Dallas to Houston EV Road Trip

Connect Texas's two biggest metros on I-45. Flat, straight, and packed with fast chargers. One of the easiest EV corridors in the state.

240 miles
Distance
1
Charging Stops
3.5 hours
Drive Time
Easy
Difficulty

Route Overview

Dallas to Houston along I-45 is the Texas Triangle's most traveled road. At 240 miles of dead-flat highway, it's a straightforward EV trip with one quick charging stop. The route passes through small-town Texas and has the bonus of being bookended by two of the country's best food cities.

Why This Route Is Easy

Texas is flat. The I-45 corridor is flat. The weather is usually warm (great for battery efficiency). Tesla has multiple Supercharger locations along the route, and Electrify America has stations at Buc-ee's and Walmart locations.

Key Highlights

  • Corsicana — Home of Collin Street Bakery (the fruitcake people). Seriously, their pecan cake is worth a stop.
  • Centerville — Famous Buc-ee's location. Texas-sized gas station/travel plaza with an EA charger.
  • Huntsville — Home of Sam Houston State University and a 67-foot Sam Houston statue visible from I-45
  • The Woodlands — Upscale planned community just north of Houston with dining and shopping

Texas BBQ Detours

I-45 is within striking distance of some of Texas's best BBQ:

  • Hutchins BBQ (McKinney, north of Dallas) — Great brisket and free ice cream
  • Lockhart — Texas BBQ capital (about an hour detour from the route). Kreuz Market, Smitty's, and Black's.
  • Killen's BBQ (Pearland, south of Houston) — Worth the detour if arriving in Houston
  • Truth BBQ (Houston) — Right in the city, some of the best brisket in Texas

Seasonal Tips

  • Summer: Hot. Very hot. Your AC will be working hard. Budget for slightly more energy consumption, but one charging stop still covers it.
  • Spring: Best season. Wildflowers (bluebonnets) along the highway in March-April.
  • Fall/Winter: Mild and comfortable. Best EV road trip weather.

Houston Hotel Recommendations

  • Hotel Granduca — Upscale with EV charging
  • Downtown Houston hotels — Discovery Green area has several hotels with EV charging
  • The Galleria area — Shopping and hotels with parking garage chargers
  • Museum District — Near Hermann Park, great location with ChargePoint stations nearby

Recommended Charging Stops

1

Centerville / Madisonville Supercharger

Centerville, TX (I-45 at Buc-ee's) or Madisonville, TX

Tesla Supercharger / Electrify America

The midpoint of the Dallas-Houston corridor. The Buc-ee's in Centerville has Electrify America chargers and is an experience in itself (cleanest bathrooms on the highway, walls of beef jerky, and brisket sandwiches).

Need a Place to Stay?

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