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Trip from Houston, TX to Sulphur Springs, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 1m

Distance

256.2 mi

412 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 48m ★
6 AM
5h 2m
8 AM
5h 29m
10 AM
5h 11m
12 PM
5h 9m
3 PM
5h 13m
5 PM
5h 28m
8 PM
4h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown houston-tx

Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

city in Hopkins County, Texas, USA

Sulphur Springs, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Houston, TX to Sulphur Springs, TX covers 256.2 miles and takes about 5h 1m 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 $38.71 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

128.1 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m 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.

Arriving in Sulphur Springs, TX

Full guide →

Sulphur Springs was founded in 1854, though it was then known as "Bright Star", and is in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas. Though the springs that brought about the name have more or less vanished, it is now known as "The Dairy Capital of Texas", with a museum cultured to that very point, even if the dairy industry has waned a bit around here in the early 21st century.

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 1m. Total distance: 256.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 1m 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 1m drive with frequent turns across 256.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 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 1m 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 Sulphur Springs, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Franklin Street
Travis Street
I 45 North
North Freeway
TX 19
Highway 19
Prospect Drive
East Goliad Avenue

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 Sulphur Springs, 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

63 mi · 1 hr 12 min · North Freeway
6

Take the exit slight right toward TX 19: Riverside, Crockett, Grapeland

0.2 mi · 21 sec · TX 19: Riverside, Crockett, Grapeland
7

Continue straight

0.2 mi · 21 sec
8

Keep slight right

0.5 mi · 51 sec
9

Continue on State Highway 19

22 mi · 26 min · State Highway 19
10

Continue on Prospect Drive

27 mi · 31 min · Prospect Drive
11

Turn right onto East Goliad Avenue

154 ft · 3 sec · East Goliad Avenue
12

Turn left onto 5th Street

164 ft · 6 sec · 5th Street
13

Turn left onto East Houston Avenue

302 ft · 10 sec · East Houston Avenue
14

Turn right onto North 4th Street

33 mi · 37 min · North 4th Street
15

Turn right onto Loop 256

3.4 mi · 4 min · Loop 256
16

Take the exit slight right

0.2 mi · 31 sec
17

Keep slight right

361 ft · 10 sec
18

Merge slight left onto State Highway 155

20 mi · 22 min · State Highway 155
19

Continue on South Elm Street

0.4 mi · 31 sec · South Elm Street
20

Continue on North Frankston Highway

1.5 mi · 1 min · North Frankston Highway
21

Continue on State Highway 155

14 mi · 16 min · State Highway 155
22

Take the exit left toward Loop 49 Toll West

0.5 mi · 1 min · Loop 49 Toll West
23

Merge slight left onto Toll 49

22 mi · 23 min · Toll 49
24

At the end of the road, turn left onto Mineola Highway

10 mi · 12 min · Mineola Highway
25

Keep slight right to continue on North Pacific Street

8.8 mi · 10 min · North Pacific Street
26

Turn left onto West Bermuda Street

26 mi · 31 min · West Bermuda Street
27

Continue on Gilmer Street

1.3 mi · 1 min · Gilmer Street
28

Turn right onto Jefferson Street West

115 ft · 2 sec · Jefferson Street West
29

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 128.1 miles from Houston, TX, or about 2h 30m 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 56 miles or 1h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 128.1 miles or 2h 30m 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 7m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sulphur Springs, 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 256.2 miles and 5h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 128.1 mi from Houston, TX · 2h 30m into the drive

Downtown Palestine, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palestine, TX

128 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

Huntsville, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palestine, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 128.1 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sulphur Springs, TX

The final approach into Sulphur Springs, 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 Sulphur Springs, 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

$38.71 one way

$77.42 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $42.37 $84.75
premium $4.54 $45.74 $91.49
diesel $5.61 $56.57 $113.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 89.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 76.9 0 $26.90 $12.30
Efficient EV 64.1 0 $22.42 $10.25
EV Truck/SUV 102.5 1 $35.87 $16.40

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Saturday

Local time

1:39 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sulphur Springs, TX

Late night in Sulphur Springs on Saturday

Local time

1:39 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Palestine, TX

128 mi in

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

4 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 1m 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 Sulphur Springs, TX covers 256.2 miles and takes about 5h 1m 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 128.1 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 $38.71 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 1m 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 Sulphur Springs, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Houston, TX to Sulphur Springs, 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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Explore More

Return Trip

Sulphur Springs, TX to Houston, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

256.3 mi 5h 1m

Explore more options from Houston, TX or browse trips ending in Sulphur Springs, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.