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 24.3 miles (I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 18m. Total distance: 59.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.6 miles on Southwest 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: near the start (US 59 Business; TX 60 / North Richmond Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 24.3 miles (I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway): 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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