How far is Houston, TX from South Padre Island, TX?
The driving distance from Houston, TX to South Padre Island, TX is about 373.1 miles (600.4 km), with a travel time of about 07h 10m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 275.7 miles (443.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 07h 10m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Texas, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Houston and South Padre Island.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston and South Padre Island.
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1
Start on Louisiana Street
45 m · 12 sec · Louisiana Street
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2
Turn left onto Congress Street
91 m · 15 sec · Congress Street
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3
Turn left onto Smith Street
2.7 mi · 6 min · Smith Street
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4
Merge slight left onto Southwest Freeway
32.8 mi · 38 min · Southwest Freeway
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5
Take the exit slight right toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road
1158 ft · 28 sec
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6
Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
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7
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
2217 ft · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
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8
Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
1.4 km · 2 min · US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
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9
Take the ramp straight
1027 ft · 25 sec
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10
Merge slight left
9.2 mi · 11 min
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11
Keep slight left
6.6 mi · 8 min
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12
Take the exit slight right
1.5 mi · 2 min
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13
Continue on US Highway 59
74.7 mi · 1 hr 22 min · US Highway 59
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Spur 91
1.6 km · 1 min · Spur 91
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15
Merge slight right onto US Highway 77 South
33.2 mi · 38 min · US Highway 77 South
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16
Turn straight onto Alamo Street
37.1 mi · 43 min · Alamo Street
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17
Take the exit straight toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
538 ft · 13 sec
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18
Keep slight left
1965 ft · 48 sec
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19
Merge slight right
2.5 mi · 2 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
31.3 mi · 34 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
61.3 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77
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22
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
43.7 mi · 47 min · U.S. Highway 77
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23
Continue on North Expressway
2.1 mi · 2 min · North Expressway
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24
Keep slight right to continue on Interstate 169
3.7 mi · 4 min · Interstate 169
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25
Continue on I-169, TX 550 Toll
1.3 km · 52 sec · I-169, TX 550 Toll
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26
Continue straight
2 mi · 2 min
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27
Continue on State Highway 550
3.7 mi · 4 min · State Highway 550
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28
Turn left
1123 ft · 27 sec
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29
Merge slight left onto Brownsville-Port Isabel Highway
14.1 mi · 16 min · Brownsville-Port Isabel Highway
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30
Turn right onto State Highway 100
1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 100
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31
Turn slight right onto West Queen Isabella Boulevard
2460 ft · 1 min · West Queen Isabella Boulevard
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32
Continue on Queen Isabella Causeway
2.7 mi · 5 min · Queen Isabella Causeway
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33
Turn left onto Padre Boulevard
1.1 km · 2 min · Padre Boulevard
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34
Turn right onto East Haas Street
155 m · 20 sec · East Haas Street
-
35
Turn left onto Gulf Boulevard
3129 ft · 2 min · Gulf Boulevard
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36
Turn right
27 m · 12 sec
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37
Turn left
24 m · 6 sec
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Houston and South Padre Island.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Houston and Partly Sunny near South Padre Island.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Houston to South Padre Island?
The road trip is about 373.1 miles (600.4 km) and usually takes 07h 10m 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?
Sinton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 186.8 miles from Houston and 186.3 miles from South Padre Island.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 275.7 miles (443.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 97.4 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 $49.73 one way or $99.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 117 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms around Houston and Partly Sunny near South Padre Island.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Houston and South Padre Island. Straight-line distance: 275.71 mi (443.72 km).
#1 Houston
The fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Houston metropolitan area.
| Population | 2,316,120 |
| Coordinates | 29.7632800, -95.3632700 |
| Altitude | 12 |
| Country | United States |
#2 South Padre Island
Town in Texas, United States
| Population | 2,752 |
| Coordinates | 26.1036900, -97.1646900 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Padre Island (-97.16469, 26.10369)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 600 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 25m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 19m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 13m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 19m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 39m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $49.73 | $99.46 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $55.96 | $111.91 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $60.42 | $120.84 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $52.55 | $105.10 |
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 01, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.