How far is Tornillo, TX from Houston, TX?
The driving distance from Tornillo, TX to Houston, TX is about 713.5 miles (1148.2 km), with a travel time of about 10h 38m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 648 miles (1042.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 21h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
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 10h 38m.
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.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Tornillo and Houston.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tornillo and Houston.
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1
Start on Alameda Avenue
24 m · 3 sec · Alameda Avenue
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2
Turn right onto O T Smith Road
1.8 mi · 4 min · O T Smith Road
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3
At the end of the road, turn right onto O T Smith Road
1.2 km · 52 sec · O T Smith Road
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4
Take the exit right
1380 ft · 34 sec
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5
Merge slight left
131 mi · 2 hr 3 min
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6
Keep slight right
363.5 mi · 5 hr 45 min
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7
Keep slight right
5.4 mi · 6 min
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8
Take the exit slight right toward Frontage Road
3038 ft · 1 min
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9
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
2629 ft · 54 sec · Interstate 10 West
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10
Turn left onto North Loop 1604 West
2164 ft · 43 sec · North Loop 1604 West
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11
Take the ramp straight toward Loop 1604 East
554 ft · 14 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Anderson Loop
25.4 mi · 29 min · Anderson Loop
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13
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
1.5 km · 2 min · Interstate 10 East
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14
Take the ramp slight left
852 ft · 21 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto 90th Infantry Division Highway
14.9 mi · 15 min · 90th Infantry Division Highway
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16
Continue on I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco
151.1 mi · 2 hr 34 min
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17
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
1548 ft · 22 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto Katy Tollway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway
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19
Take the exit slight right
1092 ft · 15 sec
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20
Merge slight right onto Katy Freeway
10.7 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, Theatre District
2064 ft · 52 sec
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22
Continue on Smith Street
704 ft · 29 sec · Smith Street
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23
Turn left onto Preston Street
101 m · 17 sec · Preston Street
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24
Turn left onto Louisiana Street
55 m · 5 sec · Louisiana Street
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Tornillo and Houston.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
O T Smith Road
Keep slight right
363 mi · 05h 45m
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 Tornillo and Mostly Sunny near Houston.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Tornillo to Houston?
The road trip is about 713.5 miles (1148.2 km) and usually takes 10h 38m 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?
Sonora is a useful midpoint, sitting about 355.4 miles from Tornillo and 358 miles from Houston.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 648 miles (1042.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 65.5 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 MDT. 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 $95.16 one way or $190.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 223.8 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Tornillo and Houston, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Tornillo and Mostly Sunny near Houston.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Tornillo and Houston. Straight-line distance: 648.02 mi (1042.89 km).
#1 Tornillo
Census designated place
| Population | 1,568 |
| Coordinates | 31.4454000, -106.0883100 |
| Altitude | 1093 |
| 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: 1148 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 23h 46m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 17h 50m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 14h 16m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 11h 53m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 10h 11m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 08h 54m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $95.16 | $190.31 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $107.07 | $214.13 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $115.60 | $231.20 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $100.54 | $201.09 |
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 05, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.