State Highway 38 has been designated three times. The first route was proposed on May 20, 1918, from
Greenville north and east through
Honey Grove to the Oklahoma border, but that was deferred. The route was finally designated on June 17, 1918, from Greenville to
SH 5 at an unknown point north of Wolfe City. On August 20, 1918, the route was extended to the Red River and was decided to cross SH 5 at Honey Grove. On February 18, 1919, the route extended south to
Terrell. On April 20, 1919, the route extended southwest to
Ennis. On August 21, 1923, the sections south of
Kaufman and north of Greenville were cancelled. On December 17, 1923, this route was cancelled, as it became the northern extension of SH 34. The route was re-designated as a spur from SH 43 to
Beckville. On October 20, 1924, this route became part of rerouted
SH 8. The route was re-designated on January 22, 1930, on a route from
Sugar Land southeast to
Alvin. On June 25, 1930, it extended southeast to Galveston over part of SH 58.
SH 38 Spur was designated on April 25, 1933, to Sugarland. On September 26, 1939, this routing became the southern extension of SH 6 when it was rerouted around the western side of Houston. SH 38 Spur was renumbered
Spur 58.
SH 38A was designated on February 17, 1919, from
Ladonia to
Paris. On August 21, 1923, this route was cancelled. ==SH 52==