Origin
Pecos, TX
Afternoon in Pecos on Sunday
Local time
2:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pecos, TX to Houston, TX
Drive Time
9h 26m
Distance
558.4 mi
899 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$85
one way
Pecos, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Spanning 560.3 miles across Texas, this journey from Pecos to Houston is a significant cross-state undertaking. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 8 hours and 10 minutes, making this a heavy lift for a single day behind the wheel. Given the distance, we recommend breaking this trip into two days to keep your energy levels steady. You will be traveling primarily via Interstate 10 East, starting in the Great Plains region and remaining within the same geographic expanse as you head toward the Gulf Coast area. Budgeting about $83 for fuel will cover your transit, though it is wise to keep a little extra set aside for fluctuations. Approach this as a serious long-distance drive that requires careful planning rather than a quick jaunt.
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
279.2 miles from Pecos, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a classic long-distance interstate experience as you navigate the vast stretches of Texas. The route relies heavily on Interstate 10 East, providing a consistent, high-speed corridor that facilitates steady progress across the state. While you start by navigating local streets like South Cedar Street, you will quickly transition into the rhythmic, wide-open highway driving that defines this part of the country. This drive is characterized by its scale, requiring you to maintain focus over the full 560.3-mile distance. Because this is a high-mileage trek, the experience is less about technical maneuvering and more about settling into the long, uninterrupted flow of the interstate.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor is the longest continuous segment at about 292.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 9h 26m, 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 around 344 miles in near I 10; US 87.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 558.4 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 344 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 349.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 350.4 miles (North Loop 1604 West): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
344 mi into trip
|
~5h 37m in
|
I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
349.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 43m 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
6
350.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 45m in
|
North Loop 1604 West
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
543.4 mi into trip
|
~9h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
8
557.8 mi into trip
|
~9h 25m 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 Pecos, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.
Loop 1604 East
350.8 mi in
|
~5h 45m
Austin
392.2 mi in
|
~6h 32m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Waco
392.2 mi in
|
~6h 32m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor | 292.5 mi | 4h 38m |
| I 10 | 156.5 mi | 2h 40m |
| South Cedar Street | 51.1 mi | 58m |
| Anderson Loop | 25.4 mi | 29m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 14.9 mi | 15m |
| Katy Freeway | 10.7 mi | 13m |
| Katy Tollway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Interstate 10 East | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
— 292.5 mi, about 4h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pecos, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on East 6th Street
67 ft
·
4 sec
·
East 6th Street
2
Turn right onto US 285
51 mi
·
58 min
·
South Cedar Street
3
Turn left onto Interstate 10 West
425 ft
·
11 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
5
Merge onto I 10; US 67
292 mi
·
4 hr 38 min
·
La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
9
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Loop 1604 West
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Loop 1604 East
11
Merge onto Loop 1604
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the none lane.
12
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 10 East
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
14
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
15 mi
·
15 min
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Use the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 10 Toll
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Katy Tollway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 10; US 90
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the slight left / none lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smith Street
22
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft
·
16 sec
·
Preston Street
23
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
179 ft
·
5 sec
·
Louisiana Street
24
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
To tackle this 8-hour and 10-minute drive effectively, try to depart early in the morning to beat traffic near major hubs. We suggest scheduling at least two deliberate stops to stretch your legs and refresh your focus, as the sheer length of the trip can lead to fatigue. Since your fuel budget is estimated at $83, monitor your gauge carefully on the more remote stretches to avoid unnecessary anxiety between stations. If you decide to split the trip over two days, look for lodging options roughly halfway to ensure your second day is manageable. Always check your tire pressure before leaving Pecos, as the sustained highway speeds on I-10 can be demanding on your vehicle over such a long distance.
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 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 279.2 miles from Pecos, TX, or about 4h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 292.5 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 123 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 279.2 miles or 4h 35m 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 279.2 miles or 4h 35m
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 8h 21m
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 Pecos, 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 Pecos, TX
Aim for roughly 279 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Houston, TX
Aim for roughly 279 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 123 miles from Pecos, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor for about 292.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 279.2 mi from Pecos, TX · 4h 35m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
184 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
369 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 San Antonio, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
279 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 279 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 123 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 279.2 miles from Pecos, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 292.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 279 miles or 4.7 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
$85.30 one way
$170.60 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
195 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $93.48 | $186.95 |
| premium | $4.59 | $100.93 | $201.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $124.06 | $248.11 |
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
$85
Tolls
$0
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$216–$326
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 195.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $59 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 167.5 | 2 | $58.63 | $26.80 |
| Efficient EV | 139.6 | 1 | $48.86 | $22.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 223.4 | 2 | $78.18 | $35.74 |
Gas CO2
195 kg
EV CO2
65 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Houston, TX
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
2:24 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
20 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
9h 26m 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 Pecos, TX to Houston, TX covers 558.4 miles and takes about 9h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor, I 10, South Cedar Street. 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 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 279 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 279.2 miles from Pecos, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $85.30 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 558.4 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 344 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 349.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 350.4 miles (North Loop 1604 West): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Pecos, TX and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.
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