Origin
Houston, TX
Late night in Houston on Saturday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Pelican Bay, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 20m
Distance
292.3 mi
470 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 7m
★
6 AM
5h 20m
8 AM
5h 47m
10 AM
5h 30m
12 PM
5h 27m
3 PM
5h 31m
5 PM
5h 46m
8 PM
5h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Pelican Bay, TX
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Trip Overview
The drive from Houston, TX to Pelican Bay, TX covers 292.3 miles and takes about 5h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Franklin Street, Travis Street, I 45 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.17 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
146.1 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Houston, TX
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 20m. Total distance: 292.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 20m drive with frequent turns across 292.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Franklin 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 20m 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 Houston, TX to Pelican Bay, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Street | — | — |
| Travis Street | — | — |
| I 45 North | — | — |
| North Freeway | — | — |
| Waco | — | — |
| Woodall Rodgers Freeway | — | — |
| I 35E North | — | — |
| North Stemmons Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Franklin Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Pelican Bay, TX.
1
Start on Louisiana Street
476 ft
·
20 sec
·
Louisiana Street
2
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
3
Turn left onto Travis Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Travis Street
4
Take the ramp straight toward I 45 North Express Lane
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 45 North Express Lane
5
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
237 mi
·
4 hr 8 min
·
North Freeway
6
Take the exit slight right toward Waco, Denton
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Waco, Denton
7
Continue on Woodall Rodgers Freeway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North: Denton
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 35E North: Denton
9
Merge slight left onto North Stemmons Freeway
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Stemmons Freeway
10
Keep slight left to continue on John W Carpenter Freeway
0.8 mi
·
49 sec
·
John W Carpenter Freeway
11
Keep slight left to continue on SH 183 TEXpress
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
12
Keep slight right to continue on SH 183 TEXpress
15 mi
·
14 min
·
SH 183 TEXpress
13
Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
SH 121/183 TEXpress
14
Continue on SH 183 TEXpress
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
SH 183 TEXpress
15
Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress
0.7 mi
·
43 sec
·
SH 121/183 TEXpress
16
Continue on I 820 TEXpress
6.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 820 TEXpress
17
Merge slight right onto Northeast Loop
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
·
Northeast Loop
18
Continue on Jim Wright Freeway
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Jim Wright Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward TX 199: Jacksboro Highway, Quebec Street
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
TX 199: Jacksboro Highway, Quebec Street
20
Keep slight right to continue on TX 199 West: Jacksboro Highway
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
TX 199 West: Jacksboro Highway
21
Turn slight left onto Northwest Loop 820
338 ft
·
7 sec
·
Northwest Loop 820
22
Turn right onto Lake Worth Boulevard
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Worth Boulevard
23
Take the exit straight toward Jacksboro Highway
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Jacksboro Highway
24
Take the exit slight right toward FM 730: Boyd
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
FM 730: Boyd
25
Turn straight onto Northwest Parkway
486 ft
·
13 sec
·
Northwest Parkway
26
Turn right onto Boyd Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Boyd Road
27
Turn right onto Sandy Beach Road
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Sandy Beach Road
28
Turn right onto Long Boulevard
381 ft
·
22 sec
·
Long Boulevard
29
Turn left onto Long Circle
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Long Circle
30
Turn left onto Sheila Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheila Drive
31
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 146.1 miles from Houston, TX, or about 2h 40m 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 64 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.1 miles or 2h 40m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pelican Bay, TX 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Houston, TX
This is one driving day of about 292.3 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Houston, 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 146.1 mi from Houston, TX · 2h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 146.1 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pelican Bay, TX
The final approach into Pelican Bay, 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 Pelican Bay, 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
$44.17 one way
$88.33 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $48.34 | $96.69 |
| premium | $4.54 | $52.19 | $104.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.54 | $129.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.7 | 1 | $30.69 | $14.03 |
| Efficient EV | 73.1 | 0 | $25.58 | $11.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.9 | 1 | $40.92 | $18.71 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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
Pelican Bay, TX
Late night in Pelican Bay on Saturday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
2 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 20m 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 Houston, TX to Pelican Bay, TX covers 292.3 miles and takes about 5h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Franklin Street, Travis Street, I 45 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 146.1 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 $44.17 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 20m 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 Houston, TX to Pelican Bay, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Houston, TX to Pelican Bay, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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