Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
150.7 mi
242 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
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
Palestine, TX
Alfo Medeiros
If you are looking to head north from Houston to Palestine, you are in for a 150.7-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 57 minutes. This route stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, making it a straightforward trip that is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. Budgeting around $22 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way trek. While you will utilize I-45 North to gain distance, the drive requires a fair amount of local navigation. Because it is under three hours, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics, giving you plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule.
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
75.3 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 150.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share when accounting for the specific local road requirements. You will navigate through Franklin Street and Travis Street before transitioning to I-45 North. Interestingly, you won't find any long-distance, uninterrupted stretches, as the longest segment on Franklin Street measures 0 miles. The experience behind the wheel is hands-on and requires your full attention as you transition off the main interstate and onto the local roads that define the final approach to Palestine. It is a technical drive that keeps you engaged with your surroundings from start to finish.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Franklin Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 57m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 45 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Travis Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 45 / North Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward TX 19: Riverside, Crockett, Grapeland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn sharp right onto Loop 127 / Avenue A
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Houston, TX and Palestine, TX, road signs point toward Crockett and Grapeland.
Crockett
Grapeland
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Freeway | 63.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| North 4th Street | 34.8 mi | 40m |
| Prospect Drive | 27.5 mi | 31m |
| State Highway 19 | 22.4 mi | 26m |
| East Spring Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Travis Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| TX 19 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Palestine, TX.
Start on Louisiana Street
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Turn left onto Travis Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 45
Take the exit
Continue on TX 19
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on TX 19
Continue on TX 19
Turn right onto TX 7; TX 19; TX 21
Turn left onto US 287; TX 7; TX 19; TX 21
Turn left onto US 287; TX 7; TX 19; TX 21
Turn right onto US 287; TX 19
Turn left onto US 84; US 287
Turn sharp right onto Loop 127
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this trip, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the nearly three-hour duration. Because the route involves navigating city streets like Franklin and Travis before hitting the interstate, try to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion in Houston. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between the interstate and the local roads, as the turns can come up quickly. Since fuel costs for the trip are approximately $22, filling up before you leave the city limits can save you time once you reach the more rural stretches. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so feel free to adjust your departure to ensure you arrive in Palestine with plenty of daylight left.
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.
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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.3 miles or 1h 29m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palestine, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Houston, TX
This is one driving day of about 150.7 miles and 2h 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.3 mi from Houston, TX · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 75.3 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before North Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.2 miles.
The final approach into Palestine, 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 Palestine, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$22.77 one way
$45.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $24.92 | $49.85 |
| premium | $4.54 | $26.91 | $53.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.27 | $66.55 |
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: 52.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.82 | $7.23 |
| Efficient EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.19 | $6.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.10 | $9.64 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Houston on Thursday
Local time
11:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Palestine on Thursday
Local time
11:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
72°F
Huntsville, TX
75 mi in
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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