Trip from Brownfield, TX to Houston, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

10h 6m

Distance

537.8 mi

866 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$81

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

9h 57m ★

6 AM

10h 6m

8 AM

10h 24m

10 AM

10h 13m

12 PM

10h 11m

3 PM

10h 14m

5 PM

10h 24m

8 PM

10h 1m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

city in and county seat of Terry County, Texas, United States

Brownfield, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Trip Overview

Spanning 536.2 miles across the heart of Texas, this journey from Brownfield to Houston typically requires about 8 hours and 36 minutes of actual driving time. Because of the significant distance, I strongly recommend planning for a two-day trip rather than attempting it in one exhausting stretch. You will navigate a variety of routes, including North 1st Street, Seagraves Road, and Lamesa Highway, while crossing through the Great Plains. Budgeting approximately $82 for fuel is a smart move to keep your finances on track. Since this trip stays entirely within the Great Plains region, the landscape remains consistent, but the long duration makes pacing essential for a comfortable experience.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

268.9 miles from Brownfield, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Texas State Highway 71	137 mi	2h 25m
US 87	104.4 mi	1h 55m
TX 71	63.3 mi	1h 25m
William B Crooker Memorial Highway	52.1 mi	52m
State Highway 71	47.2 mi	50m
North US Highway 87	18.1 mi	18m
South US Highway 87	18.1 mi	18m
Lamesa Highway	15.6 mi	16m

Longest stretch: Texas State Highway 71 — 137 mi, about 2h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brownfield, TX and Houston, TX.

Start on US 62; US 82; US 385

42 ft · 3 sec · Lubbock Road

Continue on US 62; US 82; US 380; US 385

0.5 mi · 1 min · North 1st Street

Continue on US 62; US 385

1.1 mi · 1 min · Seagraves Road

Turn left onto TX 137

0.9 mi · 1 min · Lamesa Highway

Continue on TX 137

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Highway 137

Continue on TX 137

15 mi · 14 min · Lamesa Highway

Continue on TX 137

2.4 mi · 2 min · Brownfield Highway

Continue on TX 137

15 mi · 22 min · North State Highway 137

Continue on TX 137

1.2 mi · 1 min · North Bryan Avenue

Turn left onto US 180

0.7 mi · 55 sec · North 4th Street

Turn right onto US 87; US 180

1.2 mi · 1 min · North Lynn Avenue

Continue on US 87; US 180

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Dallas Avenue

Continue on US 87; US 180

18 mi · 18 min · South US Highway 87

Continue on US 87

1.4 mi · 1 min · William Crooker Highway

Continue on US 87

18 mi · 18 min · North US Highway 87

Continue on US 87

52 mi · 52 min · William B Crooker Memorial Highway

Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163

1.2 mi · 2 min · 4th Street

Continue on US 87

15 mi · 14 min · US Highway 87 South

Continue on US 87

104 mi · 1 hr 55 min · US 87

Turn right onto US 87; US 190; US 377

2.8 mi · 3 min · Bridge Street

Turn left onto TX 71

47 mi · 50 min · State Highway 71

Turn left onto TX 29; TX 71

2.8 mi · 3 min · TX 29; TX 71

Turn right onto TX 16; TX 71

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Bessemer Avenue

Continue on TX 16; TX 71

1.1 mi · 1 min · Ford Street

Turn left onto TX 71

63 mi · 1 hr 25 min · TX 71

Use the left / straight lanes.

Continue on State Highway 71 West

1.1 mi · 1 min · State Highway 71 West

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 34 sec · this road

Merge onto US 290

0.7 mi · 59 sec · West US Highway 290

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 12 sec

Toward US 290 East, TX 71 East

Merge onto West US Highway 290

202 ft · 2 sec · West US Highway 290

Continue on US 290; TX 71

14 mi · 15 min · US 290; TX 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto 71 Toll

1.9 mi · 2 min · Bastrop Freeway

Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 71

0.5 mi · 29 sec · East State Highway 71

Continue on TX 71

137 mi · 2 hr 25 min · Texas State Highway 71

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 10 Toll

3.2 mi · 4 min · Katy Tollway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 90

11 mi · 13 min · Katy Freeway

Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Exit 769A Toward Downtown, Theatre District Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on Smith Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Smith Street

Turn left onto Preston Street

331 ft · 16 sec · Preston Street

Turn left onto Louisiana Street

179 ft · 5 sec · Louisiana Street

Arrive at destination

Louisiana Street

Trip Plan

To manage the 536.2-mile trek effectively, break your travel into two days to avoid fatigue. With two planned stops incorporated into your itinerary, look for natural opportunities to refuel and stretch your legs, especially given the $82 fuel requirement for the trip. Departing early in the morning is your best strategy to maximize daylight hours and avoid the stress of navigating rural roads after dark. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the transition between local roads like Lamesa Highway and Seagraves Road may change the availability of service stations. Prioritize consistent pacing throughout the 8-hour and 36-minute duration to ensure you arrive in Houston feeling refreshed rather than drained.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 268.9 miles from Brownfield, TX, or about 4h 53m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 118 miles or 2h 9m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 268.9 miles or 4h 53m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 268.9 miles or 4h 53m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Houston, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Brownfield, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Brownfield, TX

Aim for roughly 269 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Houston, TX

Aim for roughly 269 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 118 miles from Brownfield, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Texas State Highway 71 for about 137 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Live Oak, TX

177 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Austin, TX

355 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Austin, TX

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to Houston, TX

162.3 mi · 2h 59m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Leander, TX

269 mi · about 5.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Leander, TX after about 269 miles or 5.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Big Spring, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 118 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Live Oak, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 268.9 miles from Brownfield, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Texas State Highway 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 269 miles or 5.1 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Houston, Texas

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 536.2

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Houston, Texas

1.1 mi

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 536.2

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Cidercade Houston

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 536.2

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13462417524

Visit website

Children's Museum Houston

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 536.2

Houston, Texas

Hours: 9 am–8 pm

+17135221138

Visit website

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 536.2

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+17139266368

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 304.5 and 537.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

304.5 mi into trip | ~5h 33m in | TX 71

Turn left onto TX 71

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

369.7 mi into trip | ~7h 3m in

Take the exit toward US 290 East, TX 71 East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 290 East, TX 71 East

383.4 mi into trip | ~7h 18m in | 71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway

Turn straight onto 71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 Toll North

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward 71 Toll East, TX 45 Toll North, TX 130 T...

522.8 mi into trip | ~9h 46m in

Take the exit toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway

537.2 mi into trip | ~10h 4m in

Take the exit toward Downtown, Theatre District

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 769A Toward Downtown, Theatre District

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$81.26 one way

$162.53 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 188 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$88.95	$177.90
premium	$4.54	$96.02	$192.04
diesel	$5.61	$118.74	$237.48

Estimated Tolls: $0.23

Katy Tollway (3.2 mi) $0.23

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$81

Tolls

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$211–$321

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 188.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	161.3	1	$56.47	$25.81
Efficient EV	134.5	1	$47.06	$21.51
EV Truck/SUV	215.1	2	$75.29	$34.42

Gas CO2

188 kg

EV CO2

63 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Brownfield, TX

Late night in Brownfield on Sunday

Local time

1:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Sunday

Local time

1:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

26 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

10h 6m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a grounded, long-distance experience as you navigate away from the familiarity of local streets like North 1st Street and onto the broader network of Seagraves Road and Lamesa Highway. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a drive that relies heavily on local thoroughfares rather than high-speed interstate systems. This lack of highway dominance means you will experience a more direct, perhaps slower-paced connection between the origin and destination. The personality of this route is defined by steady, sustained movement across the Texas plains. You will spend the vast majority of your day behind the wheel, so prepare for the mental focus required for such a lengthy, non-interstate journey.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 137 mi on Texas State Highway 71.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Texas State Highway 71 and US 87. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 304.5 miles in near TX 71.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 537.8 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 304.5 miles (TX 71): Lane positioning matters here; at 369.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 383.4 miles (71 Toll / Bastrop Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Brownfield, TX to Houston, TX, road signs begin pointing toward 71 Toll East along the way.

71 Toll East

383.4 mi in | ~7h 18m | via 71 Toll

About the Cities

Starting in Brownfield, TX

Full guide →

Brownfield is a city in the Llano Estacado region of Texas.

Arriving in Houston, TX

Full guide →

“Space City” · Founded 1836

Houston is a sprawling port city in Southeastern Texas. An oil boom and continuing international immigration has brought explosive growth to the city, and it is now the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and the most diverse large city since 2021. While at first glance, the city appears to be a 9-5 central business district surrounded by a sea of suburbs and strip malls, there are many hidden gems to be discovered.

Top landmarks

• Museum of Fine Arts, Houston — art museum in Houston, Texas
• Astrodome — historic place in Houston, Harris County, Texas
• Rothko Chapel — building in Houston, Harris County, Texas

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 137 miles on Texas State Highway 71. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 269 miles on day one.

Expect about $0.23 in tolls one way, starting with Katy Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Houston, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Not recommended in a single day. At 10.1 hours each way, a round trip means 20.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Houston, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Houston, TX to Brownfield, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

537.6 mi 10h 5m

Explore more options from Brownfield, TX or browse trips ending in Houston, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Brownfield, TX to Houston, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Downtown Aquarium

Downtown Aquarium

Cidercade Houston

Children's Museum Houston

Union Station

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

Midtown Park

Waugh Drive Bat Colony

Houston Zoo

Badu Park

The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Brownfield, TX

Houston, TX

Same local time

26 degrees warmer at arrival

10h 6m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Brownfield, TX

Arriving in Houston, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Houston, TX

More from Brownfield, TX

More trips to Houston, TX