How far is Vernon, TX from Houston, TX?

The driving distance from Vernon, TX to Houston, TX is about 426.8 miles (686.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 380 miles (611.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
426.83 mi
06h 15m
Flight
379.97 mi
611.5 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Vernon.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
379.97 mi
Kilometers
611.5 km
Flight Time
00h 45m

Driving Distance

Road route
426.83 mi
Kilometers
686.92 km
Drive Time
06h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Houston
Sun, Apr 26, 4:42 AM CDT
Return by in Vernon
Sun, Apr 26, 10:58 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Vernon
2026-04-25T22:26
Arrive Houston
Sun, Apr 26, 4:42 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:16 PM to 1:46 PM CDT

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

Leave by
11:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Vernon
8:00 PM CDT
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
Palmer
TX

Town in Texas, USA

From Vernon
214.2 mi
03h 07m
To Houston
212.6 mi
03h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
95°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
88°F
Saturday

Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    44 m · 16 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    620 ft · 47 sec

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto US Highway 287 East

    3053 ft · 1 min · US Highway 287 East

  4. 4

    Take the ramp straight

    1720 ft · 43 sec

  5. 5

    Continue on US Highway 287 East

    40.5 mi · 43 min · US Highway 287 East

  6. 6

    Continue on Northwest Freeway

    4.6 mi · 5 min · Northwest Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Northwest Freeway

    2984 ft · 42 sec · Northwest Freeway

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Central Freeway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Central Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on Lloyd Ruby Overpass

    1.4 km · 1 min · Lloyd Ruby Overpass

  10. 10

    Continue on Central East Freeway

    1.4 km · 1 min · Central East Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Central East Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Central East Freeway

    96.6 mi · 1 hr 44 min · Central East Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    4.6 mi · 5 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto North Freeway

    2.3 mi · 3 min · North Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 820

    2148 ft · 24 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 820 East

    1 mi · 2 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Northeast Loop

    1893 ft · 25 sec · Northeast Loop

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight left toward I 820 Express East Toll

    675 ft · 8 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto I 820 TEXpress

    5.5 mi · 6 min · I 820 TEXpress

  20. 20

    Continue on SH 121/183 TEXpress

    4.4 mi · 4 min · SH 121/183 TEXpress

  21. 21

    Continue on SH 183 TEXpress

    11.7 mi · 12 min · SH 183 TEXpress

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on SH 183 TEXpress

    3.3 mi · 3 min · SH 183 TEXpress

  23. 23

    Merge slight right onto John W Carpenter Freeway

    1.3 km · 51 sec · John W Carpenter Freeway

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto North Stemmons Freeway

    3.9 mi · 5 min · North Stemmons Freeway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward Continental Avenue, Commerce Street West

    778 ft · 22 sec

  26. 26

    Turn straight onto North Stemmons Freeway

    764 ft · 18 sec · North Stemmons Freeway

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Continental Avenue

    1715 ft · 49 sec · Continental Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn left onto McKinney Avenue

    1118 ft · 25 sec · McKinney Avenue

  29. 29

    Take the ramp slight left toward US 75 North

    1229 ft · 30 sec

  30. 30

    Merge slight left onto Woodall Rodgers Freeway

    2170 ft · 37 sec · Woodall Rodgers Freeway

  31. 31

    Keep slight right to continue on I 45 South: Houston

    2537 ft · 49 sec

  32. 32

    Merge slight left onto Julius Schepps Freeway

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  33. 33

    Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

    234.2 mi · 4 hr 6 min · Julius Schepps Freeway

  34. 34

    Continue on Gulf Freeway

    83 m · 4 sec · Gulf Freeway

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight left toward I 10 East: Beaumont

    2168 ft · 53 sec

  36. 36

    Keep slight left to continue on Milam Street

    1614 ft · 39 sec

  37. 37

    Continue on Milam Street

    2031 ft · 1 min · Milam Street

  38. 38

    Turn right onto Prairie Street

    100 m · 14 sec · Prairie Street

  39. 39

    Turn right onto Louisiana Street

    157 m · 17 sec · Louisiana Street

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Vernon 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
40 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
8 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Julius Schepps Freeway
237 mi · 56%
Central East Freeway
104 mi · 24%
US Highway 287 East
41.4 mi · 10%
SH 183 TEXpress
15 mi · 4%
I 820 TEXpress
5.51 mi · 1%
Northwest Freeway
5.18 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Julius Schepps Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Julius Schepps Freeway

234 mi · 04h 06m

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
06h 15m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.8 mi
380 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Palmer
03h 07m from Vernon
Leave By
11:28 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Vernon and Patchy Fog 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 Vernon to Houston?

The road trip is about 426.8 miles (686.9 km) and usually takes 06h 15m 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?

Palmer is a useful midpoint, sitting about 214.2 miles from Vernon and 212.6 miles from Houston.

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

The direct path is about 380 miles (611.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.8 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 $56.91 one way or $113.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 133.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Vernon and Patchy Fog then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Houston.

Stop Ideas Near Palmer

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

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

RAIL

Union Station

40 mi away
400 South Houston St.
BUS

Dallas, TX

41 mi away
205 South Lamar Street
BUS

Mesquite, TX

41 mi away
1331 Highway 80 East \r\n1331 Highway 80 East \r\n
RAIL

Cleburne

68 mi away
206 North Border St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Vernon and Houston. Straight-line distance: 379.97 mi (611.5 km).

Vernon

#1 Vernon

City in Wilbarger County, Texas, United States

Population10,138
Coordinates34.1553600, -99.2662800
Altitude361
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: (-99.264714, 34.154716)
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 687 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.06 gal
57.01 L · about $56.91
Round trip
$113.82
30.12 gal · 114.02 L
Estimated CO2
133.8 kg one way
Round trip: 267.7 kg / 590 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $56.91 $113.82
Mid-grade $4.25 $64.04 $128.07
Premium $4.59 $69.14 $138.28
Diesel $3.99 $60.13 $120.27

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 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Vernon and Houston. The current time is 22:26:44.

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.