Houston to Hochatown & Broken Bow: Drive Time, Route and Stops
Hochatown is about 350 miles from downtown Houston, about 6 hr 30 min of driving without traffic or stops. Broken Bow is 10 miles closer. Houston is the longest drive on this list, close to 350 miles. The routing sends you up I-69/US-59 into the East Texas Piney Woods, then north on US highways through a string of small towns to the Red River at the Oklahoma line.
The route from Houston
- Take I-69/US-59 north out of Houston through Humble, Cleveland, Livingston and Lufkin to Nacogdoches, about 140 miles.
- At Nacogdoches, go north on US-259 through Mount Enterprise to Henderson, then on to Kilgore.
- From Kilgore, continue north to Gladewater and take US-271 through Gilmer and Pittsburg to Mount Pleasant.
- At Mount Pleasant, take I-30 east for about 17 miles, then exit onto US-259 north across the Red River to Idabel, Oklahoma.
- From Idabel, stay on US-259 (shared with US-70) north to Broken Bow, then 10 more miles to Hochatown.
Towns you pass: Humble, Cleveland, Livingston, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Henderson, Kilgore, Gladewater, Gilmer, Pittsburg, Mount Pleasant, Idabel, Broken Bow.
Drive times are a range because two routing engines (OSRM and Valhalla, on OpenStreetMap roads) disagree on how fast the two-lane stretches go. Neither counts traffic, construction or stops. Computed 2026-09-29.
Where to stop for fuel and food
This is a full day. Plan at least two stops — Lufkin or Nacogdoches, then Mount Pleasant — and expect small towns only after Mount Pleasant.
What to pick up before the last stretch
Your route runs right through Broken Bow, the last stop with full grocery stores — Walmart Supercenter, Pruett's Food and DG Market — about 10 miles before Hochatown. There are no full grocery stores in Hochatown itself. Convenience stores and a market along US-259 carry basics, ice and firewood, but selection is limited and prices are higher.
- Groceries and drinks for the whole stay, plus ice.
- Firewood, if you plan a fire — check the McCurtain County burn ban first.
- Offline maps: download your route and the cabin's directions before you leave.
Cell service near the end of the drive
Cell coverage is spotty throughout Hochatown and the surrounding forest. T-Mobile and Verizon users may see a bar or two on the main road but lose signal at many cabins; AT&T is a little better in some spots. GPS keeps working, but don't count on live directions once you're deep in the forest: download the route and your cabin's directions before you leave Houston. Most cabins have Wi-Fi once you arrive.
EV fast charging on the way
DC fast chargers listed within two miles of this route by the Department of Energy's Alternative Fuels Data Center, as of 2026-09-29:
- Livingston, TX: Tesla Supercharger (8 stalls)
- Lufkin, TX: eVgo at Pilot (6 ports), Ford (4 ports) and Blink (2 ports)
- Nacogdoches and Henderson, TX: Tesla Superchargers (8 stalls each)
- Mount Pleasant, TX: Electrify America (4 ports) and Blink at EAG Ford/Dodge (6 ports)
- Broken Bow, OK: 2 CCS fast-charging ports (EV Connect) at James Hodge Chevrolet, about 10 miles before Hochatown
Well covered as far as Mount Pleasant. From there it is roughly 75 miles to Broken Bow with nothing listed as DC fast in between, so leave Mount Pleasant with enough for that plus your local driving.
Several of the small-town sites are at car dealerships, so check the network's app for access before counting on one. For live station data near Hochatown, including Level 2 chargers, see the EV charging map.
When to leave Houston
The traffic that matters is the last few miles: cabin check-ins pile onto US-259 on Friday afternoon, and checkouts push it back out on Sunday. For Friday, Oct 2, our traffic model says arrive before 2:30 PM and avoid 3-7 PM. With the slower estimate of 7 hr 10 min from Houston, that means leaving by about 7:15 AM, earlier if you're stopping. Arriving Saturday instead? Aim for before 11 AM or after 8 PM. Heading home Sunday, leave Hochatown before 10 AM or after 4 PM; leaving by the early window puts you back in Houston around 5:15 PM.
| Day | Best arrival | Worst arrival | Best time to leave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Before 2:30 PM | 3-7 PM | Before 11 AM (errands) or after 8 PM |
| Saturday | Before 11 AM or after 8 PM | 11 AM-1 PM and 5-7 PM | Before 10 AM or after 8 PM |
| Sunday | After 4 PM | 10 AM-3 PM | Before 10 AM or after 4 PM |
| Monday–Thursday | Most daytime hours | 4-6 PM near US-259 / 259A | Mid-morning or after the evening rush |
These are the model's typical weekly patterns, not live measurements. Before you set off, check Hochatown traffic today for incidents, ice or flooding on US-259 and the day's road score. The stretch to watch is US-259 between SH-259A North and SH-259A South.
US-259 Hochatown Boulevard project (US-259 between SH-259A North and SH-259A South): Two lanes are expected to remain open, but drivers may see delays and congestion during peak tourist seasons. Source: Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Flying instead?
Texarkana Regional (TXK) is about 90 miles from Hochatown, 1 hr 40 min–2 hr 10 min by car. Shreveport Regional (SHV) is about 170 miles from Hochatown, 2 hr 55 min–3 hr 35 min by car. The closest commercial airport to Hochatown is Texarkana Regional (TXK) at about 90 miles. Whichever you choose, the trip ends with a drive, so plan on a car. See all nearby airports and drive times.
Know before you hit US-259
The free Discover Hochatown app for iPhone shows live US-259 road conditions and the day's best drive windows. Turn on Road conditions and it notifies you about reported closures or accidents around Hochatown, or ice, snow or flooding on US-259 — handy on the drive in.
Download on the App Store About the appHouston to Hochatown: questions
How far is Hochatown from Houston?
Hochatown is about 350 miles from downtown Houston, about 6 hr 30 min of driving (5 hr 55 min–7 hr 10 min depending on the routing) without traffic or stops.
How far is Broken Bow from Houston?
Broken Bow is about 340 miles from Houston, about 6 hr 15 min without traffic or stops. Hochatown is another 10 miles north on US-259.
What's the best route from Houston to Hochatown?
I-69/US-59 to Nacogdoches, US-259 and US-271 through East Texas to Mount Pleasant, then US-259 north.
Where should I stop between Houston and Hochatown?
The practical fuel and food stops are Lufkin, TX (about 115 miles in); Nacogdoches, TX (about 140 miles); and Mount Pleasant, TX (about 260 miles). This is a full day. Plan at least two stops — Lufkin or Nacogdoches, then Mount Pleasant — and expect small towns only after Mount Pleasant. Do your grocery run in Broken Bow; Hochatown has no full grocery store.
What time should I leave Houston on a Friday?
Our traffic model says arrive in Hochatown before 2:30 PM on Friday and avoid 3-7 PM, when cabin check-ins stack up on US-259. Using the slower drive estimate, that means leaving Houston by about 7:15 AM, earlier if you plan to stop.
What's the nearest airport if I fly instead of driving from Houston?
The closest commercial airport to Hochatown is Texarkana Regional (TXK) in Texarkana, AR, about 90 miles away. From TXK it's about 90 miles and from SHV it's about 170 miles by road. Every option ends with a drive, so plan on a car.
Driving from somewhere else?
Dallas · Fort Worth · Oklahoma City · Tulsa · Texarkana · Shreveport · All drive times & airports