Origin
Texarkana, TX
Afternoon in Texarkana on Sunday
Local time
2:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
5h 29m
Distance
289.6 mi
466 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Texarkana, TX
Thomas balabaud
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Driving from Texarkana to Houston covers 290.9 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 54 minutes. This route is designed as a direct day trip, meaning you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate through the Great Plains region for the duration of the trip, keeping you within the familiar landscapes of Texas. With a projected fuel cost of $43, it remains a budget-friendly option for travelers. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel compared to a standard interstate cruise.
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
144.8 miles from Texarkana, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Expect a very different experience than a typical highway cruise, as this route features zero percent highway driving. You will navigate via Main Street, West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, and North Lake Drive, creating a highly technical and turn-heavy local drive. Because the longest stretch on Main Street is 0 miles, you will be making frequent adjustments and turns throughout the 290.9-mile journey. This path demands your full attention, as the lack of high-speed interstate miles means the pace remains steady but deliberate. It is an ideal choice if you prefer local roads over the monotonous nature of fast-moving traffic.
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 Main Street.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 289.6 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 67; US 82 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 287.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 67; US 82 / West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
On the drive from Texarkana, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Naples along the way.
Naples
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Diboll Relief Route | 111 mi | 2h 1m |
| US 59 | 69.5 mi | 1h 18m |
| TX 315 | 24.8 mi | 25m |
| South US Highway 59 | 19.4 mi | 22m |
| US Highway 59 | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| US Highway 259 | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| Northwest Stallings Drive | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| North Lake Drive | 4.5 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Texarkana, TX and Houston, TX.
Start on US 67; US 82
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn left onto US 67; US 82
Turn left onto TX 93
Continue on US 59
Turn straight onto US 59
Take the exit onto US 59
Merge onto US 59; TX77
Continue on US 59; FM 2328
Take the exit
Merge onto US 79
Take the exit onto TX 149
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 149
Turn right onto TX 315
At end of road, turn left onto US 259
Continue on US 259
Continue on US 259
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Continue on this road
Turn left
Turn right onto US 59
Continue on US 59
Continue on US 59; TX 7; TX 21; Loop 224
Take the exit
Turn straight
Merge onto US 59
Continue on US 59
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Medford Drive
Turn left onto US 59 Bus
Continue on US 59
Continue on US 59
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 10; US 90
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Providence Street
Continue on North San Jacinto Street
Continue on Fannin Street
Turn right onto Prairie Street
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
Arrive at destination
To manage the 4 hours and 54 minutes on the road, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the frequent turns. Setting aside $43 for fuel will cover your transit costs, but keep an eye on your local fuel stops since you won't be relying on major highway service centers. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to navigate the local streets while traffic is at its lightest. Because this route lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so take your time and enjoy the local pace as you travel between these two Texas hubs.
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.8 miles or 2h 44m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houston, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Texarkana, 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 Texarkana, TX
This is one driving day of about 289.6 miles and 5h 29m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 144.8 mi from Texarkana, TX · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
145 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 144.8 miles from Texarkana, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Diboll Relief Route if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111 miles.
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.
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.
Regular Gas
$44.24 one way
$88.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $48.48 | $96.96 |
| premium | $4.59 | $52.34 | $104.69 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $64.34 | $128.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.9 | 1 | $30.41 | $13.90 |
| Efficient EV | 72.4 | 0 | $25.34 | $11.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.8 | 1 | $40.54 | $18.53 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Texarkana on Sunday
Local time
2:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Houston on Sunday
Local time
2:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
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.
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