How far is Houston, TX from Ricardo, TX?

The driving distance from Houston, TX to Ricardo, TX is about 240.2 miles (386.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 221.3 miles (356.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST.
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
240.2 mi
04h 37m
Flight
221.26 mi
356.08 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
221.26 mi
Kilometers
356.08 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
240.2 mi
Kilometers
386.57 km
Drive Time
04h 37m

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 04h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ricardo
Sat, Nov 7, 6:51 AM CST
Return by in Houston
Sat, Nov 7, 11:28 AM CST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Houston
2026-11-07T02:14
Arrive Ricardo
Sat, Nov 7, 6:51 AM CST
Route Timing
04h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:37 AM to 12:37 PM CST

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

Leave by
7:46 AM CST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Houston
9:00 PM CST
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
Inez
TX

Census designated place

From Houston
120.2 mi
02h 18m
To Ricardo
120 mi
02h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM CST
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE
Destination
81°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM CST
Wind
8 to 14 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    74.7 mi · 1 hr 22 min · US Highway 59

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Spur 91

    1.6 km · 1 min · Spur 91

  15. 15

    Merge slight right onto US Highway 77 South

    33.2 mi · 38 min · US Highway 77 South

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto Alamo Street

    37.1 mi · 43 min · Alamo Street

  17. 17

    Take the exit straight toward I 37, US 77, I 69E

    538 ft · 13 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    1965 ft · 48 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight right

    2.5 mi · 2 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

    31.3 mi · 34 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77

    4.4 mi · 5 min · U.S. Highway 77

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Farm to Market Road 1118

    23 m · 2 sec · Farm to Market Road 1118

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Farm to Market Road 1118

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US Highway 59
74.7 mi · 31%
Alamo Street
37.1 mi · 15%
US Highway 77 South
33.2 mi · 14%
Southwest Freeway
32.8 mi · 14%
I 69E
31.3 mi · 13%
US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
18.4 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

US Highway 59

Continue on US Highway 59

74.7 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
04h 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.9 mi
221.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Inez
02h 18m from Houston
Leave By
7:46 AM CST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 240.2 miles (386.6 km) and usually takes 04h 37m 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?

Inez is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.2 miles from Houston and 120 miles from Ricardo.

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

The direct path is about 221.3 miles (356.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.9 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 8:00 AM CST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:46 AM CST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.37 one way or $60.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Ricardo. Straight-line distance: 221.26 mi (356.08 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Ricardo

Ricardo is a place in Texas, United States.

Population0
Coordinates27.4214300, -97.8511100
Altitude16
CountryUnited States
Start: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
End: Ricardo (-97.85111, 27.42143)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 387 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.48 gal
32.09 L · about $30.37
Round trip
$60.73
16.96 gal · 64.18 L
Estimated CO2
75.4 kg one way
Round trip: 150.7 kg / 332 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.58 $30.37 $60.73
Mid-grade $4.09 $34.72 $69.43
Premium $4.47 $37.92 $75.85
Diesel $5.68 $48.18 $96.37

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 · Nov 06, 2026

There is no time difference between Houston and Ricardo. The current time is 02:14:08.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.