Origin
Houston, TX
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
3:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Alto, TX
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
151.1 mi
243 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Alto, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
The drive from Houston, TX to Alto, TX covers 151.1 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Franklin Street, San Jacinto Street, Rothwell Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.08 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
75.6 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 56m drive with frequent turns across 151.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Houston, TX to Alto, TX is easy. At 2h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Houston, TX to Alto, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Jacinto Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Rothwell Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 59 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 69 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Eastex Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| College Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Franklin Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Alto, TX.
1
Start on Louisiana Street
476 ft
·
20 sec
·
Louisiana Street
2
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Franklin Street
3
Turn left onto San Jacinto Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
San Jacinto Street
4
Turn straight onto Rothwell Street
348 ft
·
7 sec
·
Rothwell Street
5
Take the ramp straight toward US 59 East, I 10 East
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 59 East, I 10 East
6
Merge slight left onto East Freeway
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Freeway
7
Take the exit slight left toward I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland
8
Merge slight left onto Eastex Freeway
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Eastex Freeway
9
Keep slight left
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
10
Continue straight
42 mi
·
44 min
11
Continue straight
35 mi
·
38 min
12
Turn left onto College Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
College Drive
13
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
14
Merge slight left onto South John Redditt Drive
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
South John Redditt Drive
15
Turn left onto Loop 287 Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Loop 287 Frontage Road
16
Take the ramp straight
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
17
Merge slight left
27 mi
·
33 min
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.6 miles from Houston, TX, or about 1h 28m 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.6 miles or 1h 28m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alto, 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 151.1 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 75.6 mi from Houston, TX · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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 75.6 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alto, TX
The final approach into Alto, 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 Alto, 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
$23.08 one way
$46.16 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $25.29 | $50.59 |
| premium | $4.59 | $27.31 | $54.62 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $33.57 | $67.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.3 | 0 | $15.87 | $7.25 |
| Efficient EV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.22 | $6.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.4 | 0 | $21.15 | $9.67 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Alto, TX
Afternoon in Alto on Sunday
Local time
3:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
14 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
2h 56m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Houston, TX to Alto, TX covers 151.1 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Franklin Street, San Jacinto Street, Rothwell Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.6 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 $23.08 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Houston, TX to Alto, TX is easy. At 2h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Houston, TX to Alto, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Houston, TX to Alto, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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