Drive Time
25m
Distance
17.5 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Photo: kingsley li
If you are looking to travel from Meadows Place to Houston, you are in for a quick 17.6-mile commute. Clocking in at approximately 29 minutes, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will remain within the Great Plains region for the duration of your journey, keeping the experience consistent from start to finish. With a fuel cost estimate of just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly way to move between these two Texas locales. Since there are no required stops along the way, you can easily plan this as a straightforward point-to-point drive without needing to book an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8.8 miles from Meadows Place, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise as you make your way toward the city. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a navigation-intensive experience that requires your full attention on local roads. There is no long, uninterrupted stretch to settle into, meaning your pace will likely fluctuate as you navigate through the area. This route favors constant movement over long-distance highway driving, giving you a very different feel than a typical cross-country transit. Keep your hands on the wheel and be ready for frequent turns throughout the 29-minute trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southwest Freeway and Louisiana Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near South Kirkwood Road.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 17.5 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: at 0.4 miles (South Kirkwood Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.4 miles (South Kirkwood Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Enter roundabout onto South Kirkwood Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Enter roundabout onto South Kirkwood Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the ramp toward I 69 North, US 59 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Downtown, Louisiana Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Meadows Place, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest Freeway | 13.3 mi | 16m |
| Louisiana Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| West Airport Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Dorrance Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Kirkwood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southwest Freeway Frontage Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Meadows Place, TX and Houston, TX.
Start on Dorrance Lane
Enter roundabout onto South Kirkwood Road
Continue on South Kirkwood Road
Enter roundabout onto South Kirkwood Road
Continue on South Kirkwood Road
Enter roundabout onto South Kirkwood Road
Continue on South Kirkwood Road
Turn left onto West Airport Boulevard
Turn left onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 69; US 59
Keep slight left at fork
Take the exit
Continue on Louisiana Street
Arrive at destination
Given the short 17.6-mile distance, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for rest stops, as the duration is brief enough to complete in one go without a break. Since fuel costs are minimal at roughly $3, you can easily top off your tank before you leave Meadows Place without breaking your travel budget. My best advice for this specific route is to keep a reliable GPS running, as the turn-heavy nature of the local roads can be tricky to navigate without guidance. Enjoy the simplicity of this short drive and the convenience of staying off the highways entirely.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 17.5 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.8 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houston, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Meadows Place, 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 Meadows Place, TX
This is one driving day of about 17.5 miles and 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.8 mi from Meadows Place, TX · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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.
A short stop after about 17.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 8.8 miles from Meadows Place, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$2.67 one way
$5.35 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.93 | $5.86 |
| premium | $4.59 | $3.16 | $6.33 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.89 | $7.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.84 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.53 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.45 | $1.12 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Meadows Place on Saturday
Local time
7:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Houston on Saturday
Local time
7:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
70°F
Missouri City, TX
9 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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