How far is Houston, TX from Elmendorf, TX?

The driving distance from Houston, TX to Elmendorf, TX is about 196.7 miles (316.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 181.9 miles (292.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
196.74 mi
03h 30m
Flight
181.96 mi
292.83 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
181.96 mi
Kilometers
292.83 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
196.74 mi
Kilometers
316.63 km
Drive Time
03h 30m

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 03h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Elmendorf
Thu, Apr 23, 11:29 AM CDT
Return by in Houston
Thu, Apr 23, 2:59 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Houston
2026-04-23T07:58
Arrive Elmendorf
Thu, Apr 23, 11:29 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:31 AM to 11:31 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:58 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Houston
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Schulenburg
TX

City in Fayette County, Texas, United States

From Houston
98.2 mi
01h 45m
To Elmendorf
98.5 mi
01h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE
Destination
85°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    174.9 mi · 3 hr 2 min · Katy Freeway

  4. 4

    Keep slight left

    1.9 mi · 2 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 1518: Schertz

    599 ft · 15 sec

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East

    629 ft · 25 sec · Interstate 10 East

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Farm-to-Market Road 1518

    7.2 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 1518

  8. 8

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Anderson Loop

    11 mi · 13 min · Anderson Loop

  9. 9

    Turn right onto FM 327

    1.3 km · 2 min · FM 327

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Old Corpus Christi Road

    37 m · 2 sec · Old Corpus Christi Road

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Old Corpus Christi Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
11 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Katy Freeway
177 mi · 90%
Anderson Loop
11 mi · 6%
Farm-to-Market Road 1518
7.23 mi · 4%
FM 327
0.84 mi
I 10 West
0.41 mi
Louisiana Street
0.14 mi
Longest Stretch

Katy Freeway

Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway

175 mi · 03h 02m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
03h 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+14.8 mi
181.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Schulenburg
01h 45m from Houston
Leave By
9:58 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Houston and Mostly Cloudy near Elmendorf.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 196.7 miles (316.6 km) and usually takes 03h 30m 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?

Schulenburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 98.2 miles from Houston and 98.5 miles from Elmendorf.

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

The direct path is about 181.9 miles (292.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 14.8 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:58 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.23 one way or $52.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.7 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 Elmendorf.

Stop Ideas Near Schulenburg

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

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

BUS

Prairie View, TX

98 mi away
44814 US Highway 290 Business \r\n
RAIL

San Marcos Station

102 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
RAIL

Austin

105 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.
RAIL

Taylor

110 mi away
118 East First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Elmendorf. Straight-line distance: 181.96 mi (292.83 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
Elmendorf

#2 Elmendorf

City in Bexar County, Texas, United States

Population2,145
Coordinates29.2560700, -98.3327900
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Start: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
End: Elmendorf (-98.33279, 29.25607)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 317 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.94 gal
26.28 L · about $26.23
Round trip
$52.45
13.88 gal · 52.56 L
Estimated CO2
61.7 kg one way
Round trip: 123.4 kg / 272 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $26.23 $52.45
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.51 $59.02
Premium $4.59 $31.86 $63.72
Diesel $3.99 $27.71 $55.42

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

There is no time difference between Houston and Elmendorf. The current time is 07:58:22.

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.