Origin
Houston, TX
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
3:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Joshua, TX
Drive Time
4h 37m
Distance
249.4 mi
401 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 24m
★
6 AM
4h 38m
8 AM
5h 5m
10 AM
4h 47m
12 PM
4h 44m
3 PM
4h 48m
5 PM
5h 3m
8 PM
4h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Joshua, TX
Erik Schereder
Trip Overview
Traveling from Houston to Joshua covers 249.4 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 38 minutes of drive time. You will start your journey on local roads like Franklin and Travis Street before transitioning onto I-45 North to head toward your destination. Given the duration, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you likely won't need to book an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $37 for fuel to complete the trek. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can anticipate a consistent landscape throughout the drive.
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
124.7 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Be prepared for a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint. While you will utilize I-45 North, the route is characterized by its local navigation requirements rather than high-speed highway cruising. Because the highway share is 0%, you should keep your focus sharp for urban turns and transitions. The personality of this drive is practical and functional, requiring you to navigate city streets before settling into the longer stretches of the trip. You will find that the road demands more active attention than a typical rural highway route.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
TX 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 50 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 6 and North State Highway 6. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Franklin Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 249.4 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 0.1 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Travis Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Travis Street
Turn left onto Travis Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
9.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward TX 249
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 57B
Toward TX 249
7
210.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 53m in
|
I 35W
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
6
241.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 25m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 6 | 50 mi | 53m |
| North State Highway 6 | 43.3 mi | 43m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 31.5 mi | 31m |
| I 35W | 30.4 mi | 31m |
| Aggie Expressway | 24.8 mi | 27m |
| Tomball Parkway | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| East State Highway 6 | 9.1 mi | 9m |
| North Freeway | 8.3 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
TX 6
— 50 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Joshua, TX.
1
Start on Louisiana Street
474 ft
·
19 sec
·
Louisiana Street
Use the straight / left / none lanes.
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
Use the none lane.
4
Take the ramp
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 45 North Express Lane
5
Merge onto I 45
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
North Freeway
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 57B
Toward TX 249
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto North Freeway Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
North Freeway Frontage Road
Use the none lane.
8
Turn left onto TX 249
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West Mount Houston Road
Use the straight / left / none lanes.
9
Continue on TX 249
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Tomball Parkway
Use the none lane.
10
Continue on TX 249
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Tomball Parkway
Use the none lane.
11
Continue on TBT
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Tomball Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on TX 249 Toll
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
MCTRA 249 Tollway
Use the none lane.
13
Continue on TX 249 Toll
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Aggie Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on TX 105
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 105
15
Turn right onto TX 105
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
State Highway 6
16
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
17
Merge onto TX 6
50 mi
·
53 min
·
TX 6
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North State Highway 6
19
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
20
Continue on TX 6
37 mi
·
37 min
·
North State Highway 6
21
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Memorial Street
22
Continue on TX 6
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
East State Highway 6
23
Take the exit onto TX 6
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
TX 6
24
Turn right onto Loop 340
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
East Loop 340
25
Take the exit
354 ft
·
10 sec
26
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 35 North
27
Merge onto I 35; US 77
31 mi
·
31 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
30 mi
·
31 min
·
I 35W
Toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Use the slight left lane.
29
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn straight onto South Burleson Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
South Burleson Boulevard
31
Turn left onto FM 917
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
East FM 917
32
Continue on FM 917
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Conveyor Drive
33
Continue on FM 917
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
Conveyor Drive
34
Continue on FM 917
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Conveyor Drive
35
Continue on FM 917
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East 12th Street
36
Turn right
49 ft
·
3 sec
37
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 249.4-mile journey, aim to leave early in the day to avoid peak traffic congestion when navigating the initial local roads. Planning for at least one stop is a smart move to stretch your legs and ensure you stay alert behind the wheel. Keep your $37 fuel budget in mind, but consider topping off your tank before leaving the Houston metro area to avoid potential price fluctuations on the road. Since the route is turn-heavy, double-check your GPS settings before you depart to ensure your navigation is optimized for the specific streets listed. This flexibility allows you to adjust your pace as needed without the pressure of a rigid schedule.
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 124.7 miles from Houston, TX, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50 miles.
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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.7 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Joshua, 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 249.4 miles and 4h 37m.
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.
The longest stretch is on TX 6 for about 50 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 124.7 mi from Houston, TX · 2h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 124.7 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Joshua, TX
The final approach into Joshua, 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 Joshua, 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
$38.10 one way
$76.19 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $41.75 | $83.50 |
| premium | $4.59 | $45.08 | $90.16 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $55.41 | $110.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.76
Tomball Tollway
(7.3 mi)
$0.51
MCTRA 249 Tollway
(3.6 mi)
$0.25
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.8 | 0 | $26.19 | $11.97 |
| Efficient EV | 62.4 | 0 | $21.82 | $9.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.8 | 1 | $34.92 | $15.96 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Destination
Joshua, TX
Afternoon in Joshua on Sunday
Local time
3:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
12 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
4h 37m 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 Joshua, TX covers 249.4 miles and takes about 4h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are TX 6, North State Highway 6, Purple Heart Trail. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.7 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 $38.10 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 demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 249.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Travis Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Houston, TX to Joshua, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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