How far is Houston, TX from Idalou, TX?
The driving distance from Houston, TX to Idalou, TX is about 540.7 miles (870.1 km), with a travel time of about 09h 46m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 458.9 miles (738.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 33m 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 09h 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.
City in Texas, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Houston and Idalou.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston and Idalou.
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1
Start on Louisiana Street
761 ft · 25 sec · Louisiana Street
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2
Take the ramp straight toward I 10 West: San Antonio
2149 ft · 52 sec
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3
Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway
74.1 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Katy Freeway
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4
Take the exit slight right toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin
2832 ft · 33 sec
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5
Keep slight left
77.2 mi · 1 hr 22 min
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6
Continue on Bastrop Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway
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7
Continue on East State Highway 71
2.2 mi · 3 min · East State Highway 71
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8
Take the exit slight right toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas
2773 ft · 1 min
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9
Merge slight left onto Bastrop Highway
2088 ft · 27 sec · Bastrop Highway
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10
Continue on Bergstrom Expressway
6.2 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway
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11
Continue straight
14.6 mi · 17 min
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12
Continue straight
14.6 mi · 15 min
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13
Continue on North US Highway 183
35.7 mi · 39 min · North US Highway 183
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14
Continue on South Key Avenue
2.3 mi · 5 min · South Key Avenue
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15
Continue on North US Highway 281
965 ft · 15 sec · North US Highway 281
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16
Keep slight left to continue on North US Highway 183
36.9 mi · 40 min · North US Highway 183
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17
At the end of the road, turn left
30.4 mi · 35 min
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18
Turn left onto Early Boulevard
1.7 mi · 2 min · Early Boulevard
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19
Continue on East Commerce Street
22 mi · 25 min · East Commerce Street
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Wallis Avenue
7.2 mi · 8 min · Wallis Avenue
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21
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
1.5 km · 1 min · East Walnut Street
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22
Continue on West Walnut Street
1 mi · 2 min · West Walnut Street
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23
Continue on State Highway 153
69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153
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24
Keep slight right to continue on State Highway 153
6 m · 1 sec · State Highway 153
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25
Turn right onto State Highway 70
10.4 mi · 11 min · State Highway 70
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26
Continue on Lamar Street
1.3 km · 1 min · Lamar Street
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27
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
670 ft · 17 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue
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28
Take the ramp slight left toward I 20 West: Midland
104 m · 8 sec
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29
Merge slight left
6 mi · 6 min
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30
Take the exit slight right toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
1721 ft · 20 sec
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31
Keep slight left
74.2 mi · 1 hr 14 min
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32
Turn right onto South Avenue F
1 mi · 2 min · South Avenue F
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33
Keep slight left to continue on North Avenue F
617 ft · 11 sec · North Avenue F
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34
Turn straight onto Ralls Road
1863 ft · 39 sec · Ralls Road
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35
Turn left onto East 15th Street
734 ft · 17 sec · East 15th Street
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36
Turn right onto North US Highway 84
1 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84
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37
Continue on Highway 84
20 mi · 20 min · Highway 84
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38
Continue on Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
4.6 mi · 5 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
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39
Continue on East Highway 84
6.8 mi · 7 min · East Highway 84
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40
Continue on Slaton Road
1291 ft · 17 sec · Slaton Road
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41
Turn slight right onto Southeast Drive
1.8 mi · 3 min · Southeast Drive
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42
Turn left
1689 ft · 41 sec
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43
Merge slight left
4.2 mi · 5 min
-
44
Take the exit slight right toward US 62, US 82, TX 114: Floydada, Crosbyton
1144 ft · 28 sec
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45
Turn straight onto East Loop 289
1673 ft · 37 sec · East Loop 289
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46
Turn right onto Idalou Road
626 ft · 17 sec · Idalou Road
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47
Take the ramp straight
932 ft · 26 sec
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48
Merge slight left onto Idalou Road
7.5 mi · 8 min · Idalou Road
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49
Turn right onto Walnut Street
24 m · 2 sec · Walnut Street
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50
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Walnut Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Houston and Idalou.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
TX 71 West
Keep slight left
77.2 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 Sunny near Idalou.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Houston to Idalou?
The road trip is about 540.7 miles (870.1 km) and usually takes 09h 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?
Goldthwaite is a useful midpoint, sitting about 270.3 miles from Houston and 270.4 miles from Idalou.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 458.9 miles (738.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 81.8 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 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 $72.10 one way or $144.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 169.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Houston and Sunny near Idalou.
Stop Ideas Near Goldthwaite
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 Goldthwaite.
Fort Hood, Texas
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McGregor
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Idalou. Straight-line distance: 458.85 mi (738.45 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 Idalou
City in Lubbock County, Texas, United States
| Population | 2,313 |
| Coordinates | 33.6664700, -101.6829400 |
| Altitude | 973 |
| Country | United States |
End: Idalou (-101.68294, 33.66647)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 870 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 00m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 31m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 48m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 00m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 43m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 44m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $72.10 | $144.21 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $81.13 | $162.26 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $87.60 | $175.19 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $76.19 | $152.37 |
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.