<P> Houston is located 165 miles ( 266 km ) east of Austin , 112 miles ( 180 km ) west of the Louisiana border , and 250 miles ( 400 km ) south of Dallas . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 656.3 square miles ( 1,700 km ) ; this comprises 634.0 square miles ( 1,642 km ) of land and 22.3 square miles ( 58 km ) covered by water . The Piney Woods are north of Houston . Most of Houston is located on the gulf coastal plain , and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland and forest . Much of the city was built on forested land , marshes , swamp , or prairie which resembles the Deep South , and are all still visible in surrounding areas . The flatness of the local terrain , when combined with urban sprawl , has made flooding a recurring problem for the city . Downtown stands about 50 feet ( 15 m ) above sea level , and the highest point in far northwest Houston is about 125 feet ( 38 m ) in elevation . The city once relied on groundwater for its needs , but land subsidence forced the city to turn to ground - level water sources such as Lake Houston , Lake Conroe , and Lake Livingston . The city owns surface water rights for 1.20 billion gallons of water a day in addition to 150 million gallons a day of groundwater . </P>
<P> Houston is located 165 miles ( 266 km ) east of Austin , 112 miles ( 180 km ) west of the Louisiana border , and 250 miles ( 400 km ) south of Dallas . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 656.3 square miles ( 1,700 km ) ; this comprises 634.0 square miles ( 1,642 km ) of land and 22.3 square miles ( 58 km ) covered by water . The Piney Woods are north of Houston . Most of Houston is located on the gulf coastal plain , and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland and forest . Much of the city was built on forested land , marshes , swamp , or prairie which resembles the Deep South , and are all still visible in surrounding areas . The flatness of the local terrain , when combined with urban sprawl , has made flooding a recurring problem for the city . Downtown stands about 50 feet ( 15 m ) above sea level , and the highest point in far northwest Houston is about 125 feet ( 38 m ) in elevation . The city once relied on groundwater for its needs , but land subsidence forced the city to turn to ground - level water sources such as Lake Houston , Lake Conroe , and Lake Livingston . The city owns surface water rights for 1.20 billion gallons of water a day in addition to 150 million gallons a day of groundwater . </P>
where is houston tx located on the map
where is houston tx located on the map
east of Austin , 112 miles ( 180 km ) west of the Louisiana border , and 250 miles ( 400 km ) south of Dallas
east of Austin , 112 miles ( 180 km ) west of the Louisiana border , and 250 miles ( 400 km ) south of Dallas