How far is Houston, TX from Cactus, TX?
The driving distance from Houston, TX to Cactus, TX is about 662.5 miles (1066.2 km), with a travel time of about 11h 44m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 580.3 miles (933.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 23h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 11h 44m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Human settlement in Montague County, Texas, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Houston and Cactus.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston and Cactus.
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1
Start on Louisiana Street
145 m · 20 sec · Louisiana Street
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2
Turn right onto Franklin Street
664 ft · 28 sec · Franklin Street
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3
Turn left onto Travis Street
1205 ft · 29 sec · Travis Street
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4
Take the ramp straight toward I 45 North Express Lane
1.6 km · 2 min
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5
Merge slight left onto North Freeway
236.9 mi · 4 hr 9 min · North Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward Waco, Denton
3139 ft · 1 min
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7
Continue on Woodall Rodgers Freeway
1.4 km · 1 min · Woodall Rodgers Freeway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North: Denton
1980 ft · 48 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto North Stemmons Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · North Stemmons Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on John W Carpenter Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · John W Carpenter Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on SH 183 TEXpress
1.5 mi · 2 min · SH 183 TEXpress
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12
Keep slight right to continue on SH 183 TEXpress
14.9 mi · 15 min · SH 183 TEXpress
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13
Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress
2 mi · 2 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress
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14
Continue on SH 183 TEXpress
644 ft · 7 sec · SH 183 TEXpress
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15
Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress
1.1 km · 43 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress
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16
Continue on I 820 TEXpress
6.2 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress
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17
Take the exit slight right toward I 35W Express: Fort Worth, Denton
1079 ft · 26 sec
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18
Keep slight right to continue on I 35W Express North: Denton
1.3 km · 50 sec
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19
Merge slight left onto I 35W TEXpress
2.3 mi · 2 min · I 35W TEXpress
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20
Take the exit slight right toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur
1.1 km · 1 min
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21
Merge slight left
1.7 mi · 2 min
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22
Continue straight
101.7 mi · 1 hr 48 min
-
23
Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass
1.3 km · 59 sec · Lloyd Ruby Overpass
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24
Continue on Central Freeway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway
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25
Keep slight left to continue on Northwest Freeway
5.3 mi · 6 min · Northwest Freeway
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26
Continue on US Highway 287 East
40.5 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East
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27
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
4.1 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway
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28
Continue on US Highway 287 West
25.7 mi · 26 min · US Highway 287 West
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29
Continue on East 11th Street
28.7 mi · 33 min · East 11th Street
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30
Continue on Avenue F Northeast
2.8 mi · 3 min · Avenue F Northeast
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31
Continue on US Highway 287
13.8 mi · 15 min · US Highway 287
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32
Continue on Burnett Street
1.1 km · 1 min · Burnett Street
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33
Continue on US Highway 287
13.6 mi · 14 min · US Highway 287
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34
Turn straight onto Boykin Drive
26.2 mi · 28 min · Boykin Drive
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35
Continue on East 2nd Street
1.6 mi · 2 min · East 2nd Street
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36
Continue on US Highway 287
28.4 mi · 29 min · US Highway 287
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37
Continue on East 1st Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · East 1st Street
-
38
Continue on US Highway 287
19.6 mi · 20 min · US Highway 287
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39
Keep slight right to continue on East Interstate Drive
100 m · 8 sec · East Interstate Drive
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40
Keep slight right to continue on Southeast 3rd Avenue
2.6 mi · 4 min · Southeast 3rd Avenue
-
41
Take the ramp left
946 ft · 26 sec
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42
Merge slight left onto North Lakeside Drive
4.1 mi · 4 min · North Lakeside Drive
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43
Continue on East Loop 335 North
3159 ft · 36 sec · East Loop 335 North
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44
Continue on East Saint Francis Avenue
4.7 mi · 5 min · East Saint Francis Avenue
-
45
Turn right onto Dumas Drive
600 ft · 15 sec · Dumas Drive
-
46
Take the ramp straight
924 ft · 23 sec
-
47
Merge slight left
56.5 mi · 58 min
-
48
Turn right onto North Drive
1054 ft · 32 sec · North Drive
-
49
Turn right onto Rector Avenue
46 m · 4 sec · Rector Avenue
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50
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Rector Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Houston and Cactus.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Houston and Mostly Sunny near Cactus.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Houston to Cactus?
The road trip is about 662.5 miles (1066.2 km) and usually takes 11h 44m 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?
Bowie is a useful midpoint, sitting about 331.1 miles from Houston and 331.4 miles from Cactus.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 580.3 miles (933.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 82.2 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 $89.76 one way or $179.51 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 207.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Houston and Mostly Sunny near Cactus.
Stop Ideas Near Bowie
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bowie.
Gainesville
Ardmore station
Fort Worth Central Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Cactus. Straight-line distance: 580.29 mi (933.89 km).
#1 Houston
The fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Houston metropolitan area.
| Population | 2,316,120 |
| Coordinates | 29.7632800, -95.3632700 |
| Altitude | 12 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Cactus
Situated in Moore County on the high plains of the Texas Panhandle, this community rests at an elevation of 3,619 feet along U.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 36.0522600, -102.0024000 |
| Altitude | 1103 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cactus (-102.0024, 36.05226)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1066 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 22h 04m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 16h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 13h 14m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 11h 02m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 09h 27m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 08h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.84 | $89.76 | $179.51 |
| Mid-grade | $4.35 | $101.63 | $203.27 |
| Premium | $4.72 | $110.42 | $220.85 |
| Diesel | $5.78 | $135.04 | $270.09 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
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