How far is Menard, TX from Houston, TX?

The driving distance from Menard, TX to Houston, TX is about 306.7 miles (493.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 275.5 miles (443.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 12m 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
306.72 mi
05h 06m
Flight
275.53 mi
443.42 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Menard.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
275.53 mi
Kilometers
443.42 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
306.72 mi
Kilometers
493.62 km
Drive Time
05h 06m

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 05h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Houston
Thu, Apr 23, 7:21 AM CDT
Return by in Menard
Thu, Apr 23, 12:27 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Menard
2026-04-23T02:15
Arrive Houston
Thu, Apr 23, 7:21 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:06 AM to 1:06 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
6:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Menard
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
Santa Clara
TX

City in Texas, USA

From Menard
168.9 mi
02h 33m
To Houston
137.8 mi
02h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 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 Menard and Houston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West San Saba Avenue

    17 m · 5 sec · West San Saba Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Ellis Street

    29.4 mi · 31 min · Ellis Street

  3. 3

    Take the exit left toward I 10 East: San Antonio

    40 mi · 38 min

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    54.3 mi · 55 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right

    5.4 mi · 6 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Frontage Road

    3038 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West

    2629 ft · 54 sec · Interstate 10 West

  8. 8

    Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West

    2164 ft · 43 sec · North Loop 1604 West

  9. 9

    Take the ramp straight toward Loop 1604 East

    554 ft · 14 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Anderson Loop

    25.4 mi · 29 min · Anderson Loop

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Interstate 10 East

    1.5 km · 2 min · Interstate 10 East

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight left

    852 ft · 21 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto 90th Infantry Division Highway

    14.9 mi · 15 min · 90th Infantry Division Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco

    151.1 mi · 2 hr 34 min

  15. 15

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

    1548 ft · 22 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Katy Tollway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    1092 ft · 15 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway

    10.7 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, Theatre District

    2064 ft · 52 sec

  20. 20

    Continue on Smith Street

    704 ft · 29 sec · Smith Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Preston Street

    101 m · 17 sec · Preston Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Louisiana Street

    55 m · 5 sec · Louisiana Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Menard 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
23 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 10 East
251 mi · 82%
Ellis Street
29.4 mi · 10%
Anderson Loop
25.4 mi · 8%
90th Infantry Division Highway
14.9 mi · 5%
Katy Freeway
10.7 mi · 3%
Katy Tollway
3.45 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 10 East

Continue on I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco

151 mi · 02h 34m

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
05h 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.2 mi
275.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Santa Clara
02h 33m from Menard
Leave By
6:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Menard 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 Menard to Houston?

The road trip is about 306.7 miles (493.6 km) and usually takes 05h 06m 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?

Santa Clara is a useful midpoint, sitting about 168.9 miles from Menard and 137.8 miles from Houston.

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

The direct path is about 275.5 miles (443.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.2 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 6:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.89 one way or $81.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Santa Clara

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Santa Clara and the surrounding midpoint area.
New Braunfels Parks and Recreation
Scenic stop 12.3 mi away

New Braunfels Parks and Recreation

New Braunfels , TX
110 Golf Course Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Rating 4.1/5 29 reviews City government office,Park,Skateboard park
Schertz EMS
Practical stop 10.8 mi away

Schertz EMS

Schertz , TX
City Hall, 1400 Schertz Pkwy #7, Schertz, TX 78154
Rating 4.4/5 9 reviews City government office,Ambulance service
Converse City Hall
Meeting point 13.2 mi away

Converse City Hall

Converse , TX
406 S Seguin Rd, Converse, TX 78109
Rating 3.7/5 15 reviews City government office,Local government office,City Hall
Comal County Courthouse(Gerichtsgebäude)
Nearby stop 11.9 mi away

Comal County Courthouse(Gerichtsgebäude)

New Braunfels , TX
100 N Seguin Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Rating 2.6/5 11 reviews Courthouse

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Santa Clara.

RAIL

San Antonio Station

36 mi away
350 Hoefgen Street
RAIL

San Marcos Station

45 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
RAIL

Austin

91 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Menard and Houston. Straight-line distance: 275.53 mi (443.42 km).

Menard

#1 Menard

City in Menard County, Texas, United States

Population1,397
Coordinates30.9176700, -99.7864600
Altitude574
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 San Saba Avenue (-99.786489, 30.917583)
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 494 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.82 gal
40.97 L · about $40.89
Round trip
$81.78
21.64 gal · 81.94 L
Estimated CO2
96.2 kg one way
Round trip: 192.3 kg / 424 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $40.89 $81.78
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.01 $92.01
Premium $4.59 $49.67 $99.35
Diesel $3.99 $43.20 $86.41

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 Menard and Houston. The current time is 02:15:11.

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.