Origin
Houston, TX
Evening in Houston on Thursday
Local time
6:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Highlands, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
29m
Distance
21.5 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Highlands, TX
Matthew Chirinos
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Houston to Highlands, you are looking at a short, 21.5-mile journey that typically takes about 29 minutes to complete. This trip is perfect for a one-day outing, as the distance is short enough that you will not need to worry about overnight accommodations. With a fuel budget of approximately $3, it is an incredibly affordable local drive. You will stay entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your transit. Because this route relies on local streets rather than highways, it is a straightforward trip that fits easily into any schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 29m. Total distance: 21.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate through the city using a combination of Franklin Street, San Jacinto Street, and Rothwell Street. Because the entire 21.5-mile distance consists of local roads, you should prepare for a more engaged driving experience with frequent intersections and turns. There is no long, uninterrupted stretch on this path, so keep your focus on local traffic patterns and navigation. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that keeps you off the major freeways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East Freeway and South Main Street. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.5 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 10; US 90 / East Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (I 10 / East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 59 East, I 10 East
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 59 East, I 10 East
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 10; US 90 / East Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 90 / East Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
6.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 10 / East Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / East Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
19.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward Crosby-Lynchburg Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 787
Toward Crosby-Lynchburg Road
5
19.4 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Crosby Lynchburg Road
Turn left onto Crosby Lynchburg Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Freeway | 18.2 mi | 22m |
| South Main Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| San Jacinto Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Crosby Lynchburg Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Louisiana Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Wallisville Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Rothwell Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
East Freeway
— 18.2 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Highlands, TX.
1
Start on Louisiana Street
474 ft
·
19 sec
·
Louisiana Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
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
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 59 East, I 10 East
6
Merge onto I 10; US 90
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
13 mi
·
15 min
·
East Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 787
Toward Crosby-Lynchburg Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto Crosby Lynchburg Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Crosby Lynchburg Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on South Main Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
11
Turn right onto East Wallisville Road
411 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Wallisville Road
12
Arrive at destination
East Wallisville Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.25 one way
$6.50 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $3.56 | $7.11 |
| premium | $4.54 | $3.84 | $7.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.75 | $9.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.26 | $1.03 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Highlands, TX
Evening in Highlands on Thursday
Local time
6:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
29m 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 Highlands, TX covers 21.5 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Freeway, South Main Street, San Jacinto Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.8 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 $3.25 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 21.5 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles (I 10; US 90 / East Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles (I 10 / East Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Houston, TX to Highlands, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Highlands, TX
More trips to Highlands, TX
Explore more options from Houston, TX or browse trips ending in Highlands, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
Explore maps for Houston, TX or Highlands, TX on MapSof.net.