Origin
Houston, TX
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
3:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Houston, TX to Stephenville, TX
Drive Time
5h 5m
Distance
267.9 mi
431 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 52m
★
6 AM
5h 6m
8 AM
5h 33m
10 AM
5h 15m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Stephenville, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
Spanning 267.9 miles, the drive from Houston to Stephenville typically takes about 5 hours and 5 minutes. You will start by navigating local routes like Franklin Street and Travis Street before transitioning onto I-45 North. Since the entire journey remains within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Budgeting around $40 for fuel should cover your travel costs for the trek. It is a straightforward trip that works well for those looking to reach their destination efficiently while keeping their travel plans simple and direct.
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
133.9 miles from Houston, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate the initial urban streets of Houston. Because this route features a 0% highway share, you will spend your time navigating local roads rather than cruising along high-speed interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is currently 0 miles on Franklin Street, meaning you should be prepared for frequent stops and turns. As you transition away from the dense city center, the road dynamics remain consistent with a local-heavy profile. You will want to stay alert behind the wheel, as the route demands constant attention to navigation rather than the monotony of a long-distance highway grind.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
TX 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 50 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 6 and North State Highway 6. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Franklin Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 267.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 45 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn right onto Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Travis Street
Turn left onto Travis Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 45 / North Freeway
Merge onto I 45 / North Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
9.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward TX 249
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 57B
Toward TX 249
5
67.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
TX 6
Merge onto TX 6
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 6 | 50 mi | 53m |
| North State Highway 6 | 43.3 mi | 43m |
| South Avenue G | 42.4 mi | 48m |
| East Loop 340 | 28.6 mi | 33m |
| Aggie Expressway | 24.8 mi | 27m |
| North US Highway 281 | 17.3 mi | 19m |
| Tomball Parkway | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| East State Highway 6 | 9.1 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
TX 6
— 50 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Stephenville, TX.
1
Start on Louisiana Street
474 ft
·
19 sec
·
Louisiana Street
Use the straight / left / none lanes.
2
Turn right onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Franklin Street
3
Turn left onto Travis Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Travis Street
Use the none lane.
4
Take the ramp
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 45 North Express Lane
5
Merge onto I 45
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
North Freeway
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 57B
Toward TX 249
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto North Freeway Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
North Freeway Frontage Road
Use the none lane.
8
Turn left onto TX 249
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West Mount Houston Road
Use the straight / left / none lanes.
9
Continue on TX 249
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Tomball Parkway
Use the none lane.
10
Continue on TX 249
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Tomball Parkway
Use the none lane.
11
Continue on TBT
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Tomball Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on TX 249 Toll
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
MCTRA 249 Tollway
Use the none lane.
13
Continue on TX 249 Toll
25 mi
·
27 min
·
Aggie Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on TX 105
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 105
15
Turn right onto TX 105
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
State Highway 6
16
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
17
Merge onto TX 6
50 mi
·
53 min
·
TX 6
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6
5.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North State Highway 6
19
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
20
Continue on TX 6
37 mi
·
37 min
·
North State Highway 6
21
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Memorial Street
22
Continue on TX 6
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
East State Highway 6
23
Take the exit onto TX 6
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
TX 6
24
Turn left onto TX 6; Loop 340
29 mi
·
33 min
·
East Loop 340
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on TX 6
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Avenue C
26
Continue on TX 6
42 mi
·
48 min
·
South Avenue G
27
Continue on TX 6
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
West 2nd Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Continue on US 281; TX 6
17 mi
·
19 min
·
North US Highway 281
29
Turn left onto TX 108
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South State Highway 108
30
Continue on TX 108
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Graham Avenue
31
Continue on TX 108
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
South Graham Street
32
Arrive at destination
TX 108
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 5-minute trip, plan for at least one stop to break up the local driving segments. Leaving early in the day will help you avoid the most congested periods on local streets like Travis Street. Keep your fuel budget of $40 in mind and consider topping off your tank before leaving the city limits to ensure a smooth journey. Since this is a turn-heavy route, rely on a reliable GPS system to manage the transitions between local roads effectively. Having this flexibility allows you to adjust your pace as needed throughout the 267.9-mile transit, making the drive more manageable for a single-day trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 133.9 miles from Houston, TX, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.9 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stephenville, 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 267.9 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 TX 6 for about 50 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 133.9 mi from Houston, TX · 2h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 133.9 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Stephenville, TX
The final approach into Stephenville, 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 Stephenville, 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
$40.92 one way
$81.85 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $44.85 | $89.69 |
| premium | $4.59 | $48.42 | $96.84 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $59.52 | $119.04 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.76
Tomball Tollway
(7.3 mi)
$0.51
MCTRA 249 Tollway
(3.6 mi)
$0.25
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.4 | 0 | $28.13 | $12.86 |
| Efficient EV | 67 | 0 | $23.44 | $10.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.2 | 1 | $37.51 | $17.15 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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
Stephenville, TX
Afternoon in Stephenville on Sunday
Local time
3:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
15 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
5h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Stephenville, TX covers 267.9 miles and takes about 5h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are TX 6, North State Highway 6, South Avenue G. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 133.9 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 $40.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 267.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Travis Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (I 45 / North Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Houston, TX to Stephenville, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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