If you are planning on visiting multiple cities in Texas, then you may as well plan a full-on road trip because there are many beautiful places you can see along the way.
In this guide, we’re focusing on the journey between Dallas and Houston. These cities are some of the biggest in the whole State, and many people travel from all over the world to visit these locations.
So if you are planning on visiting Dallas and Houston in one trip, why not drive between the two?
While this journey is relatively short, there are lots of stunning locations that you will pass on the way, and that is really what makes the drive worth it. So if you want to find out about 16 of the best stops on the Dallas to Houston drive, keep reading!
How Long Does It Take To Drive From Dallas To Houston?
First things first, let’s take a look at how long it takes to drive from Dallas to Houston. As we said earlier, this is actually a relatively short drive, and if you were to do it following the quickest route between Dallas and Houston, you will be able to do the drive in around 4 hours.
But what’s the fun in that?
Unless you are really in a rush to get to Houston, we would recommend taking your time on this drive. There are many beautiful places to see on this journey, and it would be a shame to miss them, simply because you want to get to Houston.
The amount of time that it will take to get to Houston from Dallas will depend on the road that you take to get there. If you take the I-45S, you can reach Houston pretty quickly as this is the most direct route.
Along the way, there will be plenty of places where you can stop to stretch your legs, break up the drive, and explore some of Texas’s most beautiful locations.
If you want to plan a round-trip from Dallas to Houston, then back again, we would recommend taking the I-35S instead as there are lots of beautiful locations on this route.
If you wanted to, you could make this drive stretch for as long as 4–5 days. You really can tailor your Dallas to Houston road trip to suit your needs!
How Much Distance Is There Between Dallas And Houston?
As Dallas and Houston are in the same State, it can be very easy to assume that they are pretty close to one another. But, in reality, this isn’t the case.
There is a pretty substantial distance between these two cities, which is why it will take a minimum of 4 hours to reach Houston from Dallas.
In actual distance, Dallas to Houston is around 400 miles if you choose the most direct route (the I-45S). If you were to take the I-35S, then the distance is even longer, but the views that you will encounter along the way are totally worth it.
While a 4-hour drive is definitely doable, and you could easily split this up with a few stops at a gas station, it is a long journey.
Depending on who you are traveling with, creating a road trip itinerary to get you from Dallas to Houston will likely be much more achievable than doing it in one journey.
Regardless of who you are traveling with, you should consider making multiple stops on your journey to Houston, simply because there are so many cute and fun places to see!
Best Places To Stop On The I-45S
Let’s start off by taking a look at some of the best places to stop on the journey from Dallas to Houston along the I-45S. This is the most direct route to Houston from Dallas, but there are still lots of places to check out along the way. They include the following.
Huntsville is a great place to stop on your way to Houston, especially if you are interested in the prison system in the USA. Huntsville is home to the oldest prison in the whole of Texas, and you can visit the prison museum during your stop.
In addition to the prison museum, you can visit the massive Sam Houston statue, which is something that you really need to see while you’re in town.
While there are quite a lot of things that you can do in Huntsville, you can easily squeeze them all into one quick stop while you are on your way to Houston.
Another brilliant place to visit during your journey from Dallas to Houston is Conroe. If you want to see some of the immense natural beauty that Texas has to offer then Conroe is a brilliant place to find it.
If Huntsville is famous for its prison museum, Conroe is famous for its lakes and mountains. If you are searching for somewhere to stretch your legs to break up the drive then this location really is perfect, and it will allow you to admire the beauty of Texas.
As you get closer to Houston, you should check out Downtown Houston. This location is perfect for anyone who likes the suburbs, and it has a great aquarium for you to check out during your stop!
Downtown Houston is really different from the center of Houston, and that is why you need to check it out to appreciate it.
Spend a couple of hours walking around the streets, go to the aquarium, and explore this city before you drive into the center of Houston for maximum enjoyment!
If you would rather explore the beauty of man-made wonders, then there is a magnificent reservoir that you should check out in Richland.
Richland is a really easy place to stop and you don’t need to spend too much time there to appreciate this area. If you’re looking for somewhere to stop on your journey for a few hours, rather than somewhere to visit overnight, then Richland is perfect.
If you are interested in exploring the history of Texas, then you should make a trip to Corsicana.
This small town has an incredibly historic downtown and a rich history in oil. If you want to find out more about this historic town, check out the Pearce Museum during your stop.
There are tons of different attractions that you can check out during your road trip, and the Old Fort Parker Historic Site is one of them!
To visit this attraction, you will need to make a slight detour to Groesbeck, but it is totally worth it just to explore this historic site in Texan history.
Another truly breathtaking place to check out on your journey to Houston is the Sam Houston National Forest. If you love natural beauty, then this is the place for you!
When you are on a long journey, there is nothing better than stretching your legs and the Sam Houston National Forest offers tons of beautiful walking trails for you to explore. It really is a location that you need to check out during your journey!
Finally, if you are taking the I-45S to Houston, we would recommend making a stop at Ennis. This is one of the smallest towns in Texas, and its size makes it the perfect place to stop on your way to Houston.
If you want to go chasing bluebonnets in Texas, then Ennis has some beautiful trails for you to explore. If you time your road trip right, you may even be able to visit the annual Bluebonnet Festival which takes place in Ennis every Spring.
Best Places To Stop On The I-35S/Highway 6
Alternatively, if you want to take the scenic route to Houston, you can take the I-35S and Highway 6. This journey will take you considerably longer, but it really is the better option for anyone wanting to enjoy a Texan road trip.
Some of the best places to visit during your road trip along the I-35S include the following.
The first stop that we would recommend making on this route is Navasota. Navasota was once an incredibly important town in Texas, and many people would travel there on the railroad. To this day, it is still a wonderful place to visit on your road trip.
Navasota is a very vibrant town with a buzzing art scene, tons of culture, fascinating blues heritage, and a charming downtown. To get the true feel of this town, all you have to do is go for a stroll around it.
We’re sure you’ll be impressed with the heritage of this town!
Some places really are essential stops on the way from Dallas to Houston, and Waco is one of them.
Waco is home to tons of incredible attractions. From the Waco mammoth national monument to the Dr. Pepper museum, there is something for everyone in this town. One thing is certain, and that is that you will never grow bored during your stop in Waco.
There are a couple of towns called Hillsboro dotted around the USA, and Hillsboro, Texas, is a great place to visit during your road trip. It is a small town, but it is oozing with character and authenticity, which is why you should check it out.
Stroll around the town, find out all about its history, and pay a visit to one of its many BBQ spots during your stop. We’re sure you’ll be satisfied with your visit to Hillsboro.
As the name suggests, our next stop – Bryan and College Station – is home to one of Texas’s best colleges – Texas A&M University. There are tons of things to do in this college town, including taking a tour of the university, visiting its historic library, and lots more.
If you aren’t interested in the college, then there are lots of other things to do in this town, including a winery and a museum of Natural History. No matter who you are visiting Bryan and College Station with, you will find something to do in this town!
If you want to explore some of the different heritage sites in the USA, then West is a great place to explore Czech heritage. West is home to a lot of people with Czech heritage, and because of this, you will find lots of different Czech bakeries in West.
On your road trip from Dallas to Houston, West really is a place that we wouldn’t recommend missing. Especially if you are a foodie. With lots of different Czech foods to try in West, you really should visit this town on your road trip. Even if it is just for lunch.
Finally, on your trip from Dallas to Houston, we would recommend paying a visit to Waxahachie. This town is known for its Victorian architecture and the Ellis County Courthouse.
If you want to make a spontaneous stop to Waxahachie, then you can easily discover all that you need to know about this town in the visitor center.
With locals to point you in the right direction, you will be able to visit all the best places in Waxahachie in one short trip. You really should try to squeeze this town into your itinerary.
Summary
In short, there are tons of brilliant places to visit on your journey from Dallas to Houston, regardless of what route you take.
Along the I-45S, you will find tons of beautiful man-made and natural attractions for you to explore. Likewise, along the I-35S, you will be able to explore some of the most unique areas of Texas.
Regardless of whether you are driving from Dallas to Houston, or from Houston to Dallas, you will be able to visit all of these towns and attractions on your road trip. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to plan your Texas road trip!
Hi, my name is Robert Miller, and I have lived in Texas all my life. I am proud of my state, and decided to set up this site to share its beauty with others. Through Texans United, I will be talking readers through everything they need to know about Texas. From the best places to eat, and sites to visit, to its history and useful information.
