Origin
Tucson, AZ
Afternoon in Tucson on Tuesday
Local time
12:26 PM
MST
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tucson, AZ to Houston, TX
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
17h 48m
Distance
1061 mi
1,708 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$211
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
17h 32m
★
6 AM
17h 48m
8 AM
18h 20m
10 AM
17h 59m
12 PM
17h 56m
3 PM
18h 1m
5 PM
18h 19m
8 PM
17h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tucson, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
The drive from Tucson, AZ to Houston, TX covers 1061 miles and takes about 17h 48m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 10, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Benson-Steins Pass Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 694.8 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $211.36 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
5 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
530.5 miles from Tucson, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8h 58m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
At 1061 miles and 17h 48m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 10 and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 694.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 17h 48m, 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 5.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 1061 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 5.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 483.1 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 846.6 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
5.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Turn left toward I 10 East: El Paso
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 10 East: El Paso
6
483.1 mi into trip
|
~8h 13m in
|
I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
846.6 mi into trip
|
~13h 58m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
7
852 mi into trip
|
~14h 4m 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
8
1060.4 mi into trip
|
~17h 46m 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tucson, AZ and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.
Loop 1604 East
853.5 mi in
|
~14h 7m
Austin
894.9 mi in
|
~14h 54m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Waco
894.9 mi in
|
~14h 54m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 694.8 mi | 11h 18m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 164.3 mi | 2h 47m |
| Benson-Steins Pass Highway | 88.3 mi | 1h 28m |
| Tucson-Benson Highway | 37.7 mi | 38m |
| Anderson Loop | 25.4 mi | 29m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 14.9 mi | 15m |
| Camino Real de Tierra Adentro | 12 mi | 14m |
| Katy Freeway | 10.7 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 694.8 mi, about 11h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucson, AZ and Houston, TX.
1
Start on North Country Club Road
199 ft
·
32 sec
·
North Country Club Road
2
Continue on North Country Club Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Country Club Road
3
Take the ramp
160 ft
·
4 sec
4
Turn straight onto AZ 210
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Barraza Aviation Highway
5
Turn straight
155 ft
·
2 sec
Toward Alvernon Way
6
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
this road
Toward Alvernon Way
7
Turn right onto South Alvernon Way
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Alvernon Way
8
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 East: El Paso
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 10
38 mi
·
38 min
·
Tucson-Benson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 10
88 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
·
Benson-Steins Pass Highway
11
Continue on I 10
164 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
12
Continue on I 10; US 85; US 180
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10; US 180
175 mi
·
2 hr 53 min
·
I 10; US 180
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
363 mi
·
5 hr 44 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
18
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Loop 1604 West
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Loop 1604 East
20
Merge onto Loop 1604
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate 10 East
22
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
23
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
15 mi
·
15 min
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
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 straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Use the slight left lane.
26
Merge onto I 10 Toll
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Katy Tollway
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto I 10; US 90
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 769A
Toward Downtown, Theatre District
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Smith Street
31
Turn left onto Preston Street
331 ft
·
16 sec
·
Preston Street
32
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
179 ft
·
5 sec
·
Louisiana Street
33
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Trip Plan
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 5 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 530.5 miles from Tucson, AZ, or about 8h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 694.8 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 220 miles or 3h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 530.5 miles or 8h 58m 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 530.5 miles or 8h 58m
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 16h 42m
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 Tucson, AZ 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 Tucson, AZ
Aim for roughly 531 miles and 8.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Houston, TX
Aim for roughly 531 miles and 8.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Tucson, AZ.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 5 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 694.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 530.5 mi from Tucson, AZ · 8h 58m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
350 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
700 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 Kerrville, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
531 mi · about 8.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Fort Davis, TX after about 531 miles or 8.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 530.5 miles from Tucson, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 694.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 531 miles or 8.9 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
$211.36 one way
$422.73 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
371 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $223.69 | $447.37 |
| premium | $5.59 | $233.55 | $467.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $234.26 | $468.51 |
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
$211
Tolls
$0
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$342–$452
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 371.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $111 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 318.3 | 3 | $111.41 | $50.93 |
| Efficient EV | 265.3 | 3 | $92.84 | $42.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 424.4 | 5 | $148.54 | $67.90 |
Gas CO2
371 kg
EV CO2
124 kg (67% less)
Plan for 3 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 Tuesday
Local time
2:26 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
2 hours later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
17 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
17h 48m 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 Tucson, AZ to Houston, TX covers 1061 miles and takes about 17h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Benson-Steins Pass Highway. 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 531 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 530.5 miles from Tucson, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $211.36 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 5 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 1061 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 5.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 483.1 miles (I 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 846.6 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Tucson, AZ and Houston, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604 East, Austin and Waco.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Houston, TX
More trips to Houston, TX
Explore more options from Tucson, AZ or browse trips ending in Houston, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse AZ road trips.
Explore maps for Tucson, AZ or Houston, TX on MapSof.net.