Houston to Philadelphia drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best road trip stops on the Houston to Philadelphia drive are New Orleans, Chattanooga and Roanoke. The distance from Houston to Philadelphia by car is 1,547 miles, with a 22h39m driving time.
Planning a Houston to Philadelphia road trip itinerary
The Houston to Philadelphia drive connects the biggest cities in Texas and Pennsylvania.
The top Houston attraction is unquestionably the NASA Space Center, which takes you behind the scenes of the Johnson Space Center. This includes the Mission Briefing Center, and a vast array of high tech exhibitions.
Other attractions include the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Children’s Museum,
For more Houston experiences, try hip hop party bike tours, foodie walks in the Montrose neighbourhood and quirky tours of Houston’s tunnel system.
Top Houston accommodation options include the superb value Club Quarters Houston Downtown and the upscale but boutique Magnolia.
Historic Philadelphia has a series of absolutely stellar attractions. Independence Hall, the Eastern State Penitentiary and the National Constitution Center are all utterly engrossing.
The area around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, meanwhile, crams in the Rodin Museum, the Barnes Foundation, the Franklin Institute and the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Other key attractions in Philadelphia include the Museum of the American Revolution, the Independence Seaport Museum and the Penn Museum. For great Philadelphia tour options, try the Old City historic walking tour, a night tour exploring the city’s dark side or an It’s Always Sunny-themed tour of South Philadelphia.
If looking for Philadelphia accommodation, the Club Quarters Rittenhouse Square is often great value, while the Kimpton Hotel Monaco has style and personality.
Houston to Philadelphia distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Houston to Philadelphia is 1,547 miles. You can expect a driving time of around 22 hours and 39 minutes. The quickest route is via the I-10, I-59, I-81 and I-95.
For roughly even splits in journey time, the best stops to add to a Houston to Philadelphia road trip itinerary are New Orleans, Chattanooga and Roanoke.
Houston to Philadelphia road trip attractions: New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans resolutely refuses to feel like any other American city. From the raucous hedonism of Bourbon Street to the European-influenced charm of the French Quarter, New Orleans is mesmerizingly unusual to hang out in.
Top New Orleans experiences include French Quarter food tours, haunted pub crawls, jazz cruises aboard the steamboat Natchez and cemetery walking tours.
For other attractions, try the National WWII Museum, the Vue Orleans observation deck and the urban enslavement tours at Hermann Grima House.
If looking for New Orleans accommodation, the pool and jazz bar-equipped Royal Sonesta in the French Quarter is a great option. The Virgin Hotel downtown has a huge sense of fun, too.
- For more suggestions of where to stop, check out the guide to the Houston to New Orleans drive.
Best stops between Houston and Philadelphia: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga in the Appalachian foothills is home to the National Medal of Honor Heritage Museum and the Tennessee Aquarium. But it’s mostly an outdoorsy place. Great Chattanooga experiences include rafting on the Middle Ocoee River. There are also backcountry tours in Swincars and kayak adventures to the Nickajack Bat Cave. You can also try Segway tours, guided ghost walks and trolley tours.
Houston to Philadelphia drive: Roanoke, Virginia
The giant star on the side of Mill Mountain is the famed symbol of Roanoke VA. But there’s more on offer in this Blue Ridge Mountains city. For a start, you can head to the top of Mill Mountain – the park also contains Mill Mountain Zoo.
For museums, the Harrison Museum of African-American Culture and the Taubman Museum of Art are the best bets. The highly playable Roanoke Pinball Museum is arguably more fun, though.
Good Roanoke activity options include ebike tours that combine sightseeing and craft breweries, and downtown food tours.
For Roanoke accommodation, the Country Inn and Suites offers good value. Meanwhile, the more luxurious Hotel Roanoke has plenty of character.
- For further suggestions, check out the guides to the Knoxville to Washington DC drive and Washington DC to Philadelphia drive.
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