How far is Houston, TX from Karnes City, TX?

The driving distance from Houston, TX to Karnes City, TX is about 198.8 miles (319.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 164.5 miles (264.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 08m 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
198.75 mi
03h 34m
Flight
164.46 mi
264.68 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
164.46 mi
Kilometers
264.68 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
198.75 mi
Kilometers
319.86 km
Drive Time
03h 34m

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 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Karnes City
Fri, Apr 17, 1:29 PM CDT
Return by in Houston
Fri, Apr 17, 5:03 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Houston
2026-04-17T09:55
Arrive Karnes City
Fri, Apr 17, 1:29 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:34 AM to 11:34 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
9:52 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

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.

Mid-route stop
Schulenburg
TX

City in Fayette County, Texas, United States

From Houston
99.3 mi
01h 47m
To Karnes City
99.4 mi
01h 47m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
89°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Houston and Karnes City.

  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

    140.3 mi · 2 hr 27 min · Katy Freeway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 80: San Marcos, Nixon

    1139 ft · 28 sec

  5. 5

    Continue on Ih 10 East Access Road

    611 ft · 20 sec · Ih 10 East Access Road

  6. 6

    Turn left

    56.7 mi · 1 hr 3 min

  7. 7

    Turn left onto North Badger Drive

    1755 ft · 44 sec · North Badger Drive

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Weir Street

    14 m · 4 sec · Weir Street

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Badgerette Drive

    991 ft · 20 sec · Badgerette Drive

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto East Calvert Avenue

    1791 ft · 36 sec · East Calvert Avenue

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Calvert Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
5.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Katy Freeway
140 mi · 71%
I 10 West
0.41 mi
East Calvert Avenue
0.34 mi
North Badger Drive
0.33 mi
TX 80
0.22 mi
Badgerette Drive
0.19 mi
Longest Stretch

Katy Freeway

Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway

140 mi · 02h 27m

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 34m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.3 mi
164.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Schulenburg
01h 47m from Houston
Leave By
9:52 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Houston and Partly Sunny near Karnes City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Houston to Karnes City?

The road trip is about 198.8 miles (319.9 km) and usually takes 03h 34m 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 99.3 miles from Houston and 99.4 miles from Karnes City.

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

The direct path is about 164.5 miles (264.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.3 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 9:52 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.49 one way or $52.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 62.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Houston and Partly Sunny near Karnes City.

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 Karnes City. Straight-line distance: 164.46 mi (264.68 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
Karnes City

#2 Karnes City

City in Karnes County, Texas, United States

Population3,383
Coordinates28.8849800, -97.9008400
Altitude131
CountryUnited States
Start: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
End: Karnes City (-97.90084, 28.88498)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 320 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.01 gal
26.55 L · about $26.49
Round trip
$52.98
14.02 gal · 53.1 L
Estimated CO2
62.3 kg one way
Round trip: 124.6 kg / 275 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $26.49 $52.98
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.81 $59.61
Premium $4.59 $32.18 $64.37
Diesel $3.99 $27.99 $55.98

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Houston and Karnes City. The current time is 09:55:40.

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.