Traveling from Maud to Houston covers 276.1 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, it is best approached as a focused one-day trip rather than a multi-day excursion. You should budget approximately $41 for fuel to complete the journey. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, the environment remains consistent throughout your travel. While the route is manageable in a single stint, be prepared for a steady pace that requires your full attention on local roads rather than high-speed interstate cruising. This trip is ideal for those who prefer navigating the Texas interior over sticking to major transit corridors.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
137.4 miles from Maud, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 11m. Total distance: 274.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a significantly different experience than your typical interstate highway cruise on this 276.1-mile trek. The route is defined by its turn-heavy, local road profile, meaning you will spend very little time on high-speed highways. Since the highway share is 0%, you should anticipate a constant need for navigation as you transition between local roads. This technical nature keeps the drive engaging, as you will be constantly adjusting to the curves and turns of the regional infrastructure. Be ready for a steady, hands-on driving experience that demands more alertness than a standard, monotonous long-haul drive on a major freeway.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Diboll Relief Route is the longest continuous segment at about 111 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near TX 8 / Houston Drive.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 274.7 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 0.1 miles (TX 8 / Houston Drive): Navigation decision point; at 85.7 miles (TX 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 272.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|TX 8 / Houston Drive
At end of road, turn left onto TX 8 / Houston Drive
Navigation decision point
5
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|TX 149
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 149
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
272.5 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 132
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Anto...
8
272.7 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
273.4 mi into trip|~5h 8m in
Take the exit toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
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 769B
Toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
Step-by-step road directions between Maud, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on Fincher Drive
127 ft·5 sec·Fincher Drive
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto TX 8
8.8 mi·11 min·Houston Drive
4
Continue on TX 8
2.7 mi·3 min·North Street
5
Continue on TX 8
12 mi·13 min·State Highway 8
6
Merge onto TX 155
392 ft·5 sec·TX 155
7
Turn right onto US 59
58 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 59
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
9
Merge onto US 79
3.1 mi·3 min·Northwest Loop
10
Take the exit onto TX 149
0.2 mi·17 sec·TX 149
11
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 149
255 ft·6 sec·TX 149
12
Turn right onto TX 315
25 mi·25 min·TX 315
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 259
2.6 mi·3 min·North Railroad Avenue
14
Continue on US 259
3.0 mi·3 min·US Route 259
15
Continue on US 259
11 mi·12 min·US Highway 259
16
Take the exit
224 ft·6 sec
Toward US 59 South: Lufkin
17
Continue on this road
420 ft·11 sec·this road
18
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·16 sec·this road
19
Turn left
104 ft·4 sec
20
Turn right onto US 59
0.7 mi·47 sec·North US Highway 59
21
Continue on US 59
6.4 mi·7 min·Northwest Stallings Drive
22
Continue on US 59; TX 7; TX 21; Loop 224
0.4 mi·25 sec·Stallings Drive
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
24
Turn straight
223 ft·6 sec
25
Merge onto US 59
1.3 mi·1 min·South Street
26
Continue on US 59
19 mi·22 min·South US Highway 59
27
Take the exit
396 ft·9 sec
Toward South First Street
28
Turn straight onto South Medford Drive
0.2 mi·23 sec·South Medford Drive
29
Turn left onto US 59 Bus
4.1 mi·5 min·South First Street
30
Continue on US 59
1.3 mi·1 min·US 59
31
Continue on US 59
111 mi·2 hr 1 min·Diboll Relief Route
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 132Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
33
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
34
Merge onto I 10; US 90
0.5 mi·35 sec·East Freeway
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 769BToward San Jacinto Street, Main StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Turn straight onto Providence Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Providence Street
37
Continue on North San Jacinto Street
0.3 mi·31 sec·North San Jacinto Street
38
Continue on Fannin Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·Fannin Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
39
Turn right onto Prairie Street
0.3 mi·48 sec·Prairie Street
40
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
516 ft·16 sec·Louisiana Street
41
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4 hour and 45 minute journey, aim to depart during daylight hours when local road visibility is at its best. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, plan for extra time if you are not accustomed to navigating non-highway paths. Although there are no formal stops scheduled, prioritize building in short breaks to stretch your legs, as the constant turning can be more physically tiring than straight-line highway driving. Keeping your fuel tank topped off before leaving Maud is a smart move to avoid searching for stations on unfamiliar local backroads. Taking advantage of the trip's flexibility is key; since the total duration is under five hours, you can easily adjust your pace to suit your personal comfort level.
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 137.4 miles from Maud, TX, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111 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 60 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.4 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 14m
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 Maud, 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 Maud, TX
This is one driving day of about 274.7 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Maud, 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 Diboll Relief Route for about 111 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137.4 mi from Maud, TX
· 2h 35m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.51 one way
$83.02 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$45.43
$90.87
premium
$4.54
$49.05
$98.09
diesel
$5.61
$60.65
$121.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.4
1
$28.84
$13.19
Efficient EV
68.7
0
$24.04
$10.99
EV Truck/SUV
109.9
1
$38.46
$17.58
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Maud, TX
Late night
in Maud on Friday
Local time
12:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Houston, TX
Late night
in Houston on Friday
Local time
12:08 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.
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
15 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
5h 11m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Maud, TX to Houston, TX covers 274.7 miles and takes about 5h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Diboll Relief Route, US 59, TX 315. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 137.4 miles from Maud, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.51 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 274.7 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 0.1 miles (TX 8 / Houston Drive): Navigation decision point; at 85.7 miles (TX 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 272.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Maud, TX to Houston, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
