How far is Houston, TX from Panhandle, TX?

The driving distance from Houston, TX to Panhandle, TX is about 590.8 miles (950.8 km), with a travel time of about 10h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 520.9 miles (838.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 21h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
590.82 mi
10h 36m
Flight
520.88 mi
838.27 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
520.88 mi
Kilometers
838.27 km
Flight Time
01h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
590.82 mi
Kilometers
950.84 km
Drive Time
10h 36m

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 10h 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Panhandle
Thu, Apr 23, 9:50 AM CDT
Return by in Houston
Thu, Apr 23, 8:26 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Houston
2026-04-22T23:13
Arrive Panhandle
Thu, Apr 23, 9:50 AM CDT
Route Timing
10h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
4:37 PM to 6:07 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
2:46 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Houston
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Bryan
TX

The most populous city in Brazos County, Texas.

From Houston
295.5 mi
05h 18m
To Panhandle
295.3 mi
05h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
89°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Louisiana Street

    145 m · 20 sec · Louisiana Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    664 ft · 28 sec · Franklin Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Travis Street

    1205 ft · 29 sec · Travis Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward I 45 North Express Lane

    1.6 km · 2 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto North Freeway

    236.9 mi · 4 hr 9 min · North Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Waco, Denton

    3139 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Woodall Rodgers Freeway

    1.4 km · 1 min · Woodall Rodgers Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35E North: Denton

    1980 ft · 48 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto North Stemmons Freeway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · North Stemmons Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on John W Carpenter Freeway

    1.2 km · 49 sec · John W Carpenter Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on SH 183 TEXpress

    1.5 mi · 2 min · SH 183 TEXpress

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on SH 183 TEXpress

    14.9 mi · 15 min · SH 183 TEXpress

  13. 13

    Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress

    2 mi · 2 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

  14. 14

    Continue on SH 183 TEXpress

    644 ft · 7 sec · SH 183 TEXpress

  15. 15

    Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress

    1.1 km · 43 sec · SH 121/183 TEXpress

  16. 16

    Continue on I 820 TEXpress

    6.2 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35W Express: Fort Worth, Denton

    1079 ft · 26 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35W Express North: Denton

    1.3 km · 50 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto I 35W TEXpress

    2.3 mi · 2 min · I 35W TEXpress

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward US 81 North, US 287 North: Decatur

    1.1 km · 1 min

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  22. 22

    Continue straight

    101.7 mi · 1 hr 48 min

  23. 23

    Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass

    1.3 km · 59 sec · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

  24. 24

    Continue on Central Freeway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

  25. 25

    Keep slight left to continue on Northwest Freeway

    5.3 mi · 6 min · Northwest Freeway

  26. 26

    Continue on US Highway 287 East

    40.5 mi · 42 min · US Highway 287 East

  27. 27

    Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

    4.1 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Highway

  28. 28

    Continue on US Highway 287 West

    25.7 mi · 26 min · US Highway 287 West

  29. 29

    Continue on East 11th Street

    28.7 mi · 33 min · East 11th Street

  30. 30

    Continue on Avenue F Northeast

    2.8 mi · 3 min · Avenue F Northeast

  31. 31

    Continue on US Highway 287

    13.8 mi · 15 min · US Highway 287

  32. 32

    Continue on Burnett Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Burnett Street

  33. 33

    Continue on US Highway 287

    13.6 mi · 14 min · US Highway 287

  34. 34

    Turn straight onto Boykin Drive

    26.2 mi · 28 min · Boykin Drive

  35. 35

    Continue on East 2nd Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · East 2nd Street

  36. 36

    Continue on US Highway 287

    28.4 mi · 29 min · US Highway 287

  37. 37

    Continue on East 1st Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East 1st Street

  38. 38

    Turn right onto North Hurley Avenue

    2755 ft · 46 sec · North Hurley Avenue

  39. 39

    Continue on State Highway 207

    6.1 mi · 9 min · State Highway 207

  40. 40

    Turn left onto Original U.S. Route 66

    1.5 km · 1 min · Original U.S. Route 66

  41. 41

    Turn straight onto State Highway 207

    9.2 mi · 14 min · State Highway 207

  42. 42

    Continue on Franklin Avenue

    1394 ft · 29 sec · Franklin Avenue

  43. 43

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1148 ft · 34 sec · Main Street

  44. 44

    Turn right onto East 5th Street

    29 m · 4 sec · East 5th Street

  45. 45

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
45 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Freeway
237 mi · 40%
US 81 North
104 mi · 18%
US Highway 287
55.8 mi · 9%
US Highway 287 East
40.5 mi · 7%
East 11th Street
28.7 mi · 5%
Boykin Drive
26.2 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

North Freeway

Merge slight left onto North Freeway

237 mi · 04h 09m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
10h 36m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
21h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+69.9 mi
520.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bryan
05h 18m from Houston
Leave By
2:46 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Houston and Sunny near Panhandle.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 590.8 miles (950.8 km) and usually takes 10h 36m 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?

Bryan is a useful midpoint, sitting about 295.5 miles from Houston and 295.3 miles from Panhandle.

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

The direct path is about 520.9 miles (838.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 69.9 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 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 $78.79 one way or $157.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 185.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Bryan

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Bryan and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Park
Scenic stop 11.2 mi away

City Hall Park

Justin , TX
Justin, TX 76247
Park
Haslet City Hall
Meeting point 13.5 mi away

Haslet City Hall

Haslet , TX
105 Main St, Haslet, TX 76052
Rating 3.1/5 11 reviews City Hall
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 11.5 mi away

Paradise City Hall

Paradise , TX
218 Main St, Paradise, TX 76073
City administration

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bryan.

RAIL

Fort Worth Central Station

40 mi away
1001 Jones Street
RAIL

Gainesville

64 mi away
605 East California Street
RAIL

Union Station

67 mi away
400 South Houston St.
BUS

Dallas, TX

67 mi away
205 South Lamar Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Panhandle. Straight-line distance: 520.88 mi (838.27 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
Panhandle

#2 Panhandle

Town in Texas, United States

Population2,341
Coordinates35.3456000, -101.3804400
Altitude1054
CountryUnited States
Start: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
End: Panhandle (-101.38044, 35.3456)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 951 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)19h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)14h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)11h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)09h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)08h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)07h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
20.85 gal
78.92 L · about $78.79
Round trip
$157.58
41.7 gal · 157.84 L
Estimated CO2
185.3 kg one way
Round trip: 370.6 kg / 817 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $78.79 $157.58
Mid-grade $4.25 $88.65 $177.31
Premium $4.59 $95.72 $191.44
Diesel $3.99 $83.25 $166.51

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 Panhandle. The current time is 23:13:20.

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.