Trip.ovh

Trip from Houston, TX to Los Angeles, CA

Drive Time

26h 23m

Distance

1546.1 mi

Route Type

Long-distance drive

Multi-day drive

Trip Overview

The drive from Houston, TX to Los Angeles, CA covers 1546.1 miles and takes about 26h 23m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 3-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 10 West, Katy Freeway, TX 1518 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $230.03 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 3 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

7 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

773.1 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

At 1546.1 miles and 26h 23m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 10 West and Katy Freeway.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 56 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 West is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 10 West 0 mi 0m
Katy Freeway 0 mi 0m
TX 1518 0 mi 0m
Interstate 10 East 0 mi 0m
Farm-to-Market Road 1518 0 mi 0m
Gordon A Blake Highway 0 mi 0m
Loop 1604 North 0 mi 0m
Anderson Loop 0 mi 0m
Longest stretch: I 10 West — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Louisiana Street

2

Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West: San Antonio

3

Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway

4

Keep slight left

5

Take the exit slight right toward TX 1518: Schertz

6

Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East

7

Turn right onto Farm-to-Market Road 1518

8

At the end of the road, turn left onto Gordon A Blake Highway

9

Turn left

10

Take the ramp slight right toward Loop 1604 North

11

Merge slight left onto Anderson Loop

12

Take the exit slight right toward Frontage Road

13

Turn straight onto North Loop 1604 West

14

Turn right onto Interstate 10 West

15

Take the ramp slight left toward I 10 West, US 87 North

16

Merge slight left

17

Keep slight right

18

Continue on Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

19

Keep slight left to continue on Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

20

Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

21

Continue on Benson-Steins Pass Highway

22

Continue on Tucson-Benson Highway

23

Continue on South Freeway

24

Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

25

Keep slight left to continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

26

Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

27

Continue on Maricopa Freeway

28

Keep slight left to continue on Papago Freeway

29

Keep slight left to continue on Papago Freeway

30

Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

31

Continue on Papago Freeway

32

Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

33

Keep slight right

34

Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

35

Continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

36

Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

37

Continue on San Bernardino Freeway

38

Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes

39

Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway

40

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

41

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

42

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

43

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

44

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

45

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

46

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

47

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

48

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

49

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

50

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

51

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

52

Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

53

Take the exit slight right toward Spring Street

54

Turn right onto North Spring Street

55

Turn left onto West 1st Street

56

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 7 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 773.1 miles from Houston, TX.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 220 miles

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 773.1 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 515 miles

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Los Angeles, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Houston, 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 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Houston, TX

Aim for roughly 515 miles and 8.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Keep the middle miles efficient

Aim for roughly 515 miles and 8.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 3

Finish the approach into Los Angeles, CA

Aim for roughly 515 miles and 8.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Houston, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 7 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Coffee and fuel

Live Oak, TX

387 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.

Late stop town

Overnight candidate

Anthony, TX

773 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.

Late stop town

Final reset

Avondale, AZ

1160 mi into the route

Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break

This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Los Angeles, CA.

Suggested Overnight Stops

Night 1

Fort Davis, TX

515 mi · about 8.8h in

A practical overnight split lands near Fort Davis, TX after about 515 miles or 8.8 hours of driving.

Night 2

Tucson, AZ

1031 mi · about 17.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Tucson, AZ after about 1031 miles or 17.6 hours of driving.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Los Angeles, CA 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 Los Angeles, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Los Angeles, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 773.1 mi from Houston, TX

Live Oak, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Anthony, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 773.1 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 515 miles or 8.8 hours on the road.

Final-third reset

Rest stop

Plan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
regular $3.78 $230.03 $460.06
midgrade $4.25 $258.82 $517.64
premium $4.59 $279.45 $558.91
diesel $3.99 $243.05 $486.11

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 541 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Houston, TX to Los Angeles, CA covers 1546.1 miles and takes about 26h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10 West, Katy Freeway, TX 1518. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 3-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 515 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 773.1 miles from Houston, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $230.03 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 7 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

More trips from Houston, TX

Houston, TX to Miami, FL

1186.9 mi 18h 2m

Houston, TX to El Paso, TX

745.3 mi 10h 38m

Houston, TX to Dumas, TX

649.3 mi 11h 30m

Houston, TX to Fritch, TX

624.6 mi 11h 22m

Houston, TX to Kermit, TX

574.8 mi 10h 12m

Houston, TX to Lubbock, TX

539.5 mi 8h 21m

More trips to Los Angeles, CA

Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA

2672.7 mi 46h 53m

Cincinnati, OH to Los Angeles, CA

2176.1 mi 31h 49m

Crescent City, CA to Los Angeles, CA

730.7 mi 12h 20m

McKinleyville, CA to Los Angeles, CA

659.8 mi 11h 2m

Cutten, CA to Los Angeles, CA

648.4 mi 10h 42m

Shasta, CA to Los Angeles, CA

552.3 mi 9h 1m

Next Route Ideas

Reverse Route

Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX

Useful if you are planning the return drive and want the same trip in reverse.

1549.1 mi 22h 39m

Continue From Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles, CA to Washington, DC 2670.7 mi · 39h 7m Los Angeles, CA to San Antonio, TX 1353.8 mi · 19h 46m Los Angeles, CA to McKinleyville, CA 683.6 mi · 12h 45m Los Angeles, CA to Red Bluff, CA 513.7 mi · 9h 24m

Explore more options from Houston, TX or browse trips ending in Los Angeles, CA .

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips .

Going the other way? Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX

Explore maps and details for Houston, TX or Los Angeles, CA on MapSof.net.