I have to be in Houston at the end of January for a conference. I would like to
go to Dallas afterward, to visit a friend.
Can I drive? What is the distance? Is
weather a problem? How long would it take
to drive, vs. fly? Thanks.

Dallas is approximately 5 hours by car; 50 minutes by plan. SW Airlines has flights every hour from Houston Hobby. Because the weather is generally mild in Texas, driving should not be a problem, although it can become icy that time of year. Personally, I'd fly it. It's a boring drive with lots of roadwork and speed traps. When my in-laws lived in Dallas, we went up every few months and that drive got old very quickly.

Donna- the drive from Houston to Dallas via I-45 is about THREE AND A HALF hours, not FIVE! The speed limit is 70 mph, and most people go at least 80. Yes, I'll agree that it is a boring drive.

Christie - The mileage from downtown Houston to downtown Dallas is aprox. 270 miles. The journey can only be done in three and a half hours if you are going at a constant 77/78 miles per hour, with no stops, which is vitually impossible. The best estimate between the two cities is around 4 hours, 40 minutes. But for safety's sake, I have to agree with Donna and allow 5 hours.

I make the drive at least twice a year and I always do it without stopping. I bring a bottle of water and some munchies and I am good to go. The main reason is that there really isn't anywhere to stop in between the two cities! Madisonville does have a Sonic that is fairly close to the highway, but the rest of the towns just have a little gas station.

Seriously- if you only go 70 mph on I-45 you will get run over by the 18-wheelers and other cars. Traffic on that interstate flows at about 80 mph, and I am not kidding. Four hours is plenty of time to make the drive if you insist on going only 75.

What is the speed limit? "Just go 75??"
Take your time!

Don't let em scare you...it' an easy drive...you get on Interstate 45 and just set the cruise control...and 4 hours later you wake up in Dallas.

It's a safe and quick trip.

There is some construction going on on both ends...it just means the lanes are a tad narrower and lined with concrete barriers on both sides.

And the trucks are no problem...they're just tooling along like everyone else.

Driving doesn't get much easier anywhere...except maybe I-10 through the desert.

But Continental Airlines will deliver you right to downtown Dallas (Love Field) from Goerge Bush International in Houston - about 45 minutes.