How far is Houston, TX from Palacios, TX?

The driving distance from Houston, TX to Palacios, TX is about 107.2 miles (172.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 89.3 miles (143.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
107.27 mi
02h 23m
Flight
89.27 mi
143.66 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Houston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
89.27 mi
Kilometers
143.66 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
107.27 mi
Kilometers
172.64 km
Drive Time
02h 23m

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 02h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palacios
Tue, May 26, 12:54 AM CDT
Return by in Houston
Tue, May 26, 3:17 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Houston
2026-05-25T22:30
Arrive Palacios
Tue, May 26, 12:54 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:23 AM to 12:23 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:44 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Houston
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Wharton
TX

City in Texas, USA

From Houston
53.7 mi
01h 11m
To Palacios
53.6 mi
01h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Memorial Day

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
87°F
Memorial Day

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Louisiana Street

    45 m · 12 sec · Louisiana Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Congress Street

    91 m · 15 sec · Congress Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Smith Street

    2.7 mi · 6 min · Smith Street

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Southwest Freeway

    32.8 mi · 38 min · Southwest Freeway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

    1158 ft · 28 sec

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

    2217 ft · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

  8. 8

    Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp straight

    1027 ft · 25 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    9.2 mi · 11 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    6.6 mi · 8 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  13. 13

    Continue on US Highway 59

    16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 59

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right

    2149 ft · 55 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on US Highway 59 Frontage Road

    2277 ft · 1 min · US Highway 59 Frontage Road

  16. 16

    Turn left onto South Mechanic Street

    21.6 mi · 32 min · South Mechanic Street

  17. 17

    Turn right

    12.4 mi · 18 min

  18. 18

    Turn slight right

    625 ft · 23 sec

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto Henderson Avenue

    1066 ft · 25 sec · Henderson Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn left onto 4th Street

    2094 ft · 59 sec · 4th Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Ritchie Avenue

    768 ft · 34 sec · Ritchie Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Ritchie Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Southwest Freeway
32.8 mi · 31%
South Mechanic Street
21.6 mi · 20%
US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
18.4 mi · 17%
US Highway 59
16.5 mi · 15%
Smith Street
2.71 mi · 3%
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.37 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Southwest Freeway

Merge slight left onto Southwest Freeway

32.8 mi · 00h 38m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 23m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.9 mi
89.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wharton
01h 11m from Houston
Leave By
1:44 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Houston and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny near Palacios.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 107.2 miles (172.6 km) and usually takes 02h 23m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Wharton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 53.7 miles from Houston and 53.6 miles from Palacios.

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

The direct path is about 89.3 miles (143.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:44 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.32 one way or $28.64 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Houston and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny near Palacios.

Stop Ideas Near Wharton

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

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

BUS

Prairie View, TX

85 mi away
44814 US Highway 290 Business \r\n
BUS

Houston, TX

86 mi away
2121 Main Street
RAIL

Houston

87 mi away
902 Washington Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Palacios. Straight-line distance: 89.27 mi (143.66 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
Palacios

#2 Palacios

City in Matagorda County, Texas, United States

Population4,545
Coordinates28.7080500, -96.2174700
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
End: Palacios (-96.21747, 28.70805)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 173 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 31m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.79 gal
14.33 L · about $14.32
Round trip
$28.64
7.58 gal · 28.66 L
Estimated CO2
33.7 kg one way
Round trip: 67.4 kg / 149 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $14.32 $28.64
Mid-grade $4.25 $16.12 $32.23
Premium $4.59 $17.40 $34.80
Diesel $3.99 $15.13 $30.27

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 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Houston and Palacios. The current time is 22:30:52.

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.