How far is Idalou, TX from Houston, TX?
Fastest route
The journey from Idalou, Texas 79329 to Houston, Texas is approximately 485 miles (780 kilometers) long. To reach Houston, follow these directions: Take US-82 E/Idalou Rd/US 62 E, merge onto E Hwy 84/US 84 E, then take I-20 E and follow TX-36 S and US-290 E to Bagby St. Finally, take exit 47C for McKinney St.
Directions
- Take US-82 E/Idalou Rd/US 62 E.
- Merge onto E Hwy 84/US 84 E.
- Continue on I-20 E.
- Follow TX-36 S.
- Continue on US-290 E.
- Take the exit for Bagby St.
- Take exit 47C for McKinney St.
Tips & Suggestions
- 🚗 Plan for frequent rest stops during the long journey.
- ⛽ Ensure your vehicle has enough fuel for the trip.
- 🍔 Pack snacks and drinks to stay energized and hydrated.
- 🛣️ Familiarize yourself with the route before starting the journey.
- 🚧 Check for any road closures or construction updates along the way.
- 🌆 Time your travel to avoid rush hours in Houston.
- 🗺️ Use GPS or a navigation app to stay on the right track.
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 08h 30m.
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, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Idalou and Houston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Idalou and Houston.
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1
Start on Walnut Street
24 m · 8 sec · Walnut Street
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2
Turn left onto West 1st Street
7.6 mi · 8 min · West 1st Street
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3
Take the exit slight right toward Loop 289
859 ft · 24 sec
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4
Turn straight onto Idalou Road
948 ft · 36 sec · Idalou Road
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5
Turn left onto Northeast Loop 289
115 m · 10 sec · Northeast Loop 289
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6
Continue on East Loop 289
1395 ft · 25 sec · East Loop 289
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7
Take the ramp slight left
1043 ft · 25 sec
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8
Merge slight left
4.1 mi · 5 min
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9
Take the exit slight right toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
128 m · 10 sec
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Spur 331: Southeast Drive
71 m · 6 sec
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11
Turn straight onto Southeast Loop 289
563 ft · 16 sec · Southeast Loop 289
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12
Turn right onto Southeast Drive
1.9 mi · 3 min · Southeast Drive
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13
Merge slight right onto Slaton Road
996 ft · 13 sec · Slaton Road
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14
Continue on East Highway 84
6.9 mi · 7 min · East Highway 84
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15
Continue on Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
4.5 mi · 5 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
-
16
Continue on East Highway 84
20 mi · 20 min · East Highway 84
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17
Continue on North US Highway 84
1 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84
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18
Turn left onto East 15th Street
734 ft · 17 sec · East 15th Street
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19
Turn right onto Ralls Road
1863 ft · 38 sec · Ralls Road
-
20
Turn straight onto North Avenue F
1.1 mi · 2 min · North Avenue F
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21
At the end of the road, turn left onto US Highway 84
73.9 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US Highway 84
-
22
Keep slight left to continue on I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
6.5 mi · 7 min
-
23
Take the exit slight right toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
737 ft · 18 sec
-
24
Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue
624 ft · 17 sec · Southwest Georgia Avenue
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25
Turn right onto Lamar Street
1.2 km · 1 min · Lamar Street
-
26
Continue on State Highway 70
10.4 mi · 11 min · State Highway 70
-
27
Turn left onto State Highway 153
69 mi · 1 hr 14 min · State Highway 153
-
28
Continue on West Walnut Street
1.6 km · 2 min · West Walnut Street
-
29
Continue on East Walnut Street
1.5 km · 1 min · East Walnut Street
-
30
At the end of the road, turn left
9.4 mi · 11 min
-
31
Continue straight
21.5 mi · 25 min
-
32
Turn right onto Garmon Drive
1.3 mi · 1 min · Garmon Drive
-
33
Continue on US Highway 84 East
29.2 mi · 33 min · US Highway 84 East
-
34
Turn right
22.2 mi · 25 min
-
35
Continue straight
14.8 mi · 15 min
-
36
Merge slight left onto North US Highway 281
79 m · 4 sec · North US Highway 281
-
37
Continue on North Key Avenue
2.3 mi · 5 min · North Key Avenue
-
38
Continue on South US Highway 183
35.3 mi · 38 min · South US Highway 183
-
39
Continue straight
2151 ft · 30 sec
-
40
Keep slight left to continue on 183A Toll Road
14.3 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll Road
-
41
Continue straight
14.8 mi · 17 min
-
42
Continue on Bergstrom Expressway
6.3 mi · 7 min · Bergstrom Expressway
-
43
Continue on Bastrop Highway
2119 ft · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway
-
44
Take the exit slight left toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
2541 ft · 1 min
-
45
Continue on East State Highway 71
2.2 mi · 3 min · East State Highway 71
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46
Turn straight onto Bastrop Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway
-
47
Continue on East State Highway 71
2388 ft · 29 sec · East State Highway 71
-
48
Continue on Texas State Highway 71
137 mi · 2 hr 25 min · Texas State Highway 71
-
49
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
1548 ft · 22 sec
-
50
Merge slight left onto Katy Tollway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway
-
51
Take the exit slight right
1092 ft · 15 sec
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52
Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway
10.7 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway
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53
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, Theatre District
2064 ft · 52 sec
-
54
Continue on Smith Street
704 ft · 29 sec · Smith Street
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55
Turn left onto Preston Street
101 m · 17 sec · Preston Street
-
56
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
55 m · 5 sec · Louisiana Street
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57
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Idalou and Houston.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Texas State Highway 71
Continue on Texas State Highway 71
137 mi · 02h 25m
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.
Sunny leaving Idalou and Partly Sunny near Houston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Idalou to Houston?
The road trip is about 527.5 miles (848.9 km) and usually takes 08h 30m 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?
Goldthwaite is a useful midpoint, sitting about 270.4 miles from Idalou and 257.1 miles from Houston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 458.9 miles (738.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 68.6 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 $70.33 one way or $140.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 165.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Idalou and Partly Sunny near Houston.
Stop Ideas Near Goldthwaite
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Goldthwaite.
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McGregor
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Idalou and Houston. Straight-line distance: 458.85 mi (738.45 km).
#1 Idalou
City in Lubbock County, Texas, United States
| Population | 2,313 |
| Coordinates | 33.6664700, -101.6829400 |
| Altitude | 973 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 849 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 34m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 11m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 32m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 47m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 32m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 34m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $70.33 | $140.65 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $79.13 | $158.26 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $85.44 | $170.88 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $74.31 | $148.62 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.