Trip from Memphis, TX to Houston, TX

Drive Time

7h 59m

Distance

513.2 mi

Route Type

Long-distance drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Memphis, TX to Houston, TX covers 513.2 miles and takes about 7h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Highway 287, Burnett Street, Avenue F Northwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $76.35 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

256.6 miles from Memphis, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

At 513.2 miles and 7h 59m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Highway 287 and Burnett Street.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Highway 287 is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Highway 287	0 mi	0m
Burnett Street	0 mi	0m
Avenue F Northwest	0 mi	0m
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway	0 mi	0m
Highway 287 East	0 mi	0m
Northwest Freeway	0 mi	0m
Central Freeway	0 mi	0m
Lloyd Ruby Overpass	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: Highway 287 — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Boykin Drive

2

Turn slight right onto US Highway 287

3

Continue on Burnett Street

4

Continue on US Highway 287

5

Continue on Avenue F Northwest

6

Continue on US Highway 287

7

Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

8

Continue on US Highway 287 East

9

Continue on Northwest Freeway

10

Keep slight right to continue on Northwest Freeway

11

Merge slight left onto Central Freeway

12

Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass

13

Continue on Central East Freeway

14

Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway

15

Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway

16

Continue straight

17

Merge slight left onto North Freeway

18

Take the exit slight right toward I 820

19

Keep slight left to continue on I 820 East

20

Merge slight left onto Northeast Loop

21

Take the exit slight left toward I 820 Express East Toll

22

Merge slight left onto I 820 TEXpress

23

Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress

24

Continue on SH 183 TEXpress

25

Keep slight right to continue on SH 183 TEXpress

26

Merge slight right onto John W Carpenter Freeway

27

Merge slight left onto North Stemmons Freeway

28

Take the exit slight right toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West

29

Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway

30

Turn left onto Continental Avenue

31

Turn left onto McKinney Avenue

32

Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 North

33

Merge slight left onto Woodall Rodgers Freeway

34

Keep slight right to continue on I 45 South: Houston

35

Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway

36

Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

37

Continue on Gulf Freeway

38

Take the exit slight left toward I 10 East: Beaumont

39

Keep slight left to continue on Milam Street

40

Continue on Milam Street

41

Turn right onto Prairie Street

42

Turn right onto Louisiana Street

43

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 256.6 miles from Memphis, TX.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 113 miles

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 256.6 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

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 Memphis, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Memphis, TX

This is one driving day of about 513.2 miles and 7h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 113 miles from Memphis, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Coffee and fuel

Wichita Falls, TX

169 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.

Popular next leg

Wichita Falls, TX to Houston, TX

378.4 mi · 5h 34m

Late stop town

Meal stop

Mesquite, TX

339 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.

Popular next leg

Mesquite, TX to Houston, TX

244.9 mi · 3h 34m

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 256.6 mi from Memphis, TX

Wichita Falls, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 113 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Keller, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 256.6 miles from Memphis, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.78	$76.35	$152.71
midgrade	$4.25	$85.91	$171.82
premium	$4.59	$92.76	$185.52
diesel	$3.99	$80.68	$161.35

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 179.6 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Memphis, TX to Houston, TX covers 513.2 miles and takes about 7h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Highway 287, Burnett Street, Avenue F Northwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 256.6 miles from Memphis, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $76.35 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.