How far is Houston, TX from Buffalo, TX?

The driving distance from Houston, TX to Buffalo, TX is about 318.5 miles (512.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 267.7 miles (430.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
318.42 mi
06h 06m
Flight
267.75 mi
430.91 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
267.75 mi
Kilometers
430.91 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
318.42 mi
Kilometers
512.45 km
Drive Time
06h 06m

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 06h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Buffalo
Mon, Apr 20, 9:55 AM CDT
Return by in Houston
Mon, Apr 20, 4:01 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Houston
2026-04-20T03:49
Arrive Buffalo
Mon, Apr 20, 9:55 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:06 PM to 1:36 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Houston
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Montopolis
TX

This Travis County community, situated at an elevation of 469 feet, is known for its Colorado River industrial areas.

From Houston
159.2 mi
03h 03m
To Buffalo
159.3 mi
03h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Monday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph E
Destination
61°F
Monday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    74.1 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Katy Freeway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin

    2832 ft · 33 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    77.2 mi · 1 hr 22 min

  6. 6

    Continue on Bastrop Freeway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on East State Highway 71

    2.2 mi · 3 min · East State Highway 71

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas

    2773 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Bastrop Highway

    2088 ft · 27 sec · Bastrop Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Bergstrom Expressway

    6.2 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    14.6 mi · 17 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    14.6 mi · 15 min

  13. 13

    Continue on North US Highway 183

    35.7 mi · 39 min · North US Highway 183

  14. 14

    Continue on South Key Avenue

    2.3 mi · 5 min · South Key Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on North US Highway 281

    965 ft · 15 sec · North US Highway 281

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on North US Highway 183

    36.9 mi · 40 min · North US Highway 183

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn left

    30.4 mi · 35 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Early Boulevard

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Early Boulevard

  19. 19

    Continue on East Commerce Street

    13 mi · 15 min · East Commerce Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto County Road 140

    2.4 mi · 9 min · County Road 140

  21. 21

    Continue on County Road 139

    1 mi · 4 min · County Road 139

  22. 22

    Turn left onto County Road 142

    2993 ft · 2 min · County Road 142

  23. 23

    Turn right

    1.3 mi · 5 min

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn right onto County Road 108

    1815 ft · 1 min · County Road 108

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · County Road 108

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
25 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
TX 71 West
77.7 mi · 24%
Katy Freeway
74.1 mi · 23%
North US Highway 183
72.6 mi · 23%
Bergstrom Expressway
35.3 mi · 11%
East Commerce Street
13 mi · 4%
County Road 140
2.36 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

TX 71 West

Keep slight left

77.2 mi · 01h 22m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 06m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.8 mi
267.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Montopolis
03h 03m from Houston
Leave By
11:48 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers leaving Houston and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Buffalo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 318.5 miles (512.5 km) and usually takes 06h 06m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Montopolis is a useful midpoint, sitting about 159.2 miles from Houston and 159.3 miles from Buffalo.

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

The direct path is about 267.7 miles (430.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.8 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.48 one way or $84.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers around Houston and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Buffalo.

Stop Ideas Near Montopolis

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

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

RAIL

Austin

7 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.
RAIL

Taylor

45 mi away
118 East First St.
RAIL

San Marcos Station

47 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
BUS

Killeen, Texas

98 mi away
200 East Avenue C

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Buffalo. Straight-line distance: 267.75 mi (430.91 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
Buffalo

#2 Buffalo

City in Leon County, Texas

Population1,910
Coordinates31.7907000, -99.2078300
Altitude458
CountryUnited States
Start: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
End: Buffalo (-99.20783, 31.7907)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 512 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.24 gal
42.53 L · about $42.48
Round trip
$84.95
22.48 gal · 85.06 L
Estimated CO2
99.9 kg one way
Round trip: 199.8 kg / 440 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $42.48 $84.95
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.79 $95.58
Premium $4.59 $51.60 $103.21
Diesel $3.99 $44.88 $89.76

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 20, 2026

There is no time difference between Houston and Buffalo. The current time is 03:49:05.

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.