How far is Gainesville, TX from Houston, TX?
The driving distance from Gainesville, TX to Houston, TX is about 310.4 miles (499.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 55m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 286.5 miles (461 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 55m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in and county seat of Freestone County, Texas, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Gainesville and Houston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gainesville and Houston.
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1
Start on North Grand Avenue
637 ft · 17 sec · North Grand Avenue
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2
Turn right onto East California Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · East California Street
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3
Turn left
107 m · 10 sec
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4
Continue on South Interstate 35
704 ft · 19 sec · South Interstate 35
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5
Take the ramp slight left
937 ft · 23 sec
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6
Merge slight left
28.6 mi · 29 min
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7
Continue on I 35E South: Dallas
9.8 mi · 10 min
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8
Keep slight right to continue on South Stemmons Freeway
20.5 mi · 23 min · South Stemmons Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on North Stemmons Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · North Stemmons Freeway
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10
Take the exit slight right toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West
778 ft · 22 sec
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11
Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway
764 ft · 18 sec · North Stemmons Freeway
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12
Turn left onto Continental Avenue
1715 ft · 49 sec · Continental Avenue
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13
Turn left onto McKinney Avenue
1118 ft · 25 sec · McKinney Avenue
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14
Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 North
1229 ft · 30 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto Woodall Rodgers Freeway
2170 ft · 37 sec · Woodall Rodgers Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 45 South: Houston
2537 ft · 49 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway
3.1 mi · 4 min · Julius Schepps Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway
234.2 mi · 4 hr 6 min · Julius Schepps Freeway
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19
Continue on Gulf Freeway
83 m · 4 sec · Gulf Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 East: Beaumont
2168 ft · 53 sec
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Milam Street
1614 ft · 39 sec
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22
Continue on Milam Street
2031 ft · 1 min · Milam Street
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23
Turn right onto Prairie Street
100 m · 14 sec · Prairie Street
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24
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
157 m · 17 sec · Louisiana Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Gainesville and Houston.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Gainesville and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance 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 Gainesville to Houston?
The road trip is about 310.4 miles (499.6 km) and usually takes 04h 55m 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 154.9 miles from Gainesville and 155.5 miles from Houston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 286.5 miles (461 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.9 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 7:08 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.42 one way or $82.84 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Gainesville and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Houston.
Stop Ideas Near Fairfield
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Fairfield.
Waco, TX
Tyler, TX
Bryan, TX
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Gainesville and Houston. Straight-line distance: 286.44 mi (460.98 km).
#1 Gainesville
City in Texas, United States
| Population | 16,876 |
| Coordinates | 33.6259400, -97.1333500 |
| Altitude | 229 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Houston
The fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Houston metropolitan area.
| Population | 2,316,120 |
| Coordinates | 29.7632800, -95.3632700 |
| Altitude | 12 |
| Country | United States |
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 500 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 20m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 45m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 12m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 10m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 26m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 52m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $41.42 | $82.84 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $46.60 | $93.20 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $50.32 | $100.63 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $43.76 | $87.53 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.