Victoria County Southbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Bellaire, TX to Brownsville, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 24, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 35m
Distance
347.4 mi
559 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
11 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 23m
★
6 AM
6h 35m
8 AM
6h 59m
10 AM
6h 44m
12 PM
6h 41m
3 PM
6h 45m
5 PM
6h 58m
8 PM
6h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bellaire, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Trip Overview
Bellaire, TX to Brownsville, TX is 347.4 miles and takes about 6h 35m via U.S. Highway 77, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward path south. With 87% of the route on highways, expect a consistent pace for most of the trip. This is a comfortable one-day drive, allowing for a relaxed departure and arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
173.7 miles from Bellaire, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 20m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 105 mi | 1h 56m |
| US Highway 59 | 74.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| Alamo Street | 37.1 mi | 43m |
| US Highway 77 South | 33.2 mi | 37m |
| I 69E | 31.3 mi | 33m |
| Southwest Freeway | 27.8 mi | 31m |
| US 59 | 15.8 mi | 18m |
| North Expressway | 11.1 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Highway 77
— 105 mi, about 1h 56m
Traffic on I-69
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~698 veh/hr typical · worst 1,031
Quietest
2 AM
~112 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellaire, TX and Brownsville, TX.
1
Start on West Loop South Frontage Road
347 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Loop South Frontage Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 610 North
3
Merge onto I 610
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Loop South
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8A
Toward I 69 South, US 59 South: Victoria
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 69, US 59 South: Victoria
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 69; US 59
28 mi
·
31 min
·
Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 94
Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road
8
Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
9
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
10
Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
12
Merge onto US 59
9.2 mi
·
10 min
·
US 59
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 59
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 59
14
Take the exit
1.5 mi
·
2 min
15
Continue on US 59
75 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
US Highway 59
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 91
17
Merge onto US 77
33 mi
·
37 min
·
US Highway 77 South
18
Turn straight onto US 77
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Alamo Street
19
Take the exit onto US 77
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
21
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77
31 mi
·
33 min
·
I 69E; US 77
Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 77
61 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77
44 mi
·
46 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Expressway
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77; US 83
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
North Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 1B
Toward 12th-14th Street
Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn straight onto South Expressway
331 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Expressway
29
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 12th Street
Use the right lane.
30
Turn right onto US 77 Business
29 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Washington Street
31
Arrive at destination
US 77 Business
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive of around 6h 35m, leaving Bellaire in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. The estimated fuel cost is about $54, so factor that into your budget. With only one recommended stop, you can be flexible with breaks, but keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 105-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 77. The route is mostly highway, so enjoy the steady progress.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.7 miles from Bellaire, TX, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 76 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.7 miles or 3h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brownsville, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bellaire, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bellaire, TX
This is one driving day of about 347.4 miles and 6h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Bellaire, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on U.S. Highway 77 for about 105 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
174 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 173.7 miles from Bellaire, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Victoria County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Kenedy County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Texas Travel Information Center at Harlingen
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area
2.1 mi from route
Washington Plaza
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19565422064
Visit websiteStillman House Museum
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.1 mi from route
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+19565415560
Visit websiteGladys Porter Zoo
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+19565467187
Visit websiteSouthern Pacific Linear Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.8 mi from route
~2 min detour
Brownsville, TX
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+19565422064
Visit websiteChildren's Museum of Brownsville
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Brownsville, TX
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19565489300
Visit websiteLincoln Park
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+19569974875
Visit websiteExitusVR
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
Houston, Texas
+17133440525
Visit websiteThe Escape Game Houston (Galleria)
5.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Houston, Texas
Hours: 8 am–12 pm
+17136365541
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 346.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South, US 59 South: Victoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8A
Toward I 69 South, US 59 South: Victoria
8
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 69, US 59 South: Victoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 69, US 59 South: Victoria
6
29.8 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 94
Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartle...
7
198.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 49m in
|
I 69E; US 77
Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
7
346.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 32m in
Take the exit toward 12th-14th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward 12th-14th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.15 one way
$104.30 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
122 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $57.70 | $115.41 |
| premium | $4.57 | $62.44 | $124.87 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $85.84 | $171.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
EV Charging Along Route
11 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Houston, TX - Yale Street - Tesla Supercharger
Houston, TX
Tesla
35 DCFC
Houston, TX - Weslayan Street - Tesla Supercharger
Houston, TX
Tesla
24 DCFC
Houston, TX - Kipling Street - Tesla Supercharger
Houston, TX
Tesla
19 DCFC
Houston, TX - Westheimer Road - Tesla Supercharger
Houston, TX
Tesla
16 DCFC
3939 Southwest Fwy
Houston, TX
SHELL_RECHARGE
8 DCFC
Walmart 5959 (Houston, TX)
Houston, TX
Electrify America
6 DCFC
Central Houston Nissan
Houston, TX
Non-Networked
4 DCFC
Doggett Ford South Loop
Houston, TX
FORD_CHARGE
4 DCFC
Tesla: 4
Non-Networked: 1
Blink Network: 1
NOODOE: 1
FORD_CHARGE: 1
EVBOLT: 1
SHELL_RECHARGE: 1
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.2 | 1 | $36.48 | $16.68 |
| Efficient EV | 86.9 | 0 | $30.40 | $13.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 139 | 1 | $48.64 | $22.23 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Bellaire, TX
Evening in Bellaire on Saturday
Local time
5:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SE 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 24 at 12:44PM MDT until October 25 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Destination
Brownsville, TX
Evening in Brownsville on Saturday
Local time
5:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
ESE 15 mph
12% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 24 at 12:44PM MDT until October 25 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 35m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
National Historical Park
On May 8, 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Although the two countries have deve...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 335.4
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore
National Seashore
Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
$25
near mile 263.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 87% of your 347.4-mile drive on highways, mostly U.S. Highway 77. The longest continuous stretch on this highway is approximately 105 miles. The route transitions to surface roads, including Alamo Street, towards the end of your 6h 35m trip. Expect a good amount of rural cruising with fewer exits on the highway portions.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 mi on U.S. Highway 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and US Highway 59. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 347.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
103 ft
23 ft
Total Climb
84 ft
Total Descent
100 ft
Highest Point
103 ft
~49.6 mi in
Elevation Range
80 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bellaire, TX to Brownsville, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 10: Cottonwood along the way.
Spur 10: Cottonwood
29.8 mi in
|
~35m
About the Cities
Starting in Bellaire, TX
Full guide →Founded 1918
Arriving in Brownsville, TX
Full guide →Founded 1849
Located at the southernmost tip of Texas, Brownsville is a popular location for Mexican and American beach tourists. It is part of the Rio Grande Valley, a four-county region known for its abundance in citrus fruit production and Winter Texan population. The city features a combination of different climate regimes: Gulf Coast plains and the Great Plains. There is a lot to do in this city: historical museums, art galleries, beaches, birding locations and natural wildlife refuges. As Brownsville is a border town, its culture is predominantly Hispanic.
Top landmarks
- • USS Cabot — 1943 Independence-class aircraft carrier
- • Fort Brown — former US Amy post in Texas
- • Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park — historic site in Brownsville (vicinity), Cameron County, Texas
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 35m. Total distance: 347.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 35m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105 miles on U.S. Highway 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Brownsville, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brownsville, TX before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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