Origin
Wink, TX
Morning in Wink on Tuesday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wink, 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
10h 11m
Distance
596.7 mi
960 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$90
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 3m
★
6 AM
10h 12m
8 AM
10h 30m
10 AM
10h 18m
12 PM
10h 16m
3 PM
10h 19m
5 PM
10h 29m
8 PM
10h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wink, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Wink, TX to Houston, TX is 596.7 miles and takes about 10h 11m via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor and I 10, with a fuel budget near $90 and a recommended 2-day trip. This long-haul drive spans across Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and ending in another part of the same region. With a significant portion on major highways, this route is best suited for those looking to cover ground efficiently. Planning for an overnight stop is advisable to make the most of this extensive drive.
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
298.4 miles from Wink, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor | 292.5 mi | 4h 38m |
| I 10 | 156.5 mi | 2h 40m |
| US 285 | 49.6 mi | 56m |
| Anderson Loop | 25.4 mi | 29m |
| I 20 | 23.4 mi | 21m |
| South State Highway 115 | 15.7 mi | 23m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 14.9 mi | 15m |
| Katy Freeway | 10.7 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
— 292.5 mi, about 4h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wink, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on FM 1232
78 ft
·
6 sec
·
Southwest 1st Street
2
Turn left onto TX 115
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Hendricks Boulevard
3
Continue on TX 115
16 mi
·
23 min
·
South State Highway 115
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 20 West: El Paso
5
Merge onto I 20
23 mi
·
21 min
·
I 20
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit Exit 42
Toward US 285: Carlsbad, Fort Stockton
7
Turn left onto US 285
50 mi
·
56 min
·
US 285
8
Turn left onto Interstate 10 West
425 ft
·
11 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
10
Merge onto I 10; US 67
292 mi
·
4 hr 38 min
·
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
14
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Loop 1604 West
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Loop 1604 East
16
Merge onto Loop 1604
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 10 East
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
19
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
15 mi
·
15 min
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 10; TX 130
151 mi
·
2 hr 34 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Use the slight left lane.
22
Merge onto I 10 Toll
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Katy Tollway
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto I 10; US 90
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smith Street
27
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft
·
16 sec
·
Preston Street
28
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
179 ft
·
5 sec
·
Louisiana Street
29
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
Given the 10h 11m duration, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight driving. With 2 planned stops, you'll have opportunities to rest and refuel. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially when transitioning between the La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor and other highways. The $90 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting your expenses across the 596.7 miles.
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 298.4 miles from Wink, TX, or about 5h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 292.5 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 131 miles or 2h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 298.4 miles or 5h 2m 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 298.4 miles or 5h 2m
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 9h 6m
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 Wink, 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 Wink, TX
Aim for roughly 298 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Houston, TX
Aim for roughly 298 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 131 miles from Wink, 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 La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor for about 292.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
197 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
394 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 San Antonio, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
298 mi · about 5.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 298 miles or 5.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 131 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 298.4 miles from Wink, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 292.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 298 miles or 5.1 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 235 decision points cluster between mile 39.6 and 596.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
39.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward US 285: Carlsbad, Fort Stockton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit Exit 42
Toward US 285: Carlsbad, Fort Stockton
6
382.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 22m in
|
I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
387.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 28m in
Take the exit toward Frontage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
6
388.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 30m in
|
North Loop 1604 West
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
596.1 mi into trip
|
~10h 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
$90.16 one way
$180.33 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
209 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $98.69 | $197.38 |
| premium | $4.54 | $106.54 | $213.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $131.74 | $263.49 |
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
$90
Tolls
$0
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$220–$330
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 208.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 179 | 2 | $62.65 | $28.64 |
| Efficient EV | 149.2 | 1 | $52.21 | $23.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 238.7 | 2 | $83.54 | $38.19 |
Gas CO2
209 kg
EV CO2
70 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Destination
Houston, TX
Morning in Houston on Tuesday
Local time
7:01 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
3 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
10h 11m 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?
You'll spend 43% of this drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 292.5 miles on the La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor. After that, you'll transition to other routes, including I 10 and US 285. Be prepared for periods of rural cruising interspersed with highway travel.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 292.5 mi on La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
At 10h 11m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 596.7 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 39.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 382.3 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 387.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Wink, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Fort Stockton, Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.
Fort Stockton
39.6 mi in
|
~46m
Loop 1604 East
389.1 mi in
|
~6h 30m
Austin
430.6 mi in
|
~7h 17m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Waco
430.6 mi in
|
~7h 17m
|
via I 10; TX 130
About the Cities
Starting in Wink, 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 292.5 miles on La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor. 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 298 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 39.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 382.3 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 387.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.2 hours each way, a round trip means 20.4 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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