How far is Houston, TX from Van, TX?

The driving distance from Houston, TX to Van, TX is about 217.8 miles (350.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 191.5 miles (308.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 32m 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
217.78 mi
04h 16m
Flight
191.49 mi
308.18 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
191.49 mi
Kilometers
308.18 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
217.78 mi
Kilometers
350.49 km
Drive Time
04h 16m

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 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Van
Thu, Apr 23, 7:26 AM CDT
Return by in Houston
Thu, Apr 23, 11:42 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Houston
2026-04-23T03:09
Arrive Van
Thu, Apr 23, 7:26 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:16 AM to 12:16 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
8:28 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
Cooper
TX

City in Texas, USA

From Houston
109.1 mi
02h 08m
To Van
108.7 mi
02h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SE
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    63.2 mi · 1 hr 13 min · North Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 19: Riverside, Crockett, Grapeland

    844 ft · 21 sec

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    871 ft · 21 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    2810 ft · 51 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on State Highway 19

    22.4 mi · 26 min · State Highway 19

  10. 10

    Continue on Prospect Drive

    27.5 mi · 32 min · Prospect Drive

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East Goliad Avenue

    47 m · 3 sec · East Goliad Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    50 m · 6 sec · 5th Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East Houston Avenue

    92 m · 10 sec · East Houston Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North 4th Street

    32.6 mi · 38 min · North 4th Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Loop 256

    3.4 mi · 5 min · Loop 256

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    1119 ft · 31 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right

    110 m · 10 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto State Highway 155

    20.1 mi · 23 min · State Highway 155

  19. 19

    Continue on South Elm Street

    2213 ft · 31 sec · South Elm Street

  20. 20

    Continue on North Frankston Highway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · North Frankston Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 155

    14.1 mi · 16 min · State Highway 155

  22. 22

    Take the exit left toward Loop 49 Toll West

    2880 ft · 1 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Toll 49

    14.7 mi · 15 min · Toll 49

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 20: Dallas, Shreveport

    3000 ft · 53 sec

  25. 25

    Continue on Loop 49

    125 m · 14 sec · Loop 49

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Interstate 20 West

    89 m · 10 sec · Interstate 20 West

  27. 27

    Take the ramp straight toward I 20 West

    1980 ft · 48 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left

    11 mi · 11 min

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward FM 314: Van, Edom

    1329 ft · 32 sec

  30. 30

    Turn straight onto I 20 West Service Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · I 20 West Service Road

  31. 31

    Turn right onto South Oak Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · South Oak Street

  32. 32

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Main Street

    1769 ft · 43 sec · West Main Street

  33. 33

    Turn left onto North Maple Street

    47 m · 3 sec · North Maple Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Maple Street

Car Route Details

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

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
34 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Freeway
63.2 mi · 29%
State Highway 155
34.2 mi · 16%
North 4th Street
32.6 mi · 15%
Prospect Drive
27.5 mi · 13%
State Highway 19
22.4 mi · 10%
Toll 49
14.7 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

North Freeway

Merge slight left onto North Freeway

63.2 mi · 01h 13m

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 16m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.3 mi
191.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cooper
02h 08m from Houston
Leave By
8:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 217.8 miles (350.5 km) and usually takes 04h 16m 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?

Cooper is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109.1 miles from Houston and 108.7 miles from Van.

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

The direct path is about 191.5 miles (308.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.3 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 8:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.02 one way or $58.05 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Cooper

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

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

BUS

Bryan, TX

98 mi away
301 East 26th Street
BUS

Nacogdoches, Texas

99 mi away
University Drive & Starr Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Houston and Van. Straight-line distance: 191.49 mi (308.18 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
Van

#2 Van

City in Texas, USA

Population2,778
Coordinates32.5248600, -95.6371800
Altitude149
CountryUnited States
Start: Houston (-95.36327, 29.76328)
End: Van (-95.63718, 32.52486)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 350 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.68 gal
29.09 L · about $29.02
Round trip
$58.05
15.36 gal · 58.18 L
Estimated CO2
68.3 kg one way
Round trip: 136.5 kg / 301 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $29.02 $58.05
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.66 $65.31
Premium $4.59 $35.26 $70.52
Diesel $3.99 $30.67 $61.33

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 Van. The current time is 03:09:46.

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.