Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Morning in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
11:41 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX
Drive Time
26h 22m
Distance
1547.5 mi
2,491 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
3-day trip
Fuel Cost
$358
one way
Photo: Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Spanning 1,547.5 miles from the Pacific Coast to the Great Plains, this journey from Los Angeles to Houston is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning. You should budget approximately 26 hours and 22 minutes of pure driving time, making it impossible to complete as a day trip. We recommend splitting the drive over at least three days to maintain safety and comfort. With a projected fuel cost of $210, you will want to account for these expenses in your overall travel budget. Transitioning from California through the desert and into Texas, the route offers a massive change in geography that is best experienced at a measured, manageable pace.
Trip Pace
Best split across 3 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
7 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
773.8 miles from Los Angeles, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13h 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a serious long-distance haul, as 54% of your journey relies on major highway travel. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-10, supplemented by the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and the Benson-Steins Pass Highway. Be prepared for a significant endurance test, highlighted by an uninterrupted stretch of 694.8 miles on I-10. While the road provides consistent, high-speed travel, the sheer length of the route means the character of the pavement stays relatively uniform for long periods. Stay alert behind the wheel, as the primary challenge here is maintaining focus during the long hours of interstate driving.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 56 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 694.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 26h 22m, 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 early in the drive near North Main Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 39 significant decision points across 1547.5 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: near the start (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (East Aliso Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 39 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Aliso Street
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
10.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
1338.5 mi into trip
|
~22h 38m in
Take the exit toward Frontage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
8
1546.9 mi into trip
|
~26h 20m 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 Along This Route
Between Los Angeles, CA and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.
Loop 1604 East
1340 mi in
|
~22h 41m
Austin
1381.4 mi in
|
~23h 28m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Waco
1381.4 mi in
|
~23h 28m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 694.8 mi | 11h 18m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 427 mi | 7h 23m |
| Benson-Steins Pass Highway | 88.3 mi | 1h 28m |
| Casa Grande-Tucson Highway | 54.6 mi | 55m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 45.1 mi | 51m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 42.9 mi | 44m |
| Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway | 37.8 mi | 38m |
| Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway | 33.5 mi | 35m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 694.8 mi, about 11h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Houston, TX.
1
Start on West 1st Street
69 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 1st Street
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
338 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Aliso Street
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 101 South, I 10 East, I 5 South
5
Merge onto US 101
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 1D
Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino
7
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Toward I 10 East
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the slight left lane.
19
Merge onto I 10
14 mi
·
16 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none lane.
20
Continue on I 10
40 mi
·
44 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Toward Redlands, Palm Springs
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
23
Continue on I 10
222 mi
·
3 hr 50 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 10
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the none lane.
25
Continue on I 10
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
26
Continue on I 10
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto I 10; US 60
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Maricopa Freeway
Use the none lane.
29
Continue on I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 10
55 mi
·
55 min
·
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
Use the none lane.
31
Continue on I 10
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 10
43 mi
·
44 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the none lane.
33
Continue on I 10
88 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
·
Benson-Steins Pass Highway
34
Continue on I 10
164 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
35
Continue on I 10; US 85; US 180
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on I 10; US 180
175 mi
·
2 hr 53 min
·
I 10; US 180
Use the none lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
363 mi
·
5 hr 44 min
·
I 10
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the none lane.
39
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
Use the slight right lane.
40
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
41
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Loop 1604 West
Use the straight lane.
42
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Loop 1604 East
43
Merge onto Loop 1604
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the none lane.
44
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 10 East
45
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
46
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
15 mi
·
15 min
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
47
Continue on I 10; TX 130
151 mi
·
2 hr 34 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
48
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Use the slight left lane.
49
Merge onto I 10 Toll
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Katy Tollway
50
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Merge onto I 10; US 90
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the slight left / none lanes.
52
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smith Street
54
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft
·
16 sec
·
Preston Street
55
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
179 ft
·
5 sec
·
Louisiana Street
56
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
To tackle this 1,547.5-mile trek effectively, plan for at least seven designated stops to manage fatigue and refueling. Since your total fuel cost is estimated at $210, keep a close watch on your gas gauge during the longest 694.8-mile stretch, as services may be spaced out. Leaving early each morning allows you to clear the heaviest traffic and maximize daylight hours for your multi-day itinerary. Because this is a high-mileage route, prioritize consistency over speed to ensure you reach Houston feeling refreshed. Always check the status of I-10 before departure, as this primary artery is the backbone of your entire cross-country progress.
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 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 7 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 773.8 miles from Los Angeles, CA, or about 13h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 694.8 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 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 773.8 miles or 13h 30m 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 515.8 miles or 9h 8m
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 25h 16m
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 Los Angeles, CA 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 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Los Angeles, CA
Aim for roughly 516 miles and 8.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 516 miles and 8.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into Houston, TX
Aim for roughly 516 miles and 8.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Los Angeles, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 7 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 694.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 773.8 mi from Los Angeles, CA · 13h 30m into the drive
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
387 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.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
774 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 Doña Ana, NM
Late stop town
Final reset
1161 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Houston, TX.
Overnight Options
Night 1
516 mi · about 8.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Tucson, AZ after about 516 miles or 8.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
1032 mi · about 17.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Fort Davis, TX after about 1032 miles or 17.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 773.8 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 694.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 516 miles or 8.8 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
$358.36 one way
$716.72 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
541 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $369.57 | $739.14 |
| premium | $6.24 | $380.36 | $760.71 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $343.80 | $687.60 |
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
$358
Tolls
$0
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$594–$789
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 541.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $162 in charging · 5 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 464.3 | 5 | $162.49 | $74.28 |
| Efficient EV | 386.9 | 4 | $135.41 | $61.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 619 | 7 | $216.65 | $99.04 |
Gas CO2
541 kg
EV CO2
181 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 5 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
1:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
7 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
26h 22m 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 Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX covers 1547.5 miles and takes about 26h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Benson-Steins Pass 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 3-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 516 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 773.8 miles from Los Angeles, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $358.36 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 7 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 39 significant decision points across 1547.5 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: near the start (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (East Aliso Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Los Angeles, CA and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.
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