Origin
Abilene, TX
Afternoon in Abilene on Sunday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Abilene, TX to Houston, TX
Drive Time
5h 52m
Distance
367.6 mi
592 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 39m
★
6 AM
5h 52m
8 AM
6h 18m
10 AM
6h 1m
12 PM
5h 59m
3 PM
6h 3m
5 PM
6h 17m
8 PM
5h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Abilene, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
The drive from Abilene, TX to Houston, TX covers 367.6 miles and takes about 5h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chestnut Street, South 7th Street, South Treadaway Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.15 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
183.8 miles from Abilene, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 56m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 52m drive with frequent turns across 367.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chestnut Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 52m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Abilene, TX to Houston, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chestnut Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 7th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Treadaway Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 83 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Garmon Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 84 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 281 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Key Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Chestnut Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Abilene, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on South Pine Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
South Pine Street
2
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Chestnut Street
3
Turn left onto South 7th Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
South 7th Street
4
Turn right onto South Treadaway Boulevard
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
South Treadaway Boulevard
5
Take the ramp straight toward US 83 South, US 84 East: Ballinger, Coleman
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 83 South, US 84 East: Ballinger, Coleman
6
Keep slight left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
7
Merge slight left
45 mi
·
50 min
8
Continue straight
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
9
Turn left
11 mi
·
12 min
10
Continue straight
21 mi
·
24 min
11
Turn right onto Garmon Drive
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Garmon Drive
12
Continue on US Highway 84 East
29 mi
·
33 min
·
US Highway 84 East
13
Turn right
22 mi
·
25 min
14
Continue straight
15 mi
·
15 min
15
Merge slight left onto North US Highway 281
259 ft
·
4 sec
·
North US Highway 281
16
Continue on North Key Avenue
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Key Avenue
17
Continue on South US Highway 183
35 mi
·
38 min
·
South US Highway 183
18
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
19
Keep slight left to continue on 183A Toll Road
14 mi
·
14 min
·
183A Toll Road
20
Continue straight
15 mi
·
17 min
21
Continue on Bergstrom Expressway
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Bergstrom Expressway
22
Continue on Bastrop Highway
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Bastrop Highway
23
Take the exit slight left toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
24
Continue on East State Highway 71
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Highway 71
25
Turn straight onto Bastrop Freeway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bastrop Freeway
26
Continue on East State Highway 71
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
·
East State Highway 71
27
Continue on Texas State Highway 71
137 mi
·
2 hr 25 min
·
Texas State Highway 71
28
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
29
Merge slight left onto Katy Tollway
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Katy Tollway
30
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
31
Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Katy Freeway
32
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, Theatre District
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Downtown, Theatre District
33
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smith Street
34
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft
·
17 sec
·
Preston Street
35
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
180 ft
·
5 sec
·
Louisiana Street
36
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 183.8 miles from Abilene, TX, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
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 81 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.8 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 54m
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 Abilene, 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 Abilene, TX
This is one driving day of about 367.6 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Abilene, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 183.8 mi from Abilene, TX · 2h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
184 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 183.8 miles from Abilene, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Houston, TX
The final approach into Houston, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Houston, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.15 one way
$112.31 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
129 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $61.54 | $123.07 |
| premium | $4.59 | $66.44 | $132.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $81.67 | $163.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.3 | 1 | $38.60 | $17.64 |
| Efficient EV | 91.9 | 1 | $32.17 | $14.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 147 | 1 | $51.46 | $23.53 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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.
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
5h 52m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Abilene, TX to Houston, TX covers 367.6 miles and takes about 5h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chestnut Street, South 7th Street, South Treadaway Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 183.8 miles from Abilene, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.15 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 52m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Abilene, TX to Houston, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Abilene, TX to Houston, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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