How far is South Padre Island, TX from Houston, TX?
The driving distance from South Padre Island, TX to Houston, TX is about 368 miles (592.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 275.7 miles (443.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 12m 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 06m.
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, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between South Padre Island and Houston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Padre Island and Houston.
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1
Start on the route
24 m · 8 sec
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2
Turn right
27 m · 12 sec
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3
Turn left onto Gulf Boulevard
2881 ft · 1 min · Gulf Boulevard
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4
Turn right onto East Harbor Street
554 ft · 25 sec · East Harbor Street
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5
Turn left onto Padre Boulevard
1 km · 2 min · Padre Boulevard
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6
Turn slight right
632 ft · 22 sec
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7
Turn straight onto Queen Isabella Causeway
2.6 mi · 4 min · Queen Isabella Causeway
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8
Continue on East Queen Isabella Boulevard
2423 ft · 1 min · East Queen Isabella Boulevard
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9
Turn straight onto State Highway 100
1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 100
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10
Turn left
14.1 mi · 15 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward TX 550
936 ft · 23 sec
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12
Keep slight right to continue on TX 550
14 m · 1 sec
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13
Turn right onto State Highway 550
3.6 mi · 4 min · State Highway 550
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14
Continue straight
1.9 mi · 2 min
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15
Continue on I-169, TX 550 Toll
1.5 km · 59 sec · I-169, TX 550 Toll
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16
Continue on Interstate 169
3.6 mi · 4 min · Interstate 169
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17
Merge slight left onto North Expressway
2.2 mi · 2 min · North Expressway
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18
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
102 mi · 1 hr 53 min · U.S. Highway 77
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19
Keep slight left
1157 ft · 14 sec
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20
Merge slight right
1.2 mi · 1 min
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21
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
11.6 mi · 13 min · U.S. Highway 77
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22
Take the exit slight right
1410 ft · 34 sec
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23
Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road
148 m · 18 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road
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24
Turn right onto County Road 10
1 mi · 4 min · County Road 10
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25
Turn left onto County Road 79
4 mi · 16 min · County Road 79
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26
Turn left onto County Road 18
848 ft · 44 sec · County Road 18
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27
Turn sharp right
1.1 mi · 3 min
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28
Take the ramp straight
2351 ft · 57 sec
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29
Merge slight left onto Driscoll Bypass
2.3 mi · 2 min · Driscoll Bypass
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30
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
13.2 mi · 14 min · U.S. Highway 77
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31
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 1 min
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32
Keep slight left
1.3 km · 50 sec
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33
Continue straight
141 m · 5 sec
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34
Take the exit slight right toward Sinton, Victoria
37.6 mi · 44 min
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35
Turn slight right onto United States Highway 77
33 mi · 37 min · United States Highway 77
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36
Keep slight left to continue on Spur 91
1.5 mi · 2 min · Spur 91
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37
Merge slight left onto US Highway 59 South
88.6 mi · 1 hr 38 min · US Highway 59 South
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38
Take the exit slight right
1551 ft · 38 sec
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39
Continue on 59 Northbound Frontage Road
1.6 mi · 2 min · 59 Northbound Frontage Road
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40
Continue straight
2146 ft · 59 sec
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41
Continue on US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
2 mi · 5 min · US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
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42
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.3 mi · 3 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
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43
Take the ramp slight left toward I 69 North, US 59 North
1304 ft · 32 sec
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44
Merge slight left onto Southwest Freeway
32.6 mi · 38 min · Southwest Freeway
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45
Keep slight left to continue on Richmond Avenue, Downtown via Louisiana Street
1.4 km · 1 min
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46
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, Louisiana Street
47 m · 4 sec
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47
Continue on Louisiana Street
1.9 mi · 5 min · Louisiana Street
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48
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South Padre Island and Houston.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
U.S. Highway 77
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
102 mi · 01h 53m
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 South Padre Island and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then 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 South Padre Island to Houston?
The road trip is about 368 miles (592.2 km) and usually takes 06h 06m 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?
Sinton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 187.2 miles from South Padre Island and 180.8 miles from Houston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 275.7 miles (443.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 92.3 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 $49.05 one way or $98.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 115.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around South Padre Island and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms near Houston.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South Padre Island and Houston. Straight-line distance: 275.71 mi (443.72 km).
#1 South Padre Island
Town in Texas, United States
| Population | 2,752 |
| Coordinates | 26.1036900, -97.1646900 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| 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: 592 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 15m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 11m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 07m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 15m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 35m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $49.05 | $98.10 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $55.19 | $110.38 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $59.59 | $119.18 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $51.83 | $103.66 |
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 01, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.