Origin
Hemphill, TX
Late night in Hemphill on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountData updated 5 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
168.5 mi
271 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hemphill, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Traveling from Hemphill to Houston covers 169.3 miles of East Texas terrain. You should budget approximately 2 hours and 56 minutes of driving time, making this a straightforward day trip that does not require an overnight stop. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, the journey is relatively affordable for a solo driver or a small group. Since both ends of your trip are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience consistent geographic characteristics throughout. This route is best treated as a direct point-to-point transit rather than a multi-day excursion. If you are looking for a manageable drive that gets you from the Piney Woods area down to the Gulf Coast region, this path serves as a practical, efficient connection.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.2 miles from Hemphill, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Loading map...
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because the highway share for this route is 0%, you will spend the entire 169.3 miles navigating local roads rather than high-speed interstates. This results in a more technical driving experience where you will constantly adapt to the rhythm of the road. You won't find monotonous, straight-line stretches here; instead, the path requires steady focus as you transition between local corridors. Be prepared for a slower, more deliberate pace compared to typical freeway travel, as the nature of these local roads keeps the drive feeling intimate and engaging from start to finish.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near TX 87 / Mann Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 168.5 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 0.1 miles (TX 87 / Mann Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles (US 96): Navigation decision point; at 166.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto TX 87 / Mann Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 96
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 59 | 68.5 mi | 1h 15m |
| West Gibson Street | 59.5 mi | 1h 6m |
| US 96 | 21.3 mi | 22m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 83 | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| North Main Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Pan American Drive | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Temple Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hemphill, TX and Houston, TX.
Start on Felts
Turn right onto TX 87
Turn left onto FM 83
Keep slight left at fork onto FM 83
Continue on FM 1; FM 83
Continue on FM 1; FM 83
Continue on FM 1
At end of road, turn left onto US 96
Turn slight right onto North Main Street
Turn right onto US 190; TX 63
Turn left onto US 59 Business
Continue on US 59 Business
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 59
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 10; US 90
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Providence Street
Continue on North San Jacinto Street
Continue on Fannin Street
Turn right onto Prairie Street
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
Arrive at destination
Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. While the drive is short enough to complete in one go, you should account for the fact that there are no formal stops programmed into the route, meaning you should plan your own breaks for fuel or rest as needed. Given that you are navigating local roads for the full 169.3 miles, try to avoid peak traffic hours when passing through smaller towns along the way to maintain a steady pace. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before setting out; while $25 is the estimated cost, having a full tank before you leave Hemphill will ensure you don't have to hunt for stations on unfamiliar local roads. Focus on staying alert, as the winding nature of these roads makes them more demanding than a standard highway cruise.
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.
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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.2 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houston, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Hemphill, 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 Hemphill, TX
This is one driving day of about 168.5 miles and 3h 13m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.2 mi from Hemphill, TX · 1h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84.2 miles from Hemphill, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.5 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$25.46 one way
$50.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $27.87 | $55.74 |
| premium | $4.54 | $30.08 | $60.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.20 | $74.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.6 | 0 | $17.69 | $8.09 |
| Efficient EV | 42.1 | 0 | $14.74 | $6.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.4 | 0 | $23.59 | $10.78 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Hemphill on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Houston on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Hemphill, TX or browse trips ending in Houston, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
Explore maps for Hemphill, TX or Houston, TX on MapSof.net.