Origin
Jarrell, TX
Morning in Jarrell on Thursday
Local time
11:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jarrell, TX to Houston, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 34m
Distance
185.1 mi
298 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 22m
★
6 AM
3h 35m
8 AM
4h 0m
10 AM
3h 43m
12 PM
3h 41m
3 PM
3h 45m
5 PM
3h 58m
8 PM
3h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jarrell, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Driving from Jarrell to Houston covers 182.5 miles of the Great Plains, typically taking about 3 hours and 4 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short trip, it works perfectly as a single-day excursion, saving you the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $27 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating this route involves a mix of Interstate 35, 7th Street, and East Avenue J. Since the drive is manageable in one go, you have the flexibility to head out early or late depending on your schedule. It is a straightforward trek that keeps you within the same region, making it an accessible route for those looking to move between these two Texas hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.6 miles from Jarrell, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 185.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While you will utilize Interstate 35, the route lacks long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, meaning you will need to stay alert for frequent transitions. In fact, there is no significant stretch on the interstate, as the path relies heavily on local roads to connect the start and end points. With a highway share of 0%, the experience feels more grounded in local infrastructure than high-speed cruising. Be prepared for a driving style that requires more active navigation than a standard highway route, as the winding nature of the roads keeps you engaged throughout the 3-hour duration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US Highway 290 West is the longest continuous segment at about 64.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 290 West and East US Highway 290. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 185.1 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 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
9.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
8
34.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 290, FM 734: Austin, Houston, Parmer Lane
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 437A
Toward US 290, FM 734: Austin, Houston, Parmer...
9
35.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FM 734: Parmer Lane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 436
Toward FM 734: Parmer Lane
7
176.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward Mangum Road, Dacoma Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Mangum Road, Dacoma Street
8
184.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Theatre District
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 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jarrell, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Fm 734: Austin and Bellville.
Fm 734: Austin
34.9 mi in
|
~36m
Bellville
111.3 mi in
|
~2h 5m
|
via US 290
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 290 West | 64.8 mi | 1h 14m |
| East US Highway 290 | 42.1 mi | 49m |
| West Austin Street | 32.9 mi | 36m |
| TX 130 Toll | 25.2 mi | 24m |
| I 35 | 7.4 mi | 7m |
| Katy Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Hempstead Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Interstate 35 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 290 West
— 64.8 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jarrell, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on North Interstate 35
474 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Interstate 35
2
Turn right onto 7th Street
432 ft
·
15 sec
·
7th Street
3
Turn right onto East Avenue J
417 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Avenue J
4
Continue on FM 487
474 ft
·
22 sec
·
East Avenue J
5
Turn left onto FM 487
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Interstate 35
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 35 South
7
Merge onto I 35
7.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on TX 130 Toll
25 mi
·
24 min
·
TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 437A
Toward US 290, FM 734: Austin, Houston, Parmer Lane
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 436
Toward FM 734: Parmer Lane
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto FM 734
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Parmer Lane
13
Turn left onto US 290
42 mi
·
49 min
·
East US Highway 290
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on US 290
33 mi
·
36 min
·
West Austin Street
15
Take the exit onto US 290
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 290
Toward US 290 East, TX 36 South: Houston, Bellville
16
Merge onto US 290; TX 36
65 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US Highway 290 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward Mangum Road, Dacoma Street
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto Northwest Freeway Frontage Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Freeway Frontage Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Turn right onto Mangum Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Mangum Road
20
Continue on Hempstead Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hempstead Road
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on Washington Avenue
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Washington Avenue
22
Continue on Westcott Street
505 ft
·
12 sec
·
Westcott Street
23
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
24
Merge onto I 10; US 90
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smith Street
27
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft
·
16 sec
·
Preston Street
28
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
179 ft
·
5 sec
·
Louisiana Street
29
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
Planning for this 182.5-mile journey is simple, but keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the roads makes pacing essential. You are only scheduled for one stop, which is plenty for a drive of this length, allowing you to stretch your legs without adding too much time to your arrival. To avoid the heaviest traffic, try to time your departure to miss peak local congestion on the smaller roads. Since the route relies on 7th Street and East Avenue J rather than major interstate corridors, keep a close eye on your GPS to navigate the turns effectively. Having your $27 fuel budget ready before you leave will ensure you have a smooth, stress-free trip from Jarrell to Houston.
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 92.6 miles from Jarrell, TX, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.8 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 41 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.6 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houston, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jarrell, 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 Jarrell, TX
This is one driving day of about 185.1 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Jarrell, 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 290 West for about 64.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92.6 mi from Jarrell, TX · 1h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92.6 miles from Jarrell, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 290 West if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.8 miles.
Arriving in Houston, TX
The final approach into Houston, 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 Houston, 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
$27.97 one way
$55.94 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $30.61 | $61.23 |
| premium | $4.54 | $33.05 | $66.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.87 | $81.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.5 | 0 | $19.44 | $8.88 |
| Efficient EV | 46.3 | 0 | $16.20 | $7.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74 | 0 | $25.91 | $11.85 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Houston, TX
Morning in Houston on Thursday
Local time
11:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Somerville, TX
93 mi in
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
18 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
3h 34m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jarrell, TX to Houston, TX covers 185.1 miles and takes about 3h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 290 West, East US Highway 290, West Austin 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 92.6 miles from Jarrell, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.97 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 185.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Jarrell, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Fm 734: Austin and Bellville.
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