How far is Merkel, TX from Houston, TX?
The driving distance from Merkel, TX to Houston, TX is about 385.3 miles (620 km), with a travel time of about 06h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 332.6 miles (535.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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 06h 19m.
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 Williamson County, Texas, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Merkel and Houston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Merkel and Houston.
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1
Start on North 1st Street
16 m · 6 sec · North 1st Street
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2
Turn left onto Kent Street
2347 ft · 48 sec · Kent Street
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3
Turn right onto North 7th Street
897 ft · 25 sec · North 7th Street
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4
Take the ramp slight left toward I 20 East: Abilene
68 m · 5 sec
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5
Merge slight left
9.5 mi · 9 min
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
3.7 mi · 5 min
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7
Take the exit slight right toward US 84 East, US 83 South, US 277 South: Ballinger, Coleman, San Angelo
1437 ft · 36 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Winters Freeway
50.7 mi · 57 min · Winters Freeway
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9
Continue straight
1 km · 46 sec
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10
Turn left
11.4 mi · 13 min
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11
Continue straight
21.5 mi · 25 min
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12
Turn right onto Garmon Drive
1.3 mi · 1 min · Garmon Drive
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13
Continue on US Highway 84 East
29.2 mi · 33 min · US Highway 84 East
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14
Turn right
22.2 mi · 25 min
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15
Continue straight
14.8 mi · 15 min
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16
Merge slight left onto North US Highway 281
79 m · 4 sec · North US Highway 281
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17
Continue on North Key Avenue
2.3 mi · 5 min · North Key Avenue
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18
Continue on South US Highway 183
35.3 mi · 38 min · South US Highway 183
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19
Continue straight
2151 ft · 30 sec
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20
Keep slight left to continue on 183A Toll Road
14.3 mi · 14 min · 183A Toll Road
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21
Continue straight
14.8 mi · 17 min
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22
Continue on Bergstrom Expressway
6.3 mi · 7 min · Bergstrom Expressway
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23
Continue on Bastrop Highway
2119 ft · 26 sec · Bastrop Highway
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24
Take the exit slight left toward TX 71 East: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
2541 ft · 1 min
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25
Continue on East State Highway 71
2.2 mi · 3 min · East State Highway 71
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26
Turn straight onto Bastrop Freeway
1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway
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27
Continue on East State Highway 71
2388 ft · 29 sec · East State Highway 71
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28
Continue on Texas State Highway 71
137 mi · 2 hr 25 min · Texas State Highway 71
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29
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
1548 ft · 22 sec
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30
Merge slight left onto Katy Tollway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway
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31
Take the exit slight right
1092 ft · 15 sec
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32
Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway
10.7 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway
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33
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, Theatre District
2064 ft · 52 sec
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34
Continue on Smith Street
704 ft · 29 sec · Smith Street
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35
Turn left onto Preston Street
101 m · 17 sec · Preston Street
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36
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
55 m · 5 sec · Louisiana Street
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37
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Merkel 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.
Partly Sunny leaving Merkel 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 Merkel to Houston?
The road trip is about 385.3 miles (620 km) and usually takes 06h 19m 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?
Liberty Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 198.3 miles from Merkel and 187 miles from Houston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 332.6 miles (535.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.7 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 $51.36 one way or $102.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 120.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Merkel and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Houston.
Stop Ideas Near Liberty Hill
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 Liberty Hill.
Austin
Taylor
Killeen, Texas
Fort Hood, Texas
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Merkel and Houston. Straight-line distance: 332.56 mi (535.2 km).
#1 Merkel
City in Texas
| Population | 2,629 |
| Coordinates | 32.4706800, -100.0128700 |
| Altitude | 570 |
| 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: 620 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 42m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $51.36 | $102.71 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $57.78 | $115.57 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $62.39 | $124.78 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $54.26 | $108.53 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.