How far is Houston, TX from El Cenizo, TX?
The driving distance from Houston, TX to El Cenizo, TX is about 325.2 miles (523.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 21m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 300.9 miles (484.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 43m 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 06h 21m.
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.
City in Texas, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Houston and El Cenizo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston and El Cenizo.
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1
Start on Louisiana Street
45 m · 12 sec · Louisiana Street
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2
Turn left onto Congress Street
91 m · 15 sec · Congress Street
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3
Turn left onto Smith Street
2.7 mi · 6 min · Smith Street
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4
Merge slight left onto Southwest Freeway
32.8 mi · 38 min · Southwest Freeway
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5
Take the exit slight right toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road
1158 ft · 28 sec
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6
Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
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7
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
2217 ft · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
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8
Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
1.4 km · 2 min · US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
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9
Take the ramp straight
1027 ft · 25 sec
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10
Merge slight left
9.2 mi · 11 min
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11
Keep slight left
6.6 mi · 8 min
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12
Take the exit slight right
1.5 mi · 2 min
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13
Continue on US Highway 59
74.7 mi · 1 hr 22 min · US Highway 59
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14
Keep slight right to continue on US Highway 59 South
4.4 mi · 5 min · US Highway 59 South
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15
Take the exit slight right
951 ft · 26 sec
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16
Continue on Northwest Zac Lenz Parkway Frontage Road East
1450 ft · 40 sec · Northwest Zac Lenz Parkway Frontage Road East
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17
Turn right
49.4 mi · 57 min
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18
Continue on West Corpus Christi Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · West Corpus Christi Street
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19
Continue on US Highway 59 West
65.2 mi · 1 hr 16 min · US Highway 59 West
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20
Continue straight
58.8 mi · 1 hr 3 min
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21
Turn left onto Bob Bullock Loop
2871 ft · 57 sec · Bob Bullock Loop
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22
Take the ramp slight left
1365 ft · 33 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto Bob Bullock Loop
2 mi · 3 min · Bob Bullock Loop
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24
Continue on Cuatro Vientos Road
2.7 mi · 3 min · Cuatro Vientos Road
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25
Take the exit slight right
144 m · 13 sec
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26
Turn slight right onto La Pita Mangana Road
1.1 km · 1 min · La Pita Mangana Road
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27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward La Pita Mangana Road
35 m · 3 sec · La Pita Mangana Road
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28
Exit the roundabout onto La Pita Mangana Road
1.4 km · 2 min · La Pita Mangana Road
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29
Turn left onto South Zapata Highway
3.6 mi · 5 min · South Zapata Highway
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30
Continue on US Highway 83 South
2.3 mi · 3 min · US Highway 83 South
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31
Take the exit slight right toward Rio Bravo, El Cenizo
912 ft · 22 sec
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32
Continue on US 83 Frontage Road
681 ft · 19 sec · US 83 Frontage Road
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33
Turn sharp right onto Paseo de Danubio
1.2 km · 2 min · Paseo de Danubio
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34
Continue on Martha Drive
1284 ft · 41 sec · Martha Drive
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35
At the end of the road, turn right onto Espejo Molina Road
1.2 mi · 2 min · Espejo Molina Road
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36
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Espejo Molina Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Houston and El Cenizo.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
US Highway 59
Continue on US Highway 59
74.7 mi · 01h 22m
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 leaving Houston and Partly Sunny near El Cenizo.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Houston to El Cenizo?
The road trip is about 325.2 miles (523.3 km) and usually takes 06h 21m 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?
Goliad is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.6 miles from Houston and 162.6 miles from El Cenizo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 300.9 miles (484.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.3 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 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 $43.35 one way or $86.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Houston and Partly Sunny near El Cenizo.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Houston and El Cenizo. Straight-line distance: 300.87 mi (484.21 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 El Cenizo
City in Webb County, Texas, United States
| Population | 3,092 |
| Coordinates | 27.3522400, -99.4925400 |
| Altitude | 119 |
| Country | United States |
End: El Cenizo (-99.49254, 27.35224)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 523 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 07m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 38m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $43.35 | $86.69 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $48.77 | $97.54 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $52.66 | $105.32 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $45.80 | $91.60 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.