How far is Highlands, TX from Houston, TX?

The driving distance from Highlands, TX to Houston, TX is about 21.4 miles (34.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 18.8 miles (30.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
21.47 mi
00h 29m
Flight
18.82 mi
30.28 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Highlands.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
18.82 mi
Kilometers
30.28 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
21.47 mi
Kilometers
34.55 km
Drive Time
00h 29m

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 00h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Houston
Thu, Apr 23, 1:47 AM CDT
Return by in Highlands
Thu, Apr 23, 2:17 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Highlands
2026-04-23T01:18
Arrive Houston
Thu, Apr 23, 1:47 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:30 AM to 7:30 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:30 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Highlands
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Cloverleaf
TX

Census designated place

From Highlands
10.7 mi
00h 14m
To Houston
10.7 mi
00h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Wallisville Road

    125 m · 19 sec · East Wallisville Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West

    998 ft · 24 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto East Freeway

    18.1 mi · 22 min · East Freeway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street

    932 ft · 23 sec

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Providence Street

    599 ft · 12 sec · Providence Street

  7. 7

    Continue on North San Jacinto Street

    1636 ft · 32 sec · North San Jacinto Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Fannin Street

    1878 ft · 51 sec · Fannin Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Prairie Street

    1338 ft · 48 sec · Prairie Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Louisiana Street

    157 m · 17 sec · Louisiana Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
51.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Freeway
18.1 mi · 84%
North Main Street
1.87 mi · 9%
Fannin Street
0.36 mi · 2%
North San Jacinto Street
0.31 mi · 1%
Prairie Street
0.25 mi · 1%
I 10 West
0.19 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

East Freeway

Merge slight left onto East Freeway

18.1 mi · 00h 22m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 29m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.6 mi
18.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cloverleaf
00h 14m from Highlands
Leave By
7:30 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Highlands 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 Highlands to Houston?

The road trip is about 21.4 miles (34.5 km) and usually takes 00h 29m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Cloverleaf is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.7 miles from Highlands and 10.7 miles from Houston.

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

The direct path is about 18.8 miles (30.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.6 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:30 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.87 one way or $5.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Cloverleaf

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Cloverleaf and the surrounding midpoint area.
Hermann Square
Scenic stop 10.3 mi away

Hermann Square

Houston , TX
900 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002
Rating 4.5/5 604 reviews Tourist attraction,Park
Houston BCycle: City Hall
Practical stop 10.4 mi away

Houston BCycle: City Hall

Houston , TX
473 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77002
Rating 3.8/5 8 reviews Bicycle rental service,Non-profit organization
Houston City Hall
Meeting point 10.3 mi away

Houston City Hall

Houston , TX
901 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002
Rating 4.3/5 103 reviews City Hall
City of Pasadena Construction Permits
Nearby stop 5.3 mi away

City of Pasadena Construction Permits

Pasadena , TX
1114 Davis St, Pasadena, TX 77506
Rating 2.5/5 18 reviews Public works department

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Houston

19 mi away
902 Washington Ave.
BUS

Houston, TX

20 mi away
2121 Main Street
BUS

Galveston (Texas Eagle Bus), Texas

66 mi away
25th St. and Strand St.
BUS

Prairie View, TX

86 mi away
44814 US Highway 290 Business \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Highlands and Houston. Straight-line distance: 18.82 mi (30.28 km).

Highlands

#1 Highlands

Census designated place

Population7,522
Coordinates29.8188400, -95.0560400
Altitude11
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: East Wallisville Road (-95.056041, 29.818875)
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 35 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.76 gal
2.87 L · about $2.87
Round trip
$5.74
1.52 gal · 5.74 L
Estimated CO2
6.8 kg one way
Round trip: 13.5 kg / 30 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $2.87 $5.74
Mid-grade $4.25 $3.23 $6.46
Premium $4.59 $3.49 $6.98
Diesel $3.99 $3.03 $6.07

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

There is no time difference between Highlands and Houston. The current time is 01:18:19.

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.