Origin
Houston, TX
Evening in Houston on Thursday
Local time
7:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to San Carlos, TX
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
6h 32m
Distance
341.7 mi
550 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 21m
★
6 AM
6h 33m
8 AM
6h 57m
10 AM
6h 41m
12 PM
6h 39m
3 PM
6h 43m
5 PM
6h 56m
8 PM
6h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
San Carlos, TX
Fer Strange
Trip Overview
The drive from Houston, TX to San Carlos, TX covers 341.7 miles and takes about 6h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US Highway 59, Falfurrias Expressway, Alamo Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 74.7 miles on US Highway 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.63 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
170.8 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 32m. Total distance: 341.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 32m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 32m highway drive covering 341.7 miles, with most of the trip on US Highway 59 and Falfurrias Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 74.7 miles on US Highway 59.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 38 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.
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 23 significant decision points across 341.7 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 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 23 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 straight / right lanes.
8
335.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 23m in
Take the exit toward FM 2128: Chapin Road, Schunior Road, Richardson Road
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.
Exit 7
Toward FM 2128: Chapin Road, Schunior Road, Ric...
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 San Carlos, 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 |
| 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 | 19.1 mi | 20m |
| East King Avenue | 16.2 mi | 20m |
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 San Carlos, 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 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
16
Turn straight onto US 77
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Alamo Street
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 straight lane.
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 straight / right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 7
Toward FM 2128: Chapin Road, Schunior Road, Richardson Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn straight onto North Expressway 281
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Expressway 281
31
Turn left onto FM 2128
382 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Schunior Street
32
Continue on FM 2128
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Richardson Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
33
Continue on FM 2128
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Richardson Street
34
Continue on FM 2128
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
East Schunior Street
35
Continue on FM 2128
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Richardson Road
36
At end of road, turn left onto TX 107
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
TX 107
37
Continue on TX 107
467 ft
·
15 sec
·
TX 107
38
Arrive at destination
TX 107
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 170.8 miles from Houston, TX, or about 3h 19m 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 75 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.8 miles or 3h 19m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Carlos, 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 341.7 miles and 6h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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 Highway 59 for about 74.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 170.8 mi from Houston, TX · 3h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
171 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 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 170.8 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 Highway 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.7 miles.
Arriving in San Carlos, TX
The final approach into San Carlos, 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 San Carlos, 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
$51.63 one way
$103.26 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
120 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $56.52 | $113.03 |
| premium | $4.54 | $61.01 | $122.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $75.44 | $150.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 102.5 | 1 | $35.88 | $16.40 |
| Efficient EV | 85.4 | 0 | $29.90 | $13.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 136.7 | 1 | $47.84 | $21.87 |
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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
San Carlos, TX
Evening in San Carlos on Thursday
Local time
7:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
9 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 32m 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 San Carlos, TX covers 341.7 miles and takes about 6h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 59, Falfurrias Expressway, Alamo Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 170.8 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 $51.63 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 23 significant decision points across 341.7 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 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 San Carlos, TX, road signs point toward Spur 10: Cottonwood and Brownsville.
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