How far is Harper, TX from Houston, TX?

The driving distance from Harper, TX to Houston, TX is about 260.7 miles (419.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 235.1 miles (378.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST.
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
260.66 mi
04h 30m
Flight
235.08 mi
378.32 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Harper.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
235.08 mi
Kilometers
378.32 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
260.66 mi
Kilometers
419.49 km
Drive Time
04h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Houston
Fri, Nov 6, 10:31 PM CST
Return by in Harper
Sat, Nov 7, 3:02 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Harper
2026-11-06T18:00
Arrive Houston
Fri, Nov 6, 10:31 PM CST
Route Timing
04h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 PM CST

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

Leave by
7:58 AM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Harper
9:00 PM CST
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
Bastrop
TX

City in Texas, USA

From Harper
130.1 mi
02h 15m
To Houston
130.5 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
49°F
Overnight

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 12:00 AM CST
Wind
10 to 15 mph NNW
Destination
80°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Nov 6 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West US Highway 290

    22 mi · 24 min · West US Highway 290

  2. 2

    Continue on West Main Street

    3.5 mi · 8 min · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on East US Highway 290

    27.2 mi · 31 min · East US Highway 290

  4. 4

    Continue on West Main Street

    1 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right

    724 ft · 19 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto South US Highway 281

    5.4 mi · 6 min · South US Highway 281

  7. 7

    Turn slight left onto East US Highway 290

    30.9 mi · 38 min · East US Highway 290

  8. 8

    Continue on West US Highway 290

    1424 ft · 18 sec · West US Highway 290

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left

    892 ft · 22 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on West US Highway 290

    2 mi · 2 min · West US Highway 290

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    13.6 mi · 15 min

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto Bastrop Freeway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue on East State Highway 71

    2388 ft · 29 sec · East State Highway 71

  14. 14

    Continue on Texas State Highway 71

    137 mi · 2 hr 25 min · Texas State Highway 71

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight left toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway

    1548 ft · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Katy Tollway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    1092 ft · 15 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway

    10.7 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, Theatre District

    2064 ft · 52 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on Smith Street

    704 ft · 29 sec · Smith Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Preston Street

    101 m · 17 sec · Preston Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Louisiana Street

    55 m · 5 sec · Louisiana Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Harper 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
23 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Texas State Highway 71
137 mi · 53%
East US Highway 290
58.1 mi · 22%
West US Highway 290
38.1 mi · 15%
Katy Freeway
10.7 mi · 4%
South US Highway 281
5.41 mi · 2%
West Main Street
4.7 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Texas State Highway 71

Continue on Texas State Highway 71

137 mi · 02h 25m

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 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.6 mi
235.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bastrop
02h 15m from Harper
Leave By
7:58 AM CST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Harper and Mostly Sunny near Houston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 260.7 miles (419.5 km) and usually takes 04h 30m 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?

Bastrop is a useful midpoint, sitting about 130.1 miles from Harper and 130.5 miles from Houston.

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

The direct path is about 235.1 miles (378.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.6 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 CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:58 AM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.95 one way or $65.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Harper and Mostly Sunny near Houston.

Stop Ideas Near Bastrop

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

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

RAIL

Austin

46 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.
RAIL

Taylor

52 mi away
118 East First St.
RAIL

San Marcos Station

65 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
RAIL

Temple

110 mi away
315 West Ave B

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Harper and Houston. Straight-line distance: 235.08 mi (378.32 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Harper

Harper is a place in Texas, United States.

Population0
Coordinates30.2999200, -99.2442100
Altitude626
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: US 290 (-99.24421, 30.300001)
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 419 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.2 gal
34.82 L · about $32.95
Round trip
$65.89
18.4 gal · 69.64 L
Estimated CO2
81.8 kg one way
Round trip: 163.5 kg / 360 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.58 $32.95 $65.89
Mid-grade $4.09 $37.66 $75.33
Premium $4.47 $41.14 $82.28
Diesel $5.68 $52.27 $104.55

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 · Nov 06, 2026

There is no time difference between Harper and Houston. The current time is 18:00:25.

Distance to Other Cities

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