Trip from Houston, TX to Spur, TX

Drive Time

9h 9m

Distance

499.3 mi

804 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$76

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

9h 1m ★

6 AM

9h 9m

8 AM

9h 26m

10 AM

9h 15m

12 PM

9h 13m

3 PM

9h 16m

5 PM

9h 25m

8 PM

9h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Spur, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

Traveling from Houston to Spur covers 499.3 miles of Texas terrain, a journey that typically takes about 9 hours and 9 minutes of driving time. Because of the length and the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, I recommend splitting this trip over two days to keep the drive manageable. You will navigate using a combination of I-10 West, the Katy Freeway, and TX-71 West to make your way across the Great Plains. Budgeting approximately $74 for fuel is a solid starting point for your planning. While it is technically possible to power through in one long day, breaking it up allows you to handle the transitions between regional highways more comfortably.

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

249.7 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 32m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a drive that feels more like a turn-heavy local excursion than a simple interstate cruise. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't be spending your time on long, monotonous stretches of multi-lane freeway; instead, you will be navigating diverse local road segments. The character of the route shifts as you move through the Great Plains, requiring more focus at the wheel due to the frequency of turns. This is a hands-on driving experience, so prepare for a pace that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed highway travel. Stay alert as you transition between these smaller roads, as the road conditions will vary significantly throughout the nearly 500-mile journey.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

TX 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 77.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 71 and Katy Freeway. 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.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 499.3 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 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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 none lane.

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

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 none / straight / slight right lanes.

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

414.1 mi into trip | ~7h 34m in | TX 70

Take the exit onto TX 70 toward I 20 Business, SH 70: Sweetwater, Roby

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 247 Toward I 20 Business, SH 70: Sweetwater, Roby

Towns Along This Route

Between Houston, TX and Spur, TX, road signs point toward Austin, 183 Toll North: Lampasas, Sh 70: Sweetwater and Roby.

Austin

74.6 mi in | ~1h 22m | via TX 71

183 Toll North: Lampasas

156.4 mi in | ~2h 49m

Sh 70: Sweetwater

414.1 mi in | ~7h 34m | via TX 70

Roby

414.1 mi in | ~7h 34m | via TX 70

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
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
TX 70	57.4 mi	1h 3m
US 84	30.4 mi	34m
East Commerce Street	22 mi	25m
State Highway 208	19.9 mi	21m

Longest stretch: TX 71 — 77.7 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Spur, TX.

Start on Louisiana Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Louisiana Street

Use the straight / left / none lanes.

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward I 10 West: San Antonio

Merge onto I 10; US 90

74 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Katy Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit onto TX 71

0.5 mi · 33 sec · TX 71

Toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 71

77 mi · 1 hr 22 min · TX 71

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on 71 Toll

1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 71

2.2 mi · 2 min · East State Highway 71

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 183

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway

Continue on 183 Toll

6.2 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

15 mi · 16 min · US 183

Use the none lane.

Continue on 183A Toll

15 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 183

36 mi · 38 min · North US Highway 183

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 183

2.3 mi · 4 min · South Key Avenue

Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281

0.2 mi · 14 sec · North US Highway 281

Keep slight left at fork onto US 183; US 190

37 mi · 40 min · North US Highway 183

At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 183; TX 16

30 mi · 34 min · US 84; US 183; TX 16

Turn left onto US 67; US 84; US 183; US 377

1.7 mi · 2 min · Early Boulevard

Continue on US 67; US 84; US 377

22 mi · 25 min · East Commerce Street

Keep slight right at fork onto US 84; US 283

7.2 mi · 8 min · Wallis Avenue

Turn right onto TX 153

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Walnut Street

Continue on TX 153; TX 206

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street

Use the none lane.

Continue on TX 153

69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153

19 ft · 0 sec · State Highway 153

Turn right onto TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70

Continue on TX 70

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street

Turn right onto Southeast Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Southeast Georgia Avenue

Take the ramp

278 ft · 6 sec

Toward I 20 East: Abilene

Merge onto I 20; US 84; TX 70

2.8 mi · 2 min · I 20; US 84; TX 70

Take the exit onto TX 70

1.2 mi · 1 min · TX 70

Exit 247 Toward I 20 Business, SH 70: Sweetwater, Roby

Turn right onto TX 70

1.2 mi · 1 min · Bluebonnet Drive

At end of road, turn right onto TX 70

53 mi · 56 min · TX 70

Turn slight left

294 ft · 11 sec

Turn left onto US 380; TX 70

5.6 mi · 5 min · US Highway 380

Turn right onto TX 208

20 mi · 21 min · State Highway 208

Turn left onto TX 70

3.6 mi · 5 min · TX 70

Turn slight left onto Loop 21

0.8 mi · 1 min · 6th Street

Turn right onto Loop 21

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Burlington Avenue

Turn left onto FM 836

76 ft · 1 sec · West Harris Street

Arrive at destination

FM 836

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 499.3-mile route, I suggest planning for at least two intentional stops to break up the drive. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid peak traffic when exiting the Houston area on the Katy Freeway. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially when navigating the more rural stretches, even with a $74 budget in mind. Since this is a turn-heavy route, ensure your navigation system is updated before you head out to help manage the complex local road transitions. If you find yourself tiring, don't hesitate to utilize your two planned stops to rest, as the constant turns demand more mental energy than a standard highway drive.

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 249.7 miles from Houston, TX, or about 4h 32m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.7 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 110 miles or 1h 59m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 249.7 miles or 4h 32m 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 249.7 miles or 4h 32m

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 8h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spur, 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 250 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Spur, TX

Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 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 TX 71 for about 77.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 249.7 mi from Houston, TX · 4h 32m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Killeen, TX

250 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 Killeen, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Killeen, TX

250 mi · about 4.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Killeen, TX after about 250 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Austin, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Killeen, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 249.7 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before TX 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 250 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.

Arriving in Spur, TX

The final approach into Spur, 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 Spur, TX.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Spur, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$76.27 one way

$152.54 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 175 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$83.58	$167.17
premium	$4.59	$90.25	$180.49
diesel	$5.64	$110.93	$221.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$76

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$206–$316

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 174.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	149.8	1	$52.43	$23.97
Efficient EV	124.8	1	$43.69	$19.97
EV Truck/SUV	199.7	2	$69.90	$31.96

Gas CO2

175 kg

EV CO2

58 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Houston, TX

Afternoon in Houston on Sunday

Local time

2:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Spur, TX

Afternoon in Spur on Sunday

Local time

2:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°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

17 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

9h 9m 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 Spur, TX covers 499.3 miles and takes about 9h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are TX 71, Katy Freeway, North US Highway 183. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

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 250 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 249.7 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 $76.27 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.