How far is Houston, TX from Carmel, IN?
The driving distance from Houston, TX to Carmel, IN is about 1032 miles (1660.8 km), with a travel time of about 18h 46m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 878 miles (1413 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 37h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
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 18h 46m.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Houston and Carmel.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston and Carmel.
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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
1678 ft · 1 min · Franklin Street
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3
Turn left onto San Jacinto Street
2319 ft · 49 sec · San Jacinto Street
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4
Turn straight onto Rothwell Street
106 m · 7 sec · Rothwell Street
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5
Take the ramp straight toward US 59 East, I 10 East
792 ft · 19 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto East Freeway
2732 ft · 39 sec · East Freeway
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7
Take the exit slight left toward I 69 North, US 59 North: Cleveland
1.3 km · 2 min
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8
Merge slight left onto Eastex Freeway
37 mi · 43 min · Eastex Freeway
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9
Keep slight left
1.1 km · 44 sec
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10
Continue straight
42 mi · 44 min
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11
Continue straight
36.2 mi · 41 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward US 59 North, Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches
5.7 mi · 8 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on US 59 North: Nacogdoches
15.6 mi · 17 min
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14
Turn left
1.2 km · 1 min
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15
Continue straight
1527 ft · 42 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Southwest Stallings Drive
5.9 mi · 7 min · Southwest Stallings Drive
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17
Continue on North US Highway 59
1.4 km · 58 sec · North US Highway 59
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18
Take the exit left
933 ft · 25 sec
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19
Continue straight
741 ft · 20 sec
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20
Merge slight left onto US Highway 259
11.2 mi · 13 min · US Highway 259
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21
Continue on US Route 259
3 mi · 3 min · US Route 259
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22
Continue on South Railroad Avenue
2.6 mi · 3 min · South Railroad Avenue
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23
Turn right
24.9 mi · 26 min
-
24
Take the ramp left
1499 ft · 41 sec
-
25
Merge slight left onto Southwest Loop
3.1 mi · 4 min · Southwest Loop
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26
Take the exit slight right
1409 ft · 39 sec
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27
Turn left
68.2 mi · 1 hr 18 min
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28
Continue straight
2.9 mi · 3 min
-
29
Turn left onto Loop 59
2.2 mi · 3 min · Loop 59
-
30
Continue on North Louise Street
14.6 mi · 16 min · North Louise Street
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31
Keep slight right
4.2 mi · 5 min
-
32
Take the exit slight right toward I 369 North, US 59 North: Texarkana, Dallas, Little Rock
4.3 mi · 5 min
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33
Keep slight right to continue on I 30 East, US 59: Little Rock
7.4 mi · 9 min
-
34
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
133.5 mi · 2 hr 16 min · Purple Heart Trail
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35
Keep slight right to continue on East Belt Freeway
10 mi · 12 min · East Belt Freeway
-
36
Take the exit right toward I 40: Memphis, Fort Smith
1161 ft · 28 sec
-
37
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Memphis
2525 ft · 1 min
-
38
Merge slight left
117.2 mi · 1 hr 58 min
-
39
Take the exit slight right toward I 55 North: Blytheville, Saint Louis
1.2 km · 2 min
-
40
Continue on Blues Highway
130.5 mi · 2 hr 16 min · Blues Highway
-
41
Take the exit slight right toward I 57 North, US 60 East: Chicago
2749 ft · 1 min
-
42
Merge slight left
117.5 mi · 2 hr 6 min
-
43
Keep slight right to continue on Ken Gray Expressway
67.5 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Ken Gray Expressway
-
44
Keep slight right to continue on I 70 East: Indianapolis
126.9 mi · 2 hr 18 min
-
45
Take the exit slight right toward I 465, I 74
2.3 mi · 5 min
-
46
Keep slight right to continue on I 465, I 74
1.2 mi · 3 min
-
47
Keep slight left to continue on I 465 North, I 74 West: Peoria
1.5 km · 2 min
-
48
Merge slight left
5.5 mi · 6 min
-
49
Keep slight left
14.5 mi · 17 min
-
50
Take the exit slight right toward US 31 North: Meridian Street South, Westfield, Kokomo
684 ft · 23 sec
-
51
Keep slight right to continue on US 31 North: Westfield, Kokomo
1.5 km · 2 min
-
52
Keep slight left to continue on US 31 North: Westfield, Kokomo
1233 ft · 19 sec
-
53
Merge slight left onto North Meridian Street
1.6 mi · 2 min · North Meridian Street
-
54
Take the exit slight right toward Old Meridan Street
1567 ft · 38 sec
-
55
Turn straight onto Old Meridian Street
150 m · 14 sec · Old Meridian Street
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56
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Old Meridian Street
64 m · 12 sec · Old Meridian Street
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57
Exit the roundabout onto Old Meridian Street
1160 ft · 26 sec · Old Meridian Street
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58
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Old Meridian Street
33 m · 6 sec · Old Meridian Street
-
59
Exit the roundabout onto Old Meridian Street
1208 ft · 27 sec · Old Meridian Street
-
60
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Old Meridian Street
34 m · 7 sec · Old Meridian Street
-
61
Exit the roundabout onto Old Meridian Street
1877 ft · 41 sec · Old Meridian Street
-
62
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Main Street
23 m · 4 sec · West Main Street
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63
Exit the roundabout onto West Main Street
1214 ft · 34 sec · West Main Street
-
64
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Main Street
37 m · 7 sec · West Main Street
-
65
Exit the roundabout onto West Main Street
2527 ft · 1 min · West Main Street
-
66
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Main Street
21 m · 4 sec · West Main Street
-
67
Exit the roundabout onto West Main Street
2507 ft · 2 min · West Main Street
-
68
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Main Street
27 m · 2 sec · East Main Street
-
69
Exit the roundabout onto East Main Street
1095 ft · 30 sec · East Main Street
-
70
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
33 m · 3 sec
-
71
Exit the roundabout
20 m · 1 sec
-
72
Turn straight onto East Main Street
7 m · 1 sec · East Main Street
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73
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Main Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Houston and Carmel.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Purple Heart Trail
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
134 mi · 02h 16m
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.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Houston and Mostly Sunny near Carmel.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Houston to Carmel?
The road trip is about 1032 miles (1660.8 km) and usually takes 18h 46m 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?
Forrest City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 516.2 miles from Houston and 515.8 miles from Carmel.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 878 miles (1413 km), while the road route adds roughly 154 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 CST. 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 $132.75 one way or $265.50 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 323.7 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Houston and Carmel, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms around Houston and Mostly Sunny near Carmel.
Stop Ideas Near Forrest City
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 Forrest City.
Central Station
Walnut Ridge
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Carmel. Straight-line distance: 877.97 mi (1412.95 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 Carmel
The most populous city in Hamilton County, Indiana.
| Population | 101,643 |
| Coordinates | 39.9783700, -86.1180400 |
| Altitude | 260 |
| Country | United States |
End: Carmel (-86.11804, 39.97837)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1661 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 34h 23m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 25h 48m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 20h 38m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 17h 11m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 14h 44m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 12h 52m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.65 | $132.75 | $265.50 |
| Mid-grade | $4.14 | $150.63 | $301.27 |
| Premium | $4.52 | $164.47 | $328.95 |
| Diesel | $5.74 | $209.01 | $418.03 |
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 · Nov 03, 2026