Trip from Houston, TX to Tucson, AZ

Drive Time

17h 47m

Distance

1059.1 mi

1,704 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$162

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 48 min

4 AM

17h 32m ★

6 AM

17h 48m

8 AM

18h 20m

10 AM

17h 59m

12 PM

17h 56m

3 PM

18h 1m

5 PM

18h 18m

8 PM

17h 38m

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

Tucson, AZ

Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

The drive from Houston, TX to Tucson, AZ covers 1059.1 miles and takes about 17h 47m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 10, Katy Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 546.1 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $161.78 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

5 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

529.5 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8h 54m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 1059.1 miles and 17h 47m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 10 and Katy Freeway.

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

There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 546.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 17h 47m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 177.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 1059.1 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 177.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 205.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 207.7 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

177.4 mi into trip | ~3h 5m in

Take the exit toward TX 1518: Schertz

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 591 Toward TX 1518: Schertz

205.7 mi into trip | ~3h 41m in

Take the exit toward Frontage Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Frontage Road

207.7 mi into trip | ~3h 44m in | I 10; US 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

751.9 mi into trip | ~12h 28m in | I 10; US 85; US 180 / Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 85; US 180 / Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

1053.5 mi into trip | ~17h 37m in

Take the exit toward Alvernon Way North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 265 Toward Alvernon Way North

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Houston, TX to Tucson, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 North along the way.

Loop 1604 North

185.3 mi in | ~3h 19m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 10	546.1 mi	8h 46m
Katy Freeway	174.9 mi	3h 1m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway	164.4 mi	2h 48m
Benson-Steins Pass Highway	88.4 mi	1h 28m
Tucson-Benson Highway	37.9 mi	38m
Anderson Loop	20.4 mi	22m
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro	12.1 mi	14m
Farm-to-Market Road 1518	5.4 mi	9m

Longest stretch: I 10 — 546.1 mi, about 8h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Louisiana Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Louisiana Street

Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West: San Antonio

0.4 mi · 52 sec · I 10 West: San Antonio

Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway

175 mi · 3 hr 1 min · Katy Freeway

Keep slight left

1.9 mi · 1 min

Take the exit slight right toward TX 1518: Schertz

0.1 mi · 15 sec · TX 1518: Schertz

Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Interstate 10 East

Turn right onto Farm-to-Market Road 1518

5.4 mi · 9 min · Farm-to-Market Road 1518

At the end of the road, turn left onto Gordon A Blake Highway

2.0 mi · 3 min · Gordon A Blake Highway

Turn left

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Take the ramp slight right toward Loop 1604 North

266 ft · 7 sec · Loop 1604 North

Merge slight left onto Anderson Loop

20 mi · 22 min · Anderson Loop

Take the exit slight right toward Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Frontage Road

Turn straight onto North Loop 1604 West

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North Loop 1604 West

Turn right onto Interstate 10 West

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Interstate 10 West

Take the ramp slight left toward I 10 West, US 87 North

0.2 mi · 20 sec · I 10 West, US 87 North

Merge slight left

1.1 mi · 1 min

Keep slight right

543 mi · 8 hr 43 min

Continue on Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

1.1 mi · 1 min · Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

Keep slight left to continue on Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

11 mi · 13 min · Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

164 mi · 2 hr 48 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Continue on Benson-Steins Pass Highway

88 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Benson-Steins Pass Highway

Continue on Tucson-Benson Highway

38 mi · 38 min · Tucson-Benson Highway

Take the exit slight right toward Alvernon Way North

0.6 mi · 1 min · Alvernon Way North

Turn straight onto South Alvernon Way

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Alvernon Way

Keep slight right to continue on South Alvernon Way

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Alvernon Way

Turn left

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Turn straight onto East Barraza Aviation Highway

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Barraza Aviation Highway

Turn right onto South Country Club Road

1.6 mi · 3 min · South Country Club Road

Continue on North Country Club Road

92 ft · 2 sec · North Country Club Road

Arrive at your destination

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 5 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 529.5 miles from Houston, TX, or about 8h 54m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 546.1 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 220 miles or 3h 56m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 529.5 miles or 8h 54m 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 529.5 miles or 8h 54m

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 16h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tucson, AZ 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 530 miles and 8.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Tucson, AZ

Aim for roughly 530 miles and 8.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Houston, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 5 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 546.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 529.5 mi from Houston, TX · 8h 54m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Kerrville, TX

350 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

Horizon City, TX

699 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 Horizon City, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Fort Davis, TX

530 mi · about 8.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Fort Davis, TX after about 530 miles or 8.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

San Antonio, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Davis, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 529.5 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 I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 546.1 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 530 miles or 8.9 hours on the road.

Arriving in Tucson, AZ

The final approach into Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson, AZ.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Tucson, AZ 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Chamizal National Memorial

National Memorial

Chamizal is more than just an urban park to recreate or enjoy a quiet afternoon. These grounds are a reminder of the harmonious settlement of a 100-year boundary dispute between the United States and...

10 mi from route ~24 min detour Free near mile 730.4

View on nps.gov

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

19 mi from route ~47 min detour Free near mile 182.6

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$161.78 one way

$323.57 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 371 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$177.30	$354.59
premium	$4.59	$191.43	$382.86
diesel	$5.64	$235.30	$470.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$162

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$292–$402

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 370.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $111 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	317.7	3	$111.21	$50.84
Efficient EV	264.8	3	$92.67	$42.36
EV Truck/SUV	423.6	5	$148.27	$67.78

Gas CO2

371 kg

EV CO2

124 kg (67% less)

Plan for 3 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Monday

Local time

5:44 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Tucson, AZ

Late night in Tucson on Monday

Local time

3:44 AM

MST

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

2 hours earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

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

17h 47m 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 Tucson, AZ covers 1059.1 miles and takes about 17h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 10, Katy Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. 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 530 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 529.5 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 $161.78 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 5 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

On the drive from Houston, TX to Tucson, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 North along the way.

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Trip from Houston, TX to Tucson, AZ

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Tucson, AZ

National Parks Near This Route

Chamizal National Memorial

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Houston, TX

Tucson, AZ

2 hours earlier

17 degrees cooler at arrival

17h 47m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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