Major city · United States
HuntsvilleHuntsville, Texas
Stop for one night on the I-45 run between Houston and Dallas: Sam Houston's museum and the prison museum fill a half day, then move on.
Huntsville is a small East Texas city of about 45,000 on Interstate 45, roughly 60–90 minutes north of Houston and 2.5 hours south of Dallas. It is a prison town and a university town at once: the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is headquartered here and Sam Houston State University brings about 20,000 students. Visitors come for Sam Houston's grave and museum, the Texas Prison Museum, and Huntsville State Park. One night is enough; two if you want the park and a campus game.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), late Aug–Sep (hurricane season on the Gulf)
- Airports
- IAH · HOU · DFW · HTV
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Huntsville911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Huntsville Police (non-emergency)936-291-5480
- Sam Houston State University Police936-294-1800
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Huntsville, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyHuntsville is a normal small Texas city; the practical risks are summer heat, long unlit stretches of trail, and driving I-45 after dark.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 936-291-5480 Huntsville Police (non-emergency) · 936-294-1800 Sam Houston State University Police
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportIAH George Bush Intercontinental, Houston (About 1 h 15 min by car north on I-45; the usual gateway.).
- Getting aroundYou need a car.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- Sit-down mealSteak dinner$40–75
- Street or quick mealBreakfast plate$10–16
- BeerDraught beer at a bar$6–9
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum admission (Sam Houston Memorial Museum)Grounds free; check current hours.$5
- Budget bedState park campsite, a night, per roomUS$15
- Mid-range bedMotel or inn room, a night, per roomUS$90
- High-end bedMotel or inn room, a night, per roomUS$140
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- IAH George Bush Intercontinental, Houston (About 1 h 15 min by car north on I-45; the usual gateway.) · HOU William P. Hobby, Houston (About 1 h 30 min by car.) · DFW Dallas Fort Worth International (About 3 h by car south on I-45.) · HTV Bruce Bros Huntsville Regional (General aviation only, 2 miles northwest of town; no scheduled airline service.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Feb
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Mar
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Apr
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
May
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jun
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Aug
Avoid*
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Sep
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Dec
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)), coolest Jan (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest May (9 rain days), driest Apr (7). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Huntsville: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
8 rd
Feb
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
8 rd
Mar
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
8 rd
Apr
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
9 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8 rd
Jul
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
8 rd
Aug
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
8 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7 rd
Nov
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
8 rd
Dec
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
8 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
You need a car. There is no public transit bus service in Huntsville; rideshare is available but thin outside campus hours. Downtown, the university and the museums are within a 20-minute walk of each other, but the prison museum and the state park are a drive.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
The Woodlands
goDoor to door: About 45 min
I-45 south by car
Shopping, restaurants and a waterfront; easy half day on the way to Houston.
Nacogdoches
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h 30 min
US 190 east then US 59 north by car
Historic East Texas town; too far for a comfortable same-day return.
Lufkin
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 15 min
US 190 east by car
Useful as a break on the Piney Woods run, not a destination in itself.
Jasper
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
US 190 east by car
Deep Piney Woods; combine with Nacogdoches rather than a return trip.
San Augustine
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h 30 min
US 190 east by car
One of Texas's oldest towns; pair with Nacogdoches.
Hemphill
skipDoor to door: About 3 h
US 190 east then TX-87 north by car
Too far for a day from Huntsville.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
I-45 feeder lanes (north and south)
Chain motels and inns with parking; best for one night with a car.
Downtown and university area
Walkable to the square, Sam Houston Avenue restaurants and campus; fewer rooms.
Huntsville State Park
Campsites and RV sites in the pine woods, about 10 min south of town.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–180 excl. bed
- High
- $180+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Chain hotel room1 × 1 night × US$130 | US$130 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110 | US$220 |
| Greyhound Houston → Huntsville, one way2 × US$32 · check | US$64 |
| Car fuel, Houston → Huntsville and back1 × US$30 · check | US$30 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$48 |
| Trip total≈ US$266 per person per day, bed included | US$532 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at the till. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Breakfast plate | $10–16 |
| Loaded baked potato or burger | $12–20 |
| Steak dinner | $40–75 |
| Draught beer at a bar | $6–9 |
| Museum admission (Sam Houston Memorial Museum)Grounds free; check current hours. | $5 |
| Museum admission (HEARTS Veterans Museum)check | $8 adults, $3 students |
| Huntsville State Park entryCamping and canoe rental extra. | $5 per adult, check |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Summer heat: July and August highs sit in the mid-30s °C with high humidity; carry water on any trail.
- Prison facilities are working sites: do not photograph them or linger at the gates.
- The Lone Star Hiking Trail has parking at trailheads but usually no water or toilets; bring both.
- Rideshare can be scarce late at night away from campus.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- Huntsville Police (non-emergency)
- 936-291-5480
- Sam Houston State University Police
- 936-294-1800
Pocket card
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HuntsvilleHuntsville, Texas
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Huntsville Police (non-emergency)936-291-5480
- SHSU University Police936-294-1800
Embassy
No embassies here; consulates are in Houston. US visitors: your own embassy is in Washington, DC.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Greyhound Houston → Huntsville: about $30–35, roughly every 2 h (check)
- Greyhound Dallas → Huntsville: about $25–35, roughly every 2 h (check)
- Rideshare across town: $10–18 (check)
Say or show
- Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
- Is there water on the trail? — Is there water on the trail?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- How far is the state park? — How far is the state park?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Huntsville. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), late Aug–Sep (hurricane season on the Gulf) · month by month →
- 4 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for IAH and HOU: last-drive times, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown square and city hall, Sam Houston Avenue and campus, the I-45 motel strip.
- Place pages with verified hours (Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Texas Prison Museum, HEARTS Veterans Museum, Huntsville State Park) and eat pages with last orders.
- Heat and storm fixtures so summer and hurricane-season days can go green.