How far is Houston, TX from Aurora, TX?

The driving distance from Houston, TX to Aurora, TX is about 291.2 miles (468.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 260.4 miles (419.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 21m 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
291.24 mi
05h 10m
Flight
260.42 mi
419.11 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Houston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
260.42 mi
Kilometers
419.11 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
291.24 mi
Kilometers
468.7 km
Drive Time
05h 10m

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 05h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Aurora
Thu, Apr 23, 7:48 AM CDT
Return by in Houston
Thu, Apr 23, 12:58 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Houston
2026-04-23T02:37
Arrive Aurora
Thu, Apr 23, 7:48 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:11 AM to 1:11 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
6:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Houston
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 Houston
145.8 mi
02h 35m
To Aurora
145.4 mi
02h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
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
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Louisiana Street

    145 m · 20 sec · Louisiana Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    664 ft · 30 sec · Franklin Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Travis Street

    1205 ft · 29 sec · Travis Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward I 45 North Express Lane

    1.6 km · 2 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto North Freeway

    236.9 mi · 4 hr 9 min · North Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Waco, Denton

    3139 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Woodall Rodgers Freeway

    1.4 km · 1 min · Woodall Rodgers Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North: Denton

    1980 ft · 48 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto North Stemmons Freeway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · North Stemmons Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on John W Carpenter Freeway

    1.2 km · 49 sec · John W Carpenter Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on SH 183 TEXpress

    1.5 mi · 2 min · SH 183 TEXpress

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on SH 183 TEXpress

    14.9 mi · 15 min · SH 183 TEXpress

  13. 13

    Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress

    2 mi · 2 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

  14. 14

    Continue on SH 183 TEXpress

    644 ft · 7 sec · SH 183 TEXpress

  15. 15

    Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress

    1.1 km · 43 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress

  16. 16

    Continue on I 820 TEXpress

    6.2 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35W Express: Fort Worth, Denton

    1079 ft · 26 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35W Express North: Denton

    1.3 km · 50 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto I 35W TEXpress

    2.3 mi · 2 min · I 35W TEXpress

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur

    1.1 km · 1 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  22. 22

    Continue straight

    13.1 mi · 14 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 114 West: Bridgeport

    1941 ft · 46 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto East State Highway 114

    1.5 mi · 2 min · East State Highway 114

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East State Highway 114

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Freeway
237 mi · 81%
SH 183 TEXpress
16.5 mi · 6%
US 81 North
15.5 mi · 5%
I 820 TEXpress
6.16 mi · 2%
North Stemmons Freeway
4.09 mi · 1%
SH 121/183 TEXpress
2.74 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

North Freeway

Merge slight left onto North Freeway

237 mi · 04h 09m

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
05h 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.8 mi
260.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fairfield
02h 35m from Houston
Leave By
6:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Houston and Mostly Cloudy near Aurora.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 291.2 miles (468.7 km) and usually takes 05h 10m 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 145.8 miles from Houston and 145.4 miles from Aurora.

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

The direct path is about 260.4 miles (419.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.8 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 6:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.85 one way or $77.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Houston and Aurora. Straight-line distance: 260.42 mi (419.11 km).

Houston

#1 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
Aurora

#2 Aurora

City in Texas, USA

Population1,522
Coordinates33.0606800, -97.5033600
Altitude249
CountryUnited States
Start: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
End: Aurora (-97.50336, 33.06068)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 469 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.28 gal
38.9 L · about $38.85
Round trip
$77.70
20.56 gal · 77.8 L
Estimated CO2
91.4 kg one way
Round trip: 182.7 kg / 403 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $38.85 $77.70
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.71 $87.42
Premium $4.59 $47.20 $94.39
Diesel $3.99 $41.05 $82.10

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 Houston and Aurora. The current time is 02:37:11.

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.