Embarking on a 329.8-mile journey from Cisco, TX, to Houston, TX, this drive is designed for a single day, typically taking around 6 hours and 21 minutes. You'll primarily be on East State Highway 6 and I-20, with a significant portion of the drive being highway-focused. With an estimated fuel cost of $50, this route offers a straightforward path across the Great Plains region of Texas. It's a manageable distance for a day trip, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
164.9 miles from Cisco, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
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 6h 21m. Total distance: 329.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 78% of the route utilizing major roadways. You can expect stretches of consistent speed, particularly on I-20. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 46.6 miles along East State Highway 6, offering a solid period of cruising without frequent turns. While the character is largely highway-centric, transitions between East State Highway 6 and East 2nd Street will introduce slight variations in the driving experience as you navigate different road types.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 46 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East State Highway 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East State Highway 6 and East 2nd Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 38.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 329.8 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 38.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 321.1 miles (I 45 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
38.6 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward SH 108 South, FM 919: Gordon, Stephenville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 370
Toward SH 108 South, FM 919: Gordon, Stephenvil...
5
263.1 mi into trip|~4h 59m in
Take the exit toward East TX 105, Spur 515: Conroe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward East TX 105, Spur 515: Conroe
5
321.1 mi into trip|~6h 9m in|I 45 / North Freeway
Merge onto I 45 / North Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
328.5 mi into trip|~6h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East: Beaumont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 48A
Toward I 10 East: Beaumont
7
328.9 mi into trip|~6h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Milam Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Milam Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cisco, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Sh 108 South, Fm 919: Gordon, Stephenville and Spur 515: Conroe.
Sh 108 South
38.6 mi in|~39m
Fm 919: Gordon
38.6 mi in|~39m
Stephenville
38.6 mi in|~39m
Spur 515: Conroe
263.1 mi in|~4h 59m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East State Highway 6
46.6 mi
46m
East 2nd Street
42.4 mi
48m
I 20
37.2 mi
37m
North Earl Rudder Freeway
30.1 mi
31m
TX 6
28.5 mi
33m
Aggie Expressway
24.7 mi
27m
State Highway 108
22.2 mi
33m
South US Highway 281
17.4 mi
19m
Longest stretch:
East State Highway 6
— 46.6 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cisco, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on TX 6
37 ft·8 sec·East 8th Street
2
Turn left onto US 183
1.0 mi·1 min·Conrad Hilton Boulevard
3
Continue on US 183
392 ft·9 sec·US Highway 183
4
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi·18 sec·East Interstate 20
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 20 East: Fort Worth
6
Merge onto I 20
37 mi·37 min·I 20
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 370Toward SH 108 South, FM 919: Gordon, Stephenville
8
Turn straight onto TX 108
0.2 mi·29 sec·West Interstate 20
9
Turn right onto TX 108
22 mi·33 min·State Highway 108
10
Continue on TX 108
1.7 mi·3 min·North Graham Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on TX 108
0.6 mi·1 min·South Graham Avenue
12
Continue on TX 108
0.8 mi·1 min·South State Highway 108
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 281
17 mi·19 min·South US Highway 281
14
Continue on US 281; TX 6
0.6 mi·40 sec·North 2nd Street
15
Continue on TX 6
42 mi·48 min·East 2nd Street
16
Continue on TX 6
3.3 mi·5 min·Avenue C
17
Continue on TX 6
29 mi·33 min·TX 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
19
Continue on TX 6
9.1 mi·9 min·East State Highway 6
20
Continue on TX 6
2.1 mi·2 min·North Memorial Street
21
Continue on TX 6
37 mi·37 min·East State Highway 6
22
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi·3 min·North Main Street
23
Continue on TX 6
6.2 mi·6 min·North State Highway 6
24
Continue on US 79; TX 6
2.1 mi·2 min·North Market Street
25
Continue on US 190; TX 6
14 mi·14 min·South State Highway 6
26
Continue on US 190; TX 6
30 mi·31 min·North Earl Rudder Freeway
27
Continue on TX 6
3.4 mi·3 min·State Highway 6
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward East TX 105, Spur 515: Conroe
29
Turn straight onto TX 105
0.2 mi·24 sec·State Highway 6
30
Turn left onto TX 105
5.9 mi·6 min·State Highway 105
31
Turn straight onto TX 249
25 mi·27 min·Aggie Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on TX 249 Toll
3.6 mi·4 min·MCTRA 249 Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on TBT
7.0 mi·8 min·Tomball Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on TX 249
13 mi·16 min·Tomball Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on TX 249
1.8 mi·3 min·West Mount Houston Road
36
Turn right onto Veterans Memorial Drive
1.8 mi·3 min·Veterans Memorial Drive
37
Continue on North Freeway Frontage Road
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Freeway Frontage Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Take the ramp
453 ft·11 sec
Toward I 45 South
39
Merge onto I 45
7.4 mi·9 min·North Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on I 45
271 ft·3 sec·Gulf Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
41
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 48AToward I 10 East: BeaumontUse the slight left / straight lanes.
42
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Milam StreetUse the slight left lane.
43
Continue on Milam Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Milam Street
44
Turn right onto Prairie Street
328 ft·13 sec·Prairie Street
45
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
516 ft·16 sec·Louisiana Street
46
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour, 21-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Cisco to maximize your daylight hours. With only one suggested stop and a longest stretch of 46.6 miles, you can be flexible with your pacing. Keep an eye on fuel, especially as you get closer to Houston, and factor in the estimated $50 fuel cost. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of potential traffic congestion as you approach the Houston metropolitan area, which can significantly impact your arrival time.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.9 miles from Cisco, TX, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.6 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 73 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.9 miles or 3h 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 5h 8m
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 Cisco, 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 Cisco, TX
This is one driving day of about 329.8 miles and 6h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Cisco, 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 East State Highway 6 for about 46.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 164.9 mi from Cisco, TX
· 3h 15m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 147.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.83 one way
$99.67 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$54.55
$109.09
premium
$4.54
$58.88
$117.77
diesel
$5.61
$72.82
$145.63
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Tomball Tollway
(7 mi)$0.49
MCTRA 249 Tollway
(3.6 mi)$0.25
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
$50
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.9
1
$34.63
$15.83
Efficient EV
82.5
0
$28.86
$13.19
EV Truck/SUV
131.9
1
$46.17
$21.11
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cisco, TX
Late night
in Cisco on Saturday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Houston, TX
Late night
in Houston on Saturday
Local time
3:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
8 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
6h 21m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cisco, TX to Houston, TX covers 329.8 miles and takes about 6h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East State Highway 6, East 2nd Street, I 20. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 164.9 miles from Cisco, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 329.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 38.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 321.1 miles (I 45 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Cisco, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Sh 108 South, Fm 919: Gordon, Stephenville and Spur 515: Conroe.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
