Everything You Need To Know About Driving in Houston

Just because Houston is the worst city in Texas for traffic doesn’t mean you have to get stuck in a jam. Check out Jerry’s guide to driving in Houston.
Written by Cassandra Hamilton
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Houston, Texas is one of the largest cities in the U.S. and is home to key industries and cultural events. Traffic can get pretty bad during rush hour and finding parking is always challenging, no matter what time you’re driving.
Houston is home to incredible food, every sports team you can imagine, and a rich arts culture. The fourth-most-populous city in America, Houston also has the largest area of any city in the country. Of course, more space means more roads and more opportunities for bad traffic!
Whether you’ve recently moved to Houston or you’re just visiting, we're here to help you navigate Houston’s notoriously bad traffic. We’ll talk about driving conditions in the city, driving laws, and tips for avoiding traffic in Space City.
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What is driving in Houston like?

Houston is perhaps the most famous for being home to NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, but it’s also famous for having the worst traffic in
Texas
. In fact, Houston ranked as the worst for drivers in Texas from 2001 to 2019 due to the number of reckless drivers and instances of fatal crashes.
If you want to stay safe on the road when you’re in Houston, you’ll need to prepare ahead of time. Here are some things to consider before going for a drive in Space City.

Roads

Houston has over 4,000 miles of highway within the city. A feature unique to Houston is the “feeder roads” which take the place of the common access roads found across the country. Feeder roads span multiple traffic lanes, so you’ll need to plan ahead to make sure you’re in the right lane before entering or exiting a highway.
Downtown Houston is filled with one-way streets and stoplights on nearly every corner. Due to constant road work and construction, you’ll need a sharp eye and a good navigation system to make sure you’re actually headed toward your destination. Driving in downtown Houston can be a challenge if you’re not accustomed to the confusing layout.
Many of Houston’s highways have nicknames you’ll need to familiarize yourself with, like the 26-lane Katy Freeway. The Katy Freeway stretches 23 miles on Interstate 10 from downtown Houston to the suburb of Katy, where the highway gets its name. 
Some of the nicknames correspond with the direction you’re traveling in, like Gulf Freeway for I-45 South, but other nicknames don’t have any apparent connection to the actual road name, like calling the Sam Houston Tollway “Beltway 8.”
Study the highway nicknames and check out a map of downtown to keep yourself straight before driving in Houston.

Parking

It’s always a challenge to find parking in Houston, no matter what time of day it is. This is especially true near popular attractions, like the Space Center. When you’re downtown, use a parking app like
ParkHouston
to find and reserve spots, which are paid by the hour via parking meters.
To prepare for your visit, you can check out a
map of downtown Houston’s parking
in order to see your options for parking garages, surface lots, and valet parking.
If you decide to park at a meter in downtown Houston, be aware that most spaces expire after three hours. Be careful not to park in front of a red curb—you’ll be subject to towing if you do.
No matter where you end up parking, check your surroundings for parking signs to make sure you’re not in violation of a standing policy or temporary rule.

Weather 

Houston is in the South, so, as you can imagine, it’s home to hot and muggy summers. A big threat to drivers is the probability of warm weather bringing supercell thunderstorms or even hurricanes to Space City.
This is what you can expect in the extreme seasons:
  • Summer: Most days are above 90 ºF, and the heat can lead to all sorts of engine problems, like overheating. Make sure you keep up with the
    maintenance schedule
    on your cooling system so that your engine (and you!) remain at a comfortable temperature.
  • Winter: Temperatures don’t often fall below 35 ºF. Recent changes in the climate are making Houston’s winters somewhat unpredictable though—Space City has been seeing snow and ice in the past few years, and many residents are unprepared to safely drive in these conditions. The city also doesn’t have the infrastructure to deal with winter weather, so try to avoid going out in the snow and ice.
MORE: How to find a parking spot in a city
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Traffic and transportation options in Houston

Houston’s confusing and entwined downtown streets are already hard to navigate, and traffic congestion makes this problem worse.
These are the worst times for driving in Houston:
  • 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.: Houston has rush hour like every other city, but the difference is that rush hour in Houston lasts longer. The morning rush hour lasts two hours and is sure to slow your travels down.
  • 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Evening rush hour in Houston starts a little earlier and ends a little later than is typical. Try to stay off the highways during this time as they’re packed full of office workers trying to get home. Roadways usually clear around 7:30 p.m.
  • The worst congestion is near the Galleria Mall between US 59 and I-10. You should definitely avoid this area during rush hour.
For traffic information and updates, tune in to
Newsradio 740 KTRH
on 740 AM or on the iHeartRadio website or app.

Should I rent a car in Houston?

Anytime you visit a new location, renting a car is an option. There are benefits and drawbacks to it though—while you’ll be able to get around easily, you run the risk of vandalism, theft, or even an accident. You’ll also have to deal with traffic congestion during rush hour, around popular attractions, or during a city event.
You can always get around bad traffic by opting for public transportation. Houston’s METRO offers many bus lines and 22.7 miles of light rail coverage. The light rail travels to many popular areas, like the theater district, and is as affordable as the bus system: $1.25 per ride.
Taxis in Houston that lie within the boundaries of US 59, I-10, and I-45 have a flat $6 fare. You can also opt for arideshare service, or take part in the city’s bicycle-sharing system.
MORE: 7 ways to save money on car rentals
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Local driving laws in Houston

It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the traffic laws of any city you travel to, and driving in Houston is no exception. Here are a few key laws to be aware of:
  • Texting and driving in Texas
    is illegal. Stay aware of signage alerting you of school zones to avoid fines.
  • Texas’
    Move Over or Slow Down law
    says all drivers must move over a lane or slow to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when approaching emergency vehicles, tow trucks, law enforcement, utility service vehicles, TxDOT vehicles, or other construction/maintenance vehicles using flashing lights on the roadside.
  • Texas outlawed
    red light cameras
    in 2019, but it is still illegal to go through a red light.

Crime rate in Houston

A big impact on your drive and your
car insurance
rates is the crime rate in Houston.
According to NeighborhoodScout, Houston has a crime rate of 56 per 1,000 residents every year, one of the highest crime rates in the nation. If you want to avoid being the victim of a crime, try to navigate your journey through Houston’s safest neighborhoods, like Midtown, Clear Lake City, and Kingwood.
Car theft
is common in Houston. Residents of Houston have a 1 in 155 chance of having their car stolen. If you move to Houston, make sure your car is equipped with a top-of-the-line security system and always park in bright, well-lit areas.

How to find car insurance in Houston

With all the risk factors and traffic congestion, you might be considering selling your car instead of finding affordable car insurance. Don’t fear—
Jerry
is here to help you find the best rates on your car insurance in Space City.
Jerry is a car insurance comparison super app that doesn’t just find you quotes—Jerry also handles the paperwork and helps cancel your old policy. Jerry is partnered with over 50 top insurance companies so you’ll be sure to get the best quote for your needs and budget with Jerry taking care of the comparison shopping.
The best part is that Jerry users save an average of $887 per year on car insurance. Download the app today and find out why we’re top-rated in the App Store!
“Using
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is a super straightforward process, and at each step, you can see exactly what coverage you’re paying for. Thanks to Jerry, I’m paying $900 less each year while keeping full coverage for my new car!” —Martin H.
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