Day trip from Houston to Waco
Waco lies 262 km (163 mi) north-west of Houston, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
At 262 km (163 mi) apart, Waco is a realistic day trip from Houston: about 4 h 16 min each way by road.
| Houston | Waco | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Population | 2.3 million | 132,356 |
| Elevation | 30 m (98 ft) | 147 m (482 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) |
| Postal codes | 77001–77299 | 76701–76799 |
What to see in Waco
| Sight | Visitors a year | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Waco Mammoth National Monument | 46,457 | 2020 |
The busiest is Waco Mammoth National Monument at 46,457 visitors in 2020. Figures are the latest each site has published, so they are not all for the same year.
Where to book tours and tickets in Waco
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Waco
Live rooms and prices for Waco are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Waco
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Waco from Houston?
262 km (163 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Houston; by road roughly 319 km (198 mi).
How long does it take to get from Houston to Waco by road?
About 4 h 16 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Houston and Waco?
No, both are on America/Chicago at the moment.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.