Origin
Santa Fe, TX
Afternoon in Santa Fe on Sunday
Local time
4:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Fe, TX to Friendswood, TX
Drive Time
26m
Distance
16.9 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Fe, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Friendswood, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Santa Fe, TX to Friendswood, TX covers 16.9 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East State Highway 6, West Parkwood Avenue, Highway 6 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.7 miles on East State Highway 6. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
8.4 miles from Santa Fe, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Santa Fe, TX to Friendswood, TX covers 16.9 miles and takes about 26m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East State Highway 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 4.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
41 ft
25 ft
Total Climb
13 ft
Total Descent
17 ft
Highest Point
41 ft
~8.4 mi in
Elevation Range
16 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near North Alvin Bypass.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Santa Fe, TX to Friendswood, TX is easy. At 26m with 47% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (North Alvin Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 9.9 miles (FM 528 / Friendswood Road): Navigation decision point; at 15.2 miles (FM 518 / South Friendswood Drive): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
North Alvin Bypass
Turn right onto North Alvin Bypass
Navigation decision point
3
9.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
FM 528 / Friendswood Road
Turn right onto FM 528 / Friendswood Road
Navigation decision point
3
15.2 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
FM 518 / South Friendswood Drive
Turn left onto FM 518 / South Friendswood Drive
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East State Highway 6 | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| West Parkwood Avenue | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Highway 6 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| North Alvin Bypass | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| South Friendswood Drive | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Friendswood Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
East State Highway 6
— 4.7 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Fe, TX and Friendswood, TX.
1
Start on TX 6
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 6
2
Continue on TX 6
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
East State Highway 6
3
Turn right onto North Alvin Bypass
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
North Alvin Bypass
4
Turn right onto FM 528
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Friendswood Road
5
Continue on FM 528
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West Parkwood Avenue
6
Turn left onto FM 518
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Friendswood Drive
7
Continue on FM 518
117 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Friendswood Drive
8
Arrive at destination
FM 518
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8.4 miles from Santa Fe, TX, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.7 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 16.9 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.4 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Friendswood, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe, TX
This is one driving day of about 16.9 miles and 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Santa Fe, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on East State Highway 6 for about 4.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.4 mi from Santa Fe, TX · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.4 miles from Santa Fe, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Friendswood, TX
The final approach into Friendswood, 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 Friendswood, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.58 one way
$5.16 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.83 | $5.66 |
| premium | $4.59 | $3.05 | $6.11 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.75 | $7.51 |
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: 5.9 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 | 5.1 | 0 | $1.77 | $0.81 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.48 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.37 | $1.08 |
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.
Destination
Friendswood, TX
Afternoon in Friendswood on Sunday
Local time
4:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
26m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Santa Fe, TX to Friendswood, TX covers 16.9 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East State Highway 6, West Parkwood Avenue, Highway 6. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.4 miles from Santa Fe, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.58 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Santa Fe, TX to Friendswood, TX is easy. At 26m with 47% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (North Alvin Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 9.9 miles (FM 528 / Friendswood Road): Navigation decision point; at 15.2 miles (FM 518 / South Friendswood Drive): Navigation decision point.
The route from Santa Fe, TX to Friendswood, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Friendswood, TX
More trips to Friendswood, TX
Explore more options from Santa Fe, TX or browse trips ending in Friendswood, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
Explore maps for Santa Fe, TX or Friendswood, TX on MapSof.net.