Origin
Lamesa, TX
Late night in Lamesa on Wednesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lamesa, TX to Houston, TX
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
9h 18m
Distance
500.2 mi
805 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$76
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 10m
★
6 AM
9h 18m
8 AM
9h 35m
10 AM
9h 24m
12 PM
9h 22m
3 PM
9h 25m
5 PM
9h 34m
8 PM
9h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lamesa, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
The drive from Lamesa, TX to Houston, TX covers 500.2 miles and takes about 9h 18m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Texas State Highway 71, US 87, TX 71 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71. At current regular gas prices, budget about $75.58 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
250.1 miles from Lamesa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 26m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
At 500.2 miles and 9h 18m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Texas State Highway 71 and US 87.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Texas State Highway 71 is the longest continuous segment at about 137 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and US 87. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 266.8 miles in near TX 71.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 500.2 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 266.8 miles (TX 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 332.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 345.8 miles (71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
266.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 45m in
|
TX 71
Turn left onto TX 71
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
332.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 290 East, TX 71 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 290 East, TX 71 East
5
345.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 30m in
|
71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway
Turn straight onto 71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 T...
6
485.1 mi into trip
|
~8h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
8
499.5 mi into trip
|
~9h 16m 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.
On the drive from Lamesa, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward 71 Toll East along the way.
71 Toll East
345.8 mi in
|
~6h 30m
|
via 71 Toll
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Highway 71 | 137 mi | 2h 25m |
| US 87 | 104.4 mi | 1h 55m |
| TX 71 | 63.3 mi | 1h 25m |
| William B Crooker Memorial Highway | 52.1 mi | 52m |
| State Highway 71 | 47.2 mi | 50m |
| North US Highway 87 | 18.1 mi | 18m |
| South US Highway 87 | 18.1 mi | 18m |
| US Highway 87 South | 14.6 mi | 14m |
Longest stretch:
Texas State Highway 71
— 137 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lamesa, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on this road
160 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 87
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lynn Avenue
3
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dallas Avenue
4
Continue on US 87; US 180
18 mi
·
18 min
·
South US Highway 87
5
Continue on US 87
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
William Crooker Highway
6
Continue on US 87
18 mi
·
18 min
·
North US Highway 87
7
Continue on US 87
52 mi
·
52 min
·
William B Crooker Memorial Highway
8
Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
4th Street
9
Continue on US 87
15 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 87 South
10
Continue on US 87
104 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
US 87
11
Turn right onto US 87; US 190; US 377
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Bridge Street
12
Turn left onto TX 71
47 mi
·
50 min
·
State Highway 71
13
Turn left onto TX 29; TX 71
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
TX 29; TX 71
14
Turn right onto TX 16; TX 71
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Bessemer Avenue
15
Continue on TX 16; TX 71
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Ford Street
16
Turn left onto TX 71
63 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
TX 71
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on State Highway 71 West
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 71 West
18
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
this road
19
Merge onto US 290
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
West US Highway 290
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Toward US 290 East, TX 71 East
21
Merge onto West US Highway 290
202 ft
·
2 sec
·
West US Highway 290
22
Continue on US 290; TX 71
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 290; TX 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn straight onto 71 Toll
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bastrop Freeway
Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on TX 71
0.5 mi
·
29 sec
·
East State Highway 71
25
Continue on TX 71
137 mi
·
2 hr 25 min
·
Texas State Highway 71
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Use the slight left lane.
27
Merge onto I 10 Toll
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Katy Tollway
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 10; US 90
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smith Street
32
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft
·
16 sec
·
Preston Street
33
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
179 ft
·
5 sec
·
Louisiana Street
34
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 250.1 miles from Lamesa, TX, or about 4h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137 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 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 250.1 miles or 4h 26m 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 250.1 miles or 4h 26m
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 10m
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 Lamesa, 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 Lamesa, TX
Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Houston, TX
Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from Lamesa, 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 Texas State Highway 71 for about 137 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 250.1 mi from Lamesa, TX · 4h 26m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
165 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
330 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 Austin, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
250 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Leander, TX after about 250 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 250.1 miles from Lamesa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 250 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Houston, TX 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$75.58 one way
$151.16 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
175 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $82.73 | $165.46 |
| premium | $4.54 | $89.31 | $178.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $110.44 | $220.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Katy Tollway
(3.2 mi)
$0.23
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
$76
Tolls
$0
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: 175 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 150.1 | 1 | $52.52 | $24.01 |
| Efficient EV | 125.1 | 1 | $43.77 | $20.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 200.1 | 2 | $70.03 | $32.01 |
Gas CO2
175 kg
EV CO2
59 kg (66% 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
Houston, TX
Late night in Houston on Wednesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
27 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
9h 18m 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 Lamesa, TX to Houston, TX covers 500.2 miles and takes about 9h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Texas State Highway 71, US 87, TX 71. 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 250 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 250.1 miles from Lamesa, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $75.58 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 500.2 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 266.8 miles (TX 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 332.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 345.8 miles (71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Lamesa, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward 71 Toll East along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Houston, TX
More trips to Houston, TX
Explore more options from Lamesa, TX or browse trips ending in Houston, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
Explore maps for Lamesa, TX or Houston, TX on MapSof.net.