Origin
Cleburne, TX
Afternoon in Cleburne on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cleburne, TX to Houston, TX
Drive Time
4h 35m
Distance
241.5 mi
389 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 22m
★
6 AM
4h 35m
8 AM
5h 2m
10 AM
4h 45m
12 PM
4h 42m
3 PM
4h 46m
5 PM
5h 1m
8 PM
4h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cleburne, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Traveling from Cleburne to Houston covers approximately 241.6 miles and takes roughly 3 hours and 46 minutes of drive time. Because this route relies on local roads like North Main Street, East 2nd Street, and FM 4 rather than major interstates, it functions best as a focused one-day trip. You should budget about $36 for fuel to complete the journey comfortably. Both your starting point in Cleburne and your destination in Houston sit within the Great Plains region, meaning you will experience consistent geographical terrain throughout the drive. This trek is manageable for a single driver, but be prepared for a turn-heavy experience that requires your full attention compared to a standard highway haul.
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
120.7 miles from Cleburne, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature rather than the monotony of a high-speed interstate grind. With 0% of the route categorized as highway driving, you will spend the entire 241.6 miles navigating through local corridors. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on North Main Street is 0 miles, you should expect constant adjustments and frequent turns. The road maintains a distinct local personality, shifting away from the typical fast-paced transit you might find on major national routes. Staying alert is essential, as the constant navigation required by this specific road network makes for a much more active driving experience.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35W is the longest continuous segment at about 48.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35W and East State Highway 6. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15 miles in near I 35W.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 241.5 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 15 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
15 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 35W
Merge onto I 35W
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
64 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 337
Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
5
174.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m 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
7
240.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 32m 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
240.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 33m 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 Along This Route
On the drive from Cleburne, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 515: Conroe along the way.
Spur 515: Conroe
174.8 mi in
|
~3h 12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35W | 48.9 mi | 49m |
| East State Highway 6 | 46.6 mi | 46m |
| North Earl Rudder Freeway | 30.1 mi | 31m |
| Aggie Expressway | 24.7 mi | 27m |
| South State Highway 6 | 13.7 mi | 14m |
| Tomball Parkway | 12.6 mi | 16m |
| East FM 4 | 11.7 mi | 19m |
| North Freeway | 7.4 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
I 35W
— 48.9 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleburne, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on US 67 Bus
49 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Henderson Street
2
Turn left onto TX 171; TX 174; FM 4
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto FM 4
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
4
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 4
12 mi
·
19 min
·
East FM 4
5
Continue on FM 4; FM 916
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
McDuff Avenue
6
Continue on FM 4; FM 916
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Criner Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
8
Merge onto I 35W
49 mi
·
49 min
·
I 35W
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 337
Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
12
Turn left onto US 77 Bus
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Loop Drive
Use the none lane.
13
Continue on Loop 484
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Marlin Highway
14
Continue on TX 6
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
East State Highway 6
15
Continue on TX 6
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Memorial Street
16
Continue on TX 6
37 mi
·
37 min
·
East State Highway 6
17
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
18
Continue on TX 6
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North State Highway 6
19
Continue on US 79; TX 6
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Market Street
20
Continue on US 190; TX 6
14 mi
·
14 min
·
South State Highway 6
21
Continue on US 190; TX 6
30 mi
·
31 min
·
North Earl Rudder Freeway
22
Continue on TX 6
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 6
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward East TX 105, Spur 515: Conroe
24
Turn straight onto TX 105
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Highway 6
25
Turn left onto TX 105
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 105
26
Turn straight onto TX 249
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Aggie Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on TX 249 Toll
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
MCTRA 249 Tollway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on TBT
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Tomball Tollway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on TX 249
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Tomball Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on TX 249
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Mount Houston Road
Use the none lane.
31
Turn right onto Veterans Memorial Drive
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Veterans Memorial Drive
Use the none lane.
32
Continue on North Freeway Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
North Freeway Frontage Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Take the ramp
453 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 45 South
34
Merge onto I 45
7.4 mi
·
9 min
·
North Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 45
271 ft
·
3 sec
·
Gulf Freeway
Use the left / straight lanes.
36
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 48A
Toward I 10 East: Beaumont
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Milam Street
Use the slight left lane.
38
Continue on Milam Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Milam Street
Use the none lane.
39
Turn right onto Prairie Street
328 ft
·
13 sec
·
Prairie Street
40
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
516 ft
·
16 sec
·
Louisiana Street
41
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 46 minute journey, plan to leave early in the day to avoid the fatigue that can come with navigating local turns for extended periods. Since this route includes one planned stop, use that break strategically to rest your eyes and stretch before tackling the remainder of the drive. Keep your $36 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before you depart Cleburne to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted run. Given that this is a local road-heavy trip, rely on your navigation system consistently to handle the frequent turns along FM 4 and other local streets. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so don't hesitate to take an extra rest stop if the turn-heavy nature of the road starts to wear on you.
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 120.7 miles from Cleburne, TX, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.9 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.7 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 39m
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 Cleburne, 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 Cleburne, TX
This is one driving day of about 241.5 miles and 4h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cleburne, 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 I 35W for about 48.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.7 mi from Cleburne, TX · 2h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 120.7 miles from Cleburne, 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
$36.89 one way
$73.78 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $40.43 | $80.85 |
| premium | $4.59 | $43.65 | $87.30 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $53.65 | $107.31 |
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
$37
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.5 | 0 | $25.36 | $11.59 |
| Efficient EV | 60.4 | 0 | $21.13 | $9.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.6 | 1 | $33.81 | $15.46 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Destination
Houston, TX
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
3:24 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
12 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 35m 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 Cleburne, TX to Houston, TX covers 241.5 miles and takes about 4h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35W, East State Highway 6, North Earl Rudder Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120.7 miles from Cleburne, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.89 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 demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 241.5 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 15 miles (I 35W): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Cleburne, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 515: Conroe along the way.
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