How far is Houston, TX from Balcones Heights, TX?

The driving distance from Houston, TX to Balcones Heights, TX is about 202.3 miles (325.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 192.4 miles (309.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 15m 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
202.24 mi
03h 37m
Flight
192.43 mi
309.69 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
192.43 mi
Kilometers
309.69 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
202.24 mi
Kilometers
325.48 km
Drive Time
03h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Balcones Heights
Sun, May 31, 6:05 AM CDT
Return by in Houston
Sun, May 31, 9:43 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Houston
2026-05-31T02:27
Arrive Balcones Heights
Sun, May 31, 6:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:38 AM to 11:38 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
9:44 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
Schulenburg
TX

City in Fayette County, Texas, United States

From Houston
101 mi
01h 48m
To Balcones Heights
101.3 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S
Destination
91°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Houston and Balcones Heights.

  1. 1

    Start on Louisiana Street

    761 ft · 25 sec · Louisiana Street

  2. 2

    Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West: San Antonio

    2149 ft · 52 sec

  3. 3

    Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway

    174.9 mi · 3 hr 2 min · Katy Freeway

  4. 4

    Keep slight left

    12 mi · 13 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on 90th Infantry Division Highway

    1230 ft · 16 sec · 90th Infantry Division Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 410, TX 130

    1627 ft · 40 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 410 North

    2195 ft · 54 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Connally Loop

    1.5 km · 1 min · Connally Loop

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight left toward I 35 South: San Antonio, Binz-Engleman Road

    1766 ft · 43 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35 South: San Antonio

    1.2 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto North Pan Am Expressway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    1 mi · 1 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso

    1688 ft · 41 sec · McDermott Freeway

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto McDermott Freeway

    1524 ft · 22 sec · McDermott Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on McDermott Freeway

    4.4 mi · 5 min · McDermott Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Crossroads Boulevard, Balcones Heights

    1196 ft · 29 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West

    1900 ft · 38 sec · Interstate 10 West

  18. 18

    Continue on Interstate 10 West

    1940 ft · 41 sec · Interstate 10 West

  19. 19

    Turn left onto North Crossroads Boulevard

    925 ft · 35 sec · North Crossroads Boulevard

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Crossroads Boulevard

    1203 ft · 40 sec · Crossroads Boulevard

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Fredericksburg Road

    79 m · 7 sec · Fredericksburg Road

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Siesta Lane

    138 m · 22 sec · Siesta Lane

  23. 23

    Turn right

    39 m · 10 sec

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Katy Freeway
187 mi · 92%
North Pan Am Expressway
5.22 mi · 3%
McDermott Freeway
4.83 mi · 2%
I 35 South
1.05 mi · 1%
Connally Loop
0.96 mi
Interstate 10 West
0.73 mi
Longest Stretch

Katy Freeway

Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway

175 mi · 03h 02m

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 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.9 mi
192.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Schulenburg
01h 48m from Houston
Leave By
9:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Houston and Partly Sunny near Balcones Heights.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Houston to Balcones Heights?

The road trip is about 202.3 miles (325.5 km) and usually takes 03h 37m 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?

Schulenburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 101 miles from Houston and 101.3 miles from Balcones Heights.

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

The direct path is about 192.4 miles (309.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.9 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 9:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.98 one way or $53.96 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 63.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Houston and Partly Sunny near Balcones Heights.

Stop Ideas Near Schulenburg

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

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

BUS

Prairie View, TX

98 mi away
44814 US Highway 290 Business \r\n
RAIL

San Marcos Station

102 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
RAIL

Austin

105 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.
RAIL

Taylor

110 mi away
118 East First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Balcones Heights. Straight-line distance: 192.43 mi (309.69 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
Balcones Heights

#2 Balcones Heights

City in Bexar County, Texas, United States

Population3,117
Coordinates29.4880100, -98.5516900
Altitude253
CountryUnited States
Start: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
End: Balcones Heights (-98.55169, 29.48801)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 325 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 31m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.14 gal
27.01 L · about $26.98
Round trip
$53.96
14.28 gal · 54.02 L
Estimated CO2
63.5 kg one way
Round trip: 126.9 kg / 280 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $26.98 $53.96
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.36 $60.72
Premium $4.59 $32.78 $65.56
Diesel $3.99 $28.51 $57.02

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Houston and Balcones Heights. The current time is 02:27:58.

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.