Origin
Houston, TX
Afternoon in Houston on Friday
Local time
2:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 29m
Distance
406.4 mi
654 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Anson, TX
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Houston, TX to Anson, TX covers 406.4 miles and takes about 7h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on TX 71, Katy Freeway, North US Highway 183 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 77.7 miles on TX 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.41 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203.2 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 39m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 29m. Total distance: 406.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 29m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
This is a 7h 29m highway drive covering 406.4 miles, with most of the trip on TX 71 and Katy Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 77.7 miles on TX 71.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 71 and Katy Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 406.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.6 miles (TX 71): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.2 miles (TX 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Merge onto I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto TX 71 toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Houston, TX and Anson, TX, road signs point toward Austin and 183 Toll North: Lampasas.
Austin
183 Toll North: Lampasas
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 71 | 77.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| Katy Freeway | 74.1 mi | 1h 20m |
| North US Highway 183 | 72.6 mi | 1h 18m |
| US 83 | 40.4 mi | 44m |
| North Neches Street | 34.9 mi | 39m |
| US 84 | 30.4 mi | 34m |
| East Commerce Street | 22 mi | 25m |
| US 183 | 14.6 mi | 16m |
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Anson, TX.
Start on Louisiana Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; US 90
Take the exit onto TX 71
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
Continue on 71 Toll
Continue on TX 71
Take the exit
Merge onto US 183
Continue on 183 Toll
Continue on US 183
Continue on 183A Toll
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
Keep slight left at fork onto US 183; US 190
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 183; TX 16
Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377
Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377
Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283
Turn right onto US 84; US 283; TX 206
Continue on US 83; US 84
Continue on US 83; US 277
Turn slight right onto US 83; US 277
Turn right onto 12th Street
Turn left
Arrive at destination
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 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 89 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.2 miles or 3h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anson, TX than in the middle of the route.
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Houston, TX
This is one driving day of about 406.4 miles and 7h 29m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 203.2 mi from Houston, TX · 3h 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
203 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 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 203.2 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before TX 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.7 miles.
The final approach into Anson, 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 Anson, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$61.41 one way
$122.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $67.22 | $134.43 |
| premium | $4.54 | $72.56 | $145.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $89.73 | $179.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 121.9 | 1 | $42.67 | $19.51 |
| Efficient EV | 101.6 | 1 | $35.56 | $16.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 162.6 | 2 | $56.90 | $26.01 |
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
48 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Houston on Friday
Local time
2:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Anson on Friday
Local time
2:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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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