Origin
Littlefield, TX
Afternoon in Littlefield on Sunday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
10h 19m
Distance
570.3 mi
918 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$87
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Littlefield, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Spanning 563.5 miles across the Great Plains, your journey from Littlefield to Houston is a significant trek that requires careful planning. Clocking in at approximately 9 hours and 3 minutes of pure drive time, this trip is best handled over two days to ensure you arrive refreshed. You should budget around $84 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Because the route relies on local connectors like Delano Avenue, Avenue Q, and Slaton Road rather than major interstates, you will experience a slower, more deliberate pace. Deciding to split this into an overnight trip is a wise move, as it allows you to navigate the transition from the high plains toward the coast without feeling rushed.
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
285.2 miles from Littlefield, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 6m into the drive .
Expect a grounded experience behind the wheel, as this route features 0% highway driving, relying instead on local roads to navigate the Texas landscape. You will spend your time navigating stretches like Delano Avenue, Avenue Q, and Slaton Road, which provide a different perspective than the typical high-speed interstate grind. Because you are not utilizing main highway corridors, the drive demands your full attention as you transition through the Great Plains. The lack of traditional highway infrastructure means you should anticipate a consistent, moderate pace rather than long, uninterrupted bursts of speed. It is a practical, steady haul that requires patience as you traverse the vast distance between these two Texas points.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and US Highway 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near US 84.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 570.3 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 2 miles (US 84): Lane positioning matters here; at 152.3 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 158.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 84
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84 toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll / 183A Toll Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Between Littlefield, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo and 71 Toll East.
Sh 70 South
Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater
San Angelo
71 Toll East
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Texas State Highway 71 | 137 mi | 2h 25m |
| US Highway 84 | 73.9 mi | 1h 14m |
| State Highway 153 | 69 mi | 1h 14m |
| US 183 | 51.8 mi | 57m |
| US 84 | 49.5 mi | 52m |
| South US Highway 183 | 35.3 mi | 38m |
| US Highway 84 East | 29.2 mi | 33m |
| East Highway 84 | 26.9 mi | 26m |
Step-by-step road directions between Littlefield, TX and Houston, TX.
Start on FM 54
Turn slight right onto Loop 430
Turn left onto US 84
Merge onto US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Turn left onto Spur 575
Turn right onto TX 207
Turn straight onto TX 207
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
Take the exit
Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue
Turn right onto TX 70
Continue on TX 70
Turn left onto TX 153
Continue on TX 153
Continue on TX 153
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 283
Continue on US 67; US 84
Turn right onto US 84; US 183
Continue on US 84; US 183
Turn right onto US 183; TX 16
Continue on US 183; US 190
Merge onto US 183; US 190; US 281
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
Continue on US 183
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork onto 183A Toll
Continue on US 183
Continue on 183 Toll
Continue on US 183
Take the exit
Continue on TX 71
Turn straight onto 71 Toll
Continue on TX 71
Continue on TX 71
Take the exit
Merge onto I 10 Toll
Take the exit
Merge onto I 10; US 90
Take the exit
Continue on Smith Street
Turn left onto Preston Street
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
Arrive at destination
To manage the 563.5-mile distance effectively, plan for at least two intentional stops to break up your time behind the wheel. Given the nature of these local roads, leaving early in the morning is essential to avoid navigating unfamiliar turn-offs after dark. Since the route is entirely off the highway system, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge and don't push your limits between gas stations. Splitting the journey into two days will make the 9-hour drive feel much more manageable and less taxing on your schedule. A helpful tip for this specific trip is to double-check your navigation settings before departing, as relying on local roads like Slaton Road requires precise turn-by-turn guidance.
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.
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 125 miles or 2h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 285.2 miles or 5h 6m 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 285.2 miles or 5h 6m
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 9h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houston, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Littlefield, 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 Littlefield, TX
Aim for roughly 285 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Houston, TX
Aim for roughly 285 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 285.2 mi from Littlefield, TX · 5h 6m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
188 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
376 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 Round Rock, TXNight 1
285 mi · about 5.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Killeen, TX after about 285 miles or 5.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 125 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 285.2 miles from Littlefield, 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 285 miles or 5.2 hours on the road.
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.
Regular Gas
$87.12 one way
$174.23 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $95.47 | $190.94 |
| premium | $4.59 | $103.08 | $206.16 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $126.70 | $253.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.23
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
$87
Tolls
$1
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$218–$328
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 199.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $60 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 171.1 | 2 | $59.88 | $27.37 |
| Efficient EV | 142.6 | 1 | $49.90 | $22.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 228.1 | 2 | $79.84 | $36.50 |
Gas CO2
200 kg
EV CO2
67 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Littlefield on Sunday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
4:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
55°F
Sweetwater, TX
188 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.
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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