How far is Los Angeles, CA from Houston, TX?

The driving distance from Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX is about 1549.1 miles (2493.1 km), with a travel time of about 22h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 1371.2 miles (2206.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 45h 18m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
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
1549.12 mi
22h 39m
Flight
1371.22 mi
2206.76 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Los Angeles.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
1371.22 mi
Kilometers
2206.76 km
Flight Time
02h 45m

Driving Distance

Road route
1549.12 mi
Kilometers
2493.06 km
Drive Time
22h 39m

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 22h 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Houston
Tue, Apr 21, 3:00 AM CDT
Return by in Los Angeles
Tue, Apr 21, 11:40 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Los Angeles
2026-04-20T02:21
Arrive Houston
Tue, Apr 21, 1:00 AM PDT
Route Timing
22h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
6:39 AM to 8:09 AM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
2:42 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Los Angeles
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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
Vado
NM

City in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States of America

From Los Angeles
772.9 mi
11h 19m
To Houston
776.2 mi
11h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
68°F
Monday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles and Houston.

  1. 1

    Start on West 1st Street

    21 m · 10 sec · West 1st Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto North Main Street

    1465 ft · 35 sec · North Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Aliso Street

    103 m · 13 sec · East Aliso Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South, I 10 East, I 5 South

    776 ft · 19 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    1 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward I 10 East: San Bernardino

    1343 ft · 33 sec

  7. 7

    Continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    9.3 mi · 11 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    2 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    2 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    2.1 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    4 mi · 5 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes

    9 mi · 10 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes

  19. 19

    Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway

    14.3 mi · 16 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  20. 20

    Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    40.3 mi · 44 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

    32.5 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

  23. 23

    Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    222.3 mi · 3 hr 51 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Papago Freeway

    19.8 mi · 23 min · Papago Freeway

  25. 25

    Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

    2704 ft · 35 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel

  26. 26

    Continue on Papago Freeway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Papago Freeway

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on Papago Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Papago Freeway

  28. 28

    Merge slight right onto Maricopa Freeway

    12.3 mi · 14 min · Maricopa Freeway

  29. 29

    Continue on Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

    37.8 mi · 38 min · Phoenix-Casa Grande Highway

  30. 30

    Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

    54.6 mi · 56 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway

  31. 31

    Continue on North Freeway

    6.1 mi · 7 min · North Freeway

  32. 32

    Continue on Tucson-Benson Highway

    42.9 mi · 45 min · Tucson-Benson Highway

  33. 33

    Continue on Benson-Steins Pass Highway

    88.3 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Benson-Steins Pass Highway

  34. 34

    Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    164.3 mi · 2 hr 48 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  35. 35

    Continue on Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

    12 mi · 14 min · Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

  36. 36

    Continue straight

    174.8 mi · 2 hr 53 min

  37. 37

    Keep slight right

    363.5 mi · 5 hr 45 min

  38. 38

    Keep slight right

    5.4 mi · 6 min

  39. 39

    Take the exit slight right toward Frontage Road

    3038 ft · 1 min

  40. 40

    Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West

    2629 ft · 54 sec · Interstate 10 West

  41. 41

    Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West

    2164 ft · 43 sec · North Loop 1604 West

  42. 42

    Take the ramp straight toward Loop 1604 East

    554 ft · 14 sec

  43. 43

    Merge slight left onto Anderson Loop

    25.4 mi · 29 min · Anderson Loop

  44. 44

    Turn left onto Interstate 10 East

    1.5 km · 2 min · Interstate 10 East

  45. 45

    Take the ramp slight left

    852 ft · 21 sec

  46. 46

    Merge slight left onto 90th Infantry Division Highway

    14.9 mi · 15 min · 90th Infantry Division Highway

  47. 47

    Continue on I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco

    165.5 mi · 2 hr 52 min

  48. 48

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, Theatre District

    2064 ft · 52 sec

  49. 49

    Continue on Smith Street

    704 ft · 29 sec · Smith Street

  50. 50

    Turn left onto Preston Street

    101 m · 17 sec · Preston Street

  51. 51

    Turn left onto Louisiana Street

    55 m · 5 sec · Louisiana Street

  52. 52

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
52 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
3.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
556 mi · 36%
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
427 mi · 28%
I 10 East
166 mi · 11%
Benson-Steins Pass Highway
88.3 mi · 6%
Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
54.6 mi · 4%
San Bernardino Freeway
45.1 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Camino Real de Tierra Adentro

Keep slight right

363 mi · 05h 45m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
22h 39m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
45h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+177.9 mi
1371.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vado
11h 19m from Los Angeles
Leave By
2:42 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Los Angeles and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Houston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to Houston?

The road trip is about 1549.1 miles (2493.1 km) and usually takes 22h 39m 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?

Vado is a useful midpoint, sitting about 772.9 miles from Los Angeles and 776.2 miles from Houston.

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

The direct path is about 1371.2 miles (2206.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 177.9 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 7:30 AM PDT. 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 $315.33 one way or $630.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 485.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 2 hour time difference between Los Angeles and Houston, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Los Angeles and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Houston.

Stop Ideas Near Vado

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

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

BUS

Las Cruces, New Mexico

24 mi away
304 Wyatt Drive
RAIL

Union Depot

42 mi away
700 San Francisco St.
BUS

El Paso (Bus Station), Texas

43 mi away
200 W. San Antonio Ave.
RAIL

Deming station

105 mi away
400 East Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles and Houston. Straight-line distance: 1371.22 mi (2206.76 km).

Los Angeles

#1 Los Angeles

The second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Population3,970,219
Coordinates34.0522300, -118.2436800
Altitude89
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: West 1st Street (-118.243569, 34.052341)
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 2493 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)51h 36m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)38h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)30h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)25h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)22h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)19h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
54.66 gal
206.92 L · about $315.33
Round trip
$630.67
109.32 gal · 413.84 L
Estimated CO2
485.8 kg one way
Round trip: 971.5 kg / 2142 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $315.33 $630.67
Mid-grade $6.07 $331.57 $663.14
Premium $6.24 $341.24 $682.48
Diesel $7.57 $413.61 $827.22

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 California · Apr 20, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 2 hours time gap between Los Angeles, CA and Houston, TX. The current time in Los Angeles is 02:21:21, although it is 04:21:21 in Houston.

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.