Origin
Houston, TX
Late night in Houston on Wednesday
Local time
1:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Medina, TX
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
6h 59m
Distance
361.7 mi
582 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 49m
★
6 AM
7h 0m
8 AM
7h 23m
10 AM
7h 8m
12 PM
7h 6m
3 PM
7h 9m
5 PM
7h 21m
8 PM
6h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Medina, TX
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
The drive from Houston, TX to Medina, TX covers 361.7 miles and takes about 6h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 59, US Highway 59, US Highway 59 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.9 miles on US 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.65 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
180.9 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 31m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 6h 59m highway drive covering 361.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 59 and US Highway 59. The longest continuous stretch is about 123.9 miles on US 59.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 59 is the longest continuous segment at about 123.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 59 and US Highway 59. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Congress Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 361.7 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: near the start (Congress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Smith Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Congress Street
Turn left onto Congress Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Smith Street
Turn left onto Smith Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway
Merge onto I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
35.6 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 94
Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartle...
5
315.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 6m in
|
La Pita Mangana Road
Enter roundabout onto La Pita Mangana Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Houston, TX to Medina, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 10: Cottonwood along the way.
Spur 10: Cottonwood
35.6 mi in
|
~44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 59 | 123.9 mi | 2h 18m |
| US Highway 59 | 74.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| US Highway 59 West | 65.2 mi | 1h 16m |
| Southwest Freeway | 32.8 mi | 37m |
| United States Highway 83 | 25.7 mi | 28m |
| US Highway 83 South | 14.2 mi | 15m |
| US Highway 59 South | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| South Zapata Highway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
US 59
— 123.9 mi, about 2h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Medina, TX.
1
Start on Louisiana Street
148 ft
·
11 sec
·
Louisiana Street
2
Turn left onto Congress Street
298 ft
·
14 sec
·
Congress Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Turn left onto Smith Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Smith Street
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 69; US 59
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 94
Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road
6
Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
7
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
8
Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
10
Merge onto US 59
9.2 mi
·
10 min
·
US 59
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 59
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 59
12
Take the exit
1.5 mi
·
2 min
13
Continue on US 59
75 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
US Highway 59
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 59
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 59 South
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
16
Continue on Northwest Zac Lenz Parkway Frontage Road East
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Northwest Zac Lenz Parkway Frontage Road East
17
Turn right onto US 59
49 mi
·
57 min
·
US 59
18
Continue on US 59
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Corpus Christi Street
19
Continue on US 59
65 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
US Highway 59 West
20
Continue on US 59; TX 44
59 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US 59; TX 44
21
Turn left onto Bob Bullock Loop
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Bob Bullock Loop
22
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
23
Merge onto Loop 20
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Bob Bullock Loop
24
Continue on Loop 20
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Cuatro Vientos Road
25
Take the exit
473 ft
·
13 sec
26
Turn slight right onto La Pita Mangana Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
La Pita Mangana Road
27
Enter roundabout onto La Pita Mangana Road
116 ft
·
2 sec
·
La Pita Mangana Road
28
Continue on La Pita Mangana Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
La Pita Mangana Road
29
Turn left onto US 83
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Zapata Highway
30
Continue on US 83
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 83 South
31
Continue on US 83
26 mi
·
28 min
·
United States Highway 83
32
Turn left onto TX 16
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West 13th Avenue
33
Turn left onto 10th Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
10th Street
34
Arrive at destination
10th Street
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.9 miles from Houston, TX, or about 3h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.9 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.9 miles or 3h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medina, 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 361.7 miles and 6h 59m.
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 US 59 for about 123.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 180.9 mi from Houston, TX · 3h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
181 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 180.9 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.9 miles.
Arriving in Medina, TX
The final approach into Medina, 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 Medina, TX.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.65 one way
$109.31 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
127 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $59.82 | $119.65 |
| premium | $4.54 | $64.58 | $129.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $79.86 | $159.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 108.5 | 1 | $37.98 | $17.36 |
| Efficient EV | 90.4 | 1 | $31.65 | $14.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 144.7 | 1 | $50.64 | $23.15 |
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Medina, TX
Late night in Medina on Wednesday
Local time
1:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
1 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
6h 59m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Houston, TX to Medina, TX covers 361.7 miles and takes about 6h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 59, US Highway 59, US Highway 59 West. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 180.9 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 $54.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 15 significant decision points across 361.7 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: near the start (Congress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Smith Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Houston, TX to Medina, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 10: Cottonwood along the way.
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