Origin
Houston, TX
Afternoon in Houston on Thursday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Plainview, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
10h 27m
Distance
579.7 mi
933 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$88
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 19m
★
6 AM
10h 28m
8 AM
10h 47m
10 AM
10h 35m
12 PM
10h 33m
3 PM
10h 36m
5 PM
10h 46m
8 PM
10h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Plainview, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Houston, TX to Plainview, TX covers 579.7 miles and takes about 10h 27m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on US 84, TX 71, Katy Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 104.9 miles on US 84. At current regular gas prices, budget about $87.59 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
289.8 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 579.7 miles and 10h 27m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are US 84 and TX 71.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 48 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 84 is the longest continuous segment at about 104.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 84 and TX 71. 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.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 579.7 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: 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 27 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 90 / Katy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
74.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
TX 71
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
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
6
75.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
TX 71
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
156.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
6
417.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 38m in
|
US 84
Take the exit onto US 84 toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 238A
Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Houston, TX and Plainview, TX, road signs point toward Austin, 183 Toll North: Lampasas and Lubbock.
Austin
74.6 mi in
|
~1h 22m
|
via TX 71
183 Toll North: Lampasas
156.4 mi in
|
~2h 49m
Lubbock
417.3 mi in
|
~7h 38m
|
via US 84
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 84 | 104.9 mi | 1h 49m |
| TX 71 | 77.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| Katy Freeway | 74.1 mi | 1h 20m |
| North US Highway 183 | 72.6 mi | 1h 18m |
| State Highway 153 | 69 mi | 1h 14m |
| Marshall Formby Memorial Highway | 44 mi | 45m |
| East Commerce Street | 22 mi | 25m |
| Highway 84 | 20 mi | 19m |
Longest stretch:
US 84
— 104.9 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Plainview, TX.
1
Start on Louisiana Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Louisiana Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
3
Merge onto I 10; US 90
74 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto TX 71
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
TX 71
Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
5
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71
77 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on 71 Toll
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bastrop Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on TX 71
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto US 183
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Bastrop Highway
10
Continue on 183 Toll
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Bergstrom Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 183
15 mi
·
16 min
·
US 183
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on 183A Toll
15 mi
·
14 min
·
183A Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 183
36 mi
·
38 min
·
North US Highway 183
14
Continue on US 183
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
South Key Avenue
15
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
North US Highway 281
16
Keep slight left at fork onto US 183; US 190
37 mi
·
40 min
·
North US Highway 183
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 183; TX 16
30 mi
·
34 min
·
US 84; US 183; TX 16
18
Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Early Boulevard
19
Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377
22 mi
·
25 min
·
East Commerce Street
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Wallis Avenue
21
Turn right onto TX 153
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Walnut Street
22
Continue on TX 153; TX 206
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Walnut Street
23
Continue on TX 153
69 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
State Highway 153
24
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
State Highway 153
25
Turn right onto TX 70
10 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 70
26
Continue on TX 70
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lamar Street
27
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Northwest Georgia Avenue
28
Take the ramp
340 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
29
Merge onto I 20; US 84
6.0 mi
·
5 min
·
I 20; US 84
30
Take the exit onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 84
Exit 238A
Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
31
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
74 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US 84
32
Turn right onto Loop 46
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Avenue F
33
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
North Avenue F
34
Turn straight onto TX 207
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ralls Road
35
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 15th Street
36
Turn right onto US 84
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North US Highway 84
37
Continue on US 84
20 mi
·
19 min
·
Highway 84
38
Continue on US 84
4.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
39
Continue on US 84
6.8 mi
·
6 min
·
East Highway 84
40
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Slaton Road
41
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
42
Turn slight right onto Interstate 27
321 ft
·
6 sec
·
Interstate 27
43
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
44
Merge onto I 27; US 87
44 mi
·
45 min
·
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
45
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 27 Business: Plainview
46
Turn straight onto I 27 Bus
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
South Business I-27
47
Continue on I 27 Bus
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Columbia Street
48
Arrive at destination
I 27 Bus
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 289.8 miles from Houston, TX, or about 5h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 128 miles or 2h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 289.8 miles or 5h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 289.8 miles or 5h 17m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plainview, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Houston, TX
Aim for roughly 290 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Plainview, TX
Aim for roughly 290 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 128 miles from Houston, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 84 for about 104.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 289.8 mi from Houston, TX · 5h 17m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
191 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
383 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Live Oak, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
290 mi · about 5.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Killeen, TX after about 290 miles or 5.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 128 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 289.8 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 84 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 290 miles or 5.2 hours on the road.
Arriving in Plainview, TX
The final approach into Plainview, 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 Plainview, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Plainview, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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
$87.59 one way
$175.19 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
203 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $95.88 | $191.76 |
| premium | $4.54 | $103.50 | $207.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $127.99 | $255.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$88
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$218–$328
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 202.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $61 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 173.9 | 2 | $60.87 | $27.83 |
| Efficient EV | 144.9 | 1 | $50.72 | $23.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 231.9 | 2 | $81.16 | $37.10 |
Gas CO2
203 kg
EV CO2
68 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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
Plainview, TX
Afternoon in Plainview on Thursday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
10 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
10h 27m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Plainview, TX covers 579.7 miles and takes about 10h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 84, TX 71, Katy Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 290 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 289.8 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 $87.59 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 27 significant decision points across 579.7 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: 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.
Between Houston, TX and Plainview, TX, road signs point toward Austin, 183 Toll North: Lampasas and Lubbock.
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