How far is Houston, TX from Lake Brownwood, TX?

The driving distance from Houston, TX to Lake Brownwood, TX is about 309.4 miles (497.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 259.4 miles (417.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 41m 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
309.37 mi
05h 50m
Flight
259.37 mi
417.42 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
259.37 mi
Kilometers
417.42 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
309.37 mi
Kilometers
497.88 km
Drive Time
05h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lake Brownwood
Sun, Apr 19, 12:40 AM CDT
Return by in Houston
Sun, Apr 19, 6:31 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Houston
2026-04-18T18:50
Arrive Lake Brownwood
Sun, Apr 19, 12:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:51 AM to 1:51 PM CDT

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

Leave by
5:18 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
Montopolis
TX

This Travis County community, situated at an elevation of 469 feet, is known for its Colorado River industrial areas.

From Houston
154.7 mi
02h 55m
To Lake Brownwood
154.7 mi
02h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Saturday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
65°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Houston and Lake Brownwood.

  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

    74.1 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Katy Freeway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 71 West: La Grange, Austin

    2832 ft · 33 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    77.2 mi · 1 hr 22 min

  6. 6

    Continue on Bastrop Freeway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on East State Highway 71

    2.2 mi · 3 min · East State Highway 71

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 183 North, 183 Toll North: Lampasas

    2773 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Bastrop Highway

    2088 ft · 27 sec · Bastrop Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Bergstrom Expressway

    6.2 mi · 6 min · Bergstrom Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    14.6 mi · 17 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    14.6 mi · 15 min

  13. 13

    Continue on North US Highway 183

    35.7 mi · 39 min · North US Highway 183

  14. 14

    Continue on South Key Avenue

    2.3 mi · 5 min · South Key Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on North US Highway 281

    965 ft · 15 sec · North US Highway 281

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on North US Highway 183

    36.9 mi · 40 min · North US Highway 183

  17. 17

    At the end of the road, turn left

    30.4 mi · 35 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Early Boulevard

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Early Boulevard

  19. 19

    Continue on East Commerce Street

    1.1 mi · 1 min · East Commerce Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Belle Plain Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Belle Plain Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Cottonwood Street

    1567 ft · 43 sec · Cottonwood Street

  22. 22

    Continue on FM 2125

    6.2 mi · 15 min · FM 2125

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Spillway Road

    550 ft · 29 sec · Spillway Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Kirkland Drive

    2312 ft · 2 min · Kirkland Drive

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Kirkland Drive

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
25 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
TX 71 West
77.7 mi · 25%
Katy Freeway
74.1 mi · 24%
North US Highway 183
72.6 mi · 23%
Bergstrom Expressway
35.3 mi · 11%
FM 2125
6.16 mi · 2%
South Key Avenue
2.27 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

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
05h 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50 mi
259.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Montopolis
02h 55m from Houston
Leave By
5:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Houston and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lake Brownwood.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Houston to Lake Brownwood?

The road trip is about 309.4 miles (497.9 km) and usually takes 05h 50m 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?

Montopolis is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.7 miles from Houston and 154.7 miles from Lake Brownwood.

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

The direct path is about 259.4 miles (417.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 50 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 5:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.27 one way or $82.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Houston and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lake Brownwood.

Stop Ideas Near Montopolis

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

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

RAIL

Austin

7 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.
RAIL

Taylor

45 mi away
118 East First St.
RAIL

San Marcos Station

47 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
BUS

Killeen, Texas

98 mi away
200 East Avenue C

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Lake Brownwood. Straight-line distance: 259.37 mi (417.42 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
Lake Brownwood

#2 Lake Brownwood

Census designated place

Population1,532
Coordinates31.8357000, -99.0078300
Altitude440
CountryUnited States
Start: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
End: Lake Brownwood (-99.00783, 31.8357)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 498 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 09m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.92 gal
41.32 L · about $41.27
Round trip
$82.53
21.84 gal · 82.64 L
Estimated CO2
97 kg one way
Round trip: 194.1 kg / 428 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $41.27 $82.53
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.43 $92.86
Premium $4.59 $50.13 $100.27
Diesel $3.99 $43.60 $87.21

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Houston and Lake Brownwood. The current time is 18:50:18.

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.