How far is Lake Dunlap, TX from Houston, TX?

The driving distance from Lake Dunlap, TX to Houston, TX is about 172.6 miles (277.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 162.7 miles (261.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
172.57 mi
02h 48m
Flight
162.66 mi
261.78 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake Dunlap.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
162.66 mi
Kilometers
261.78 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
172.57 mi
Kilometers
277.72 km
Drive Time
02h 48m

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 02h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Houston
Thu, Apr 23, 8:35 AM CDT
Return by in Lake Dunlap
Thu, Apr 23, 11:23 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake Dunlap
2026-04-23T05:46
Arrive Houston
Thu, Apr 23, 8:35 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:49 AM to 12:49 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:52 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake Dunlap
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Weimar
TX

City in Texas, United States

From Lake Dunlap
86.2 mi
01h 24m
To Houston
86.4 mi
01h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake Dunlap and Houston.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    130 m · 37 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Potthast Drive

    1920 ft · 1 min · Potthast Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Zipp Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · East Zipp Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Farm-to-Market Road 725

    6.1 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 725

  5. 5

    Turn left

    3.2 mi · 5 min

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Huber Road

    140 m · 13 sec · Huber Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto West Interstate 10

    1 mi · 1 min · West Interstate 10

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 10 East, TX 130 North

    1858 ft · 45 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    145.3 mi · 2 hr 29 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight left toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway

    1548 ft · 22 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Katy Tollway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right

    1092 ft · 15 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway

    10.7 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, Theatre District

    2064 ft · 52 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on Smith Street

    704 ft · 29 sec · Smith Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Preston Street

    101 m · 17 sec · Preston Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Louisiana Street

    55 m · 5 sec · Louisiana Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 10 East
146 mi · 84%
Katy Freeway
10.7 mi · 6%
Farm-to-Market Road 725
6.11 mi · 4%
Katy Tollway
3.45 mi · 2%
East Zipp Road
1.12 mi · 1%
West Interstate 10
1.01 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 10 East

Merge slight left

145 mi · 02h 29m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 48m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.9 mi
162.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Weimar
01h 24m from Lake Dunlap
Leave By
12:52 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake Dunlap to Houston?

The road trip is about 172.6 miles (277.7 km) and usually takes 02h 48m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Weimar is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.2 miles from Lake Dunlap and 86.4 miles from Houston.

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

The direct path is about 162.7 miles (261.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:52 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.01 one way or $46.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Weimar

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

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

BUS

Prairie View, TX

86 mi away
44814 US Highway 290 Business \r\n
RAIL

Austin

113 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.
RAIL

San Marcos Station

113 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
RAIL

Taylor

114 mi away
118 East First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake Dunlap and Houston. Straight-line distance: 162.66 mi (261.78 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Lake Dunlap

Census-designated place in Texas

Population1,934
Coordinates29.6757800, -98.0722300
Altitude180
CountryUnited States
Houston

#2 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
Start: (-98.07254, 29.675597)
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 278 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.09 gal
23.05 L · about $23.01
Round trip
$46.03
12.18 gal · 46.1 L
Estimated CO2
54.1 kg one way
Round trip: 108.2 kg / 239 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $23.01 $46.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.89 $51.79
Premium $4.59 $27.96 $55.92
Diesel $3.99 $24.32 $48.63

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 Lake Dunlap and Houston. The current time is 05:46:33.

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.