How far is Houston, TX from Decatur, TX?
The driving distance from Houston, TX to Decatur, TX is about 305.5 miles (491.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 27m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 273.2 miles (439.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 54m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 05h 27m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in and county seat of Freestone County, Texas, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Houston and Decatur.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston and Decatur.
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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
-
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
28.7 mi · 32 min
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23
Turn right onto West Walnut Street
3196 ft · 1 min · West Walnut Street
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24
Turn right onto North Market Street
54 m · 8 sec · North Market Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Houston and Decatur.
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.
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.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Houston and Mostly Cloudy near Decatur.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Houston to Decatur?
The road trip is about 305.5 miles (491.7 km) and usually takes 05h 27m 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 153 miles from Houston and 152.5 miles from Decatur.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 273.2 miles (439.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.3 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 6:06 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.74 one way or $81.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.8 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 Decatur.
Stop Ideas Near Fairfield
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 Fairfield.
Waco, TX
Tyler, TX
Bryan, TX
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Decatur. Straight-line distance: 273.22 mi (439.71 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 Decatur
City in Texas, USA
| Population | 7,572 |
| Coordinates | 33.2342800, -97.5861400 |
| Altitude | 336 |
| Country | United States |
End: Decatur (-97.58614, 33.23428)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 492 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 10m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 38m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 06m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 05m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 21m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $40.74 | $81.48 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $45.84 | $91.67 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $49.49 | $98.98 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $43.04 | $86.09 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.