How far is Bells, TX from Houston, TX?

The driving distance from Bells, TX to Houston, TX is about 307.5 miles (494.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 272.8 miles (439.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
307.54 mi
04h 50m
Flight
272.84 mi
439.1 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bells.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
272.84 mi
Kilometers
439.1 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
307.54 mi
Kilometers
494.93 km
Drive Time
04h 50m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Houston
Wed, Apr 22, 11:19 PM CDT
Return by in Bells
Thu, Apr 23, 4:10 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bells
2026-04-22T18:28
Arrive Houston
Wed, Apr 22, 11:19 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:51 AM to 12:51 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bells
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Fairfield
TX

City in and county seat of Freestone County, Texas, United States

From Bells
152.4 mi
02h 25m
To Houston
155.2 mi
02h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bells and Houston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bells and Houston.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    26 m · 6 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Pecan Street

    7.3 mi · 11 min · South Pecan Street

  3. 3

    Continue on State Highway 160

    8.3 mi · 12 min · State Highway 160

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1927 ft · 53 sec

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1068 ft · 29 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Sam Rayburn Highway

    13.3 mi · 15 min · Sam Rayburn Highway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on US 75 South, TX 121 South

    1.3 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Central Expressway

    35 mi · 38 min · Central Expressway

  9. 9

    Continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

    234.2 mi · 4 hr 6 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  11. 11

    Continue on Gulf Freeway

    83 m · 4 sec · Gulf Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight left toward I 10 East: Beaumont

    2168 ft · 53 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Milam Street

    1614 ft · 39 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on Milam Street

    2031 ft · 1 min · Milam Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Prairie Street

    100 m · 14 sec · Prairie Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Louisiana Street

    157 m · 17 sec · Louisiana Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bells and Houston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
17 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Julius Schepps Freeway
238 mi · 77%
Central Expressway
35 mi · 11%
Sam Rayburn Highway
13.3 mi · 4%
State Highway 160
8.9 mi · 3%
South Pecan Street
7.32 mi · 2%
US 75 South
0.82 mi
Longest Stretch

Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

234 mi · 04h 06m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.7 mi
272.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fairfield
02h 25m from Bells
Leave By
7:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bells and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms near Houston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bells to Houston?

The road trip is about 307.5 miles (494.9 km) and usually takes 04h 50m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Fairfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 152.4 miles from Bells and 155.2 miles from Houston.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 272.8 miles (439.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.00 one way or $82.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Bells and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms near Houston.

Stop Ideas Near Fairfield

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Fairfield, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Fairfield.

BUS

Waco, TX

94 mi away
301 South 8th Street
BUS

Tyler, TX

107 mi away
303 North Bois D'Arc Street
BUS

Bryan, TX

119 mi away
301 East 26th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bells and Houston. Straight-line distance: 272.84 mi (439.1 km).

Bells

#1 Bells

Town in Texas, United States

Population1,516
Coordinates33.6103800, -96.4108200
Altitude210
CountryUnited States
Houston

#2 Houston

The fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Houston metropolitan area.

Population2,316,120
Coordinates29.7632800, -95.3632700
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-96.410843, 33.61024)
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 495 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 50m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.85 gal
41.08 L · about $41.00
Round trip
$82.00
21.7 gal · 82.16 L
Estimated CO2
96.4 kg one way
Round trip: 192.8 kg / 425 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $41.00 $82.00
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.13 $92.27
Premium $4.59 $49.81 $99.62
Diesel $3.99 $43.32 $86.65

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · Apr 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Bells and Houston. The current time is 18:28:29.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.