Origin
Houston, TX
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Roma, TX
Drive Time
7h 39m
Distance
401.8 mi
647 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 30m
★
6 AM
7h 40m
8 AM
7h 59m
10 AM
7h 47m
12 PM
7h 45m
3 PM
7h 48m
5 PM
7h 58m
8 PM
7h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Roma, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
Embarking on the 401.8-mile journey from Houston to Roma takes you across the Texas Great Plains, covering a total travel time of approximately 7 hours and 39 minutes. Given the length and the turn-heavy nature of the route, you can complete this trip in one long day, though it requires stamina behind the wheel. Expect to budget around $60 for fuel to cover the distance. Because this route relies on local navigation rather than major interstates, it offers a different perspective of the landscape than a typical high-speed transit. Use this trip if you prefer a direct, local approach to reaching the border region.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200.9 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate via Congress Street, Smith Street, and the Southwest Freeway, moving away from high-speed, limited-access roads. Since the drive is not an interstate grind, you should anticipate frequent stops and maneuvers through local corridors rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. The personality of this drive is defined by its constant transitions, making it a more technical experience than a standard highway cruise. Stay alert, as the lack of highway miles means your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns throughout the 401.8-mile trek.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US Highway 59 is the longest continuous segment at about 74.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 59 and Falfurrias Expressway. 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
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 401.8 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 35.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.5 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 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.
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...
7
204.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 58m in
|
I 69E; US 77
Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
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 I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
6
270.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 14m in
|
I 69C; US 281 / Falfurrias Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281 / Falfurrias Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
6
326.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 13m in
|
I 69C; US 281
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
Between Houston, TX and Roma, TX, road signs point toward Spur 10: Cottonwood and Brownsville.
Spur 10: Cottonwood
35.6 mi in
|
~44m
Brownsville
204.5 mi in
|
~3h 58m
|
via I 69E; US 77
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 59 | 74.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| Falfurrias Expressway | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| I 2 | 42.1 mi | 48m |
| Alamo Street | 37.1 mi | 43m |
| US Highway 77 South | 33.2 mi | 37m |
| Southwest Freeway | 32.8 mi | 37m |
| I 69E | 28.6 mi | 31m |
| I 69C | 27.1 mi | 29m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 59
— 74.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Roma, 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 none / 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
Use the none lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 91
15
Merge onto US 77
33 mi
·
37 min
·
US Highway 77 South
Use the none lane.
16
Turn straight onto US 77
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Alamo Street
Use the none lane.
17
Take the exit onto US 77
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
19
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the none / straight lanes.
20
Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 69E; US 77
Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward TX 141
22
Turn straight onto South US Highway 77 Bypass
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
South US Highway 77 Bypass
23
Turn right onto TX 141
16 mi
·
20 min
·
East King Avenue
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
25
Merge onto US 281
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 281
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
I 69C; US 281
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
56 mi
·
58 min
·
Falfurrias Expressway
Use the none / straight / right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
18 mi
·
18 min
·
I 69C; US 281
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 281 South, TX 495: Pharr
30
Merge onto I 2; US 83
42 mi
·
48 min
·
I 2; US 83
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on US 83; FM 755
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
32
Continue on US 83
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
East 2nd Street
33
Continue on US 83
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
West 2nd Street
34
Continue on US 83
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
United States Highway 83
35
Continue on US 83
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East Grant Street
36
Turn slight right onto US 83
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Garcia Street
37
Turn left onto Spur 200
301 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Bravo Boulevard
38
Turn left onto US 83
34 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Grant Street
39
Arrive at destination
US 83
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is essential for a 7-hour and 39-minute drive that avoids major highways. Aim to leave early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, as navigating local roads after dark can be significantly more challenging. You should factor in at least two planned stops to stretch your legs and manage fatigue, especially since you are navigating local streets for the duration of the trip. Keep your fuel budget of $60 in mind and top off your tank before leaving city limits to avoid searching for stations in unfamiliar areas. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your turn-by-turn navigation frequently, as the reliance on local streets like Congress and Smith makes missing a single exit more impactful than it would be on a traditional interstate.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 200.9 miles from Houston, TX, or about 3h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.7 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 88 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200.9 miles or 3h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roma, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Houston, TX
This is one driving day of about 401.8 miles and 7h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Houston, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US Highway 59 for about 74.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 200.9 mi from Houston, TX · 3h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
201 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 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 200.9 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 Highway 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.7 miles.
Arriving in Roma, TX
The final approach into Roma, 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 Roma, 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
$61.38 one way
$122.75 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
141 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $67.26 | $134.52 |
| premium | $4.59 | $72.62 | $145.25 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $89.27 | $178.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 120.5 | 1 | $42.19 | $19.29 |
| Efficient EV | 100.5 | 1 | $35.16 | $16.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 160.7 | 2 | $56.25 | $25.72 |
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 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
Roma, TX
Afternoon in Roma on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 39m 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 Roma, TX covers 401.8 miles and takes about 7h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 59, Falfurrias Expressway, I 2. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 200.9 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 $61.38 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 25 significant decision points across 401.8 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 35.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.5 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Houston, TX and Roma, TX, road signs point toward Spur 10: Cottonwood and Brownsville.
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