How far is Dallas, TX from Houston, TX?

The driving distance from Dallas, TX to Houston, TX is about 243.1 miles (391.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 225.4 miles (362.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 07m 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
243.1 mi
03h 33m
Flight
225.38 mi
362.71 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dallas.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
225.38 mi
Kilometers
362.71 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
243.1 mi
Kilometers
391.23 km
Drive Time
03h 33m

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 03h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Houston
Wed, Apr 22, 8:35 PM CDT
Return by in Dallas
Thu, Apr 23, 12:08 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dallas
2026-04-22T17:01
Arrive Houston
Wed, Apr 22, 8:35 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:34 AM to 11:34 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:52 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dallas
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
Jewett
TX

City in Texas, United States

From Dallas
120.2 mi
01h 46m
To Houston
122.9 mi
01h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 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 Dallas and Houston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Lamar Street

    132 m · 14 sec · North Lamar Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto McKinney Avenue

    1118 ft · 25 sec · McKinney Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 North

    1229 ft · 30 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Woodall Rodgers Freeway

    2170 ft · 37 sec · Woodall Rodgers Freeway

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 45 South: Houston

    2537 ft · 49 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

    234.2 mi · 4 hr 6 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  8. 8

    Continue on Gulf Freeway

    83 m · 4 sec · Gulf Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left toward I 10 East: Beaumont

    2168 ft · 53 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Milam Street

    1614 ft · 39 sec

  11. 11

    Continue on Milam Street

    2031 ft · 1 min · Milam Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Prairie Street

    100 m · 14 sec · Prairie Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Louisiana Street

    157 m · 17 sec · Louisiana Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
14 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Julius Schepps Freeway
237 mi · 98%
Milam Street
0.69 mi
I 45 South
0.48 mi
Woodall Rodgers Freeway
0.41 mi
I 10 East
0.41 mi
US 75 North
0.23 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
03h 33m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.7 mi
225.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Jewett
01h 46m from Dallas
Leave By
9:52 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Dallas 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 Dallas to Houston?

The road trip is about 243.1 miles (391.2 km) and usually takes 03h 33m 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?

Jewett is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.2 miles from Dallas and 122.9 miles from Houston.

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

The direct path is about 225.4 miles (362.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.7 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 9:52 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.42 one way or $64.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Jewett

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Jewett, 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 Jewett.

BUS

Bryan, TX

80 mi away
301 East 26th Street
BUS

Waco, TX

96 mi away
301 South 8th Street
RAIL

Temple

118 mi away
315 West Ave B

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dallas and Houston. Straight-line distance: 225.38 mi (362.71 km).

Dallas

#1 Dallas

The ninth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Population1,343,266
Coordinates32.7830600, -96.8066700
Altitude128
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: North Lamar Street (-96.806574, 32.783135)
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 391 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 51m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.58 gal
32.47 L · about $32.42
Round trip
$64.85
17.16 gal · 64.94 L
Estimated CO2
76.3 kg one way
Round trip: 152.5 kg / 336 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $32.42 $64.85
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.48 $72.96
Premium $4.59 $39.39 $78.78
Diesel $3.99 $34.26 $68.52

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 Dallas and Houston. The current time is 17:01:16.

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.