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Trip from Brownsville, TX to Addison, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

10h 9m

Distance

540.8 mi

870 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$82

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
10h 0m ★
6 AM
10h 9m
8 AM
10h 27m
10 AM
10h 15m
12 PM
10h 14m
3 PM
10h 16m
5 PM
10h 26m
8 PM
10h 4m

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

Downtown Brownsville, TX, TX

Brownsville, TX

Eddie O.

Downtown Addison, TX, TX

Addison, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

This is a considerable drive of 540.8 miles from Brownsville, TX, to Addison, TX, estimated to take around 10 hours and 9 minutes. Given the long duration, this route is best tackled over two days, with a suggested fuel cost of approximately $82. You'll be traveling primarily on U.S. Highway 77 and I-35E, with a significant portion on Purple Heart Trail. This journey traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a long-distance driving experience that requires planning for overnight stops. Expect a solid day of driving if you attempt it in one go, but splitting it into two days will make for a more relaxed trip.

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

270.4 miles from Brownsville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 23m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Highway 77 126.7 mi 2h 20m
Purple Heart Trail 97.7 mi 1h 39m
I 35E 59.2 mi 1h 2m
Pickle Parkway 58.5 mi 54m
US Highway 181 South 40.2 mi 45m
State Highway 80 North 30.8 mi 35m
State Highway 80 23.6 mi 25m
I 37 19.7 mi 19m
Longest stretch: U.S. Highway 77 — 126.7 mi, about 2h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brownsville, TX and Addison, TX.

1

Start on US 77 Business

0.3 mi · 40 sec · East Washington Street
2

Turn right onto East 7th Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · East 7th Street
3

Turn left onto North Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 20 sec · North Frontage Road
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83

11 mi · 12 min · North Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83

102 mi · 1 hr 53 min · U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 14 sec
8

Merge onto I 69E; US 77

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 69E; US 77
9

Continue on U.S. Highway 77

12 mi · 12 min · U.S. Highway 77
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
11

Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road

485 ft · 17 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road
12

Turn right onto County Road 10

1.0 mi · 4 min · County Road 10
13

Turn left onto County Road 79

4.0 mi · 15 min · County Road 79
14

Turn left onto County Road 18

0.2 mi · 43 sec · County Road 18
15

Turn sharp right

1.1 mi · 2 min
16

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 57 sec
17

Merge onto US 77

2.3 mi · 2 min · Driscoll Bypass
18

Continue on US 77

13 mi · 14 min · U.S. Highway 77
19

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E
20

Keep slight left at fork

1.3 mi · 1 min
21

Continue on I 37

18 mi · 18 min · I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore
23

Turn right onto TX 359

12 mi · 16 min · State Highway 359
24

At end of road, turn left onto US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · South 8th Street
25

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · US Highway 181 South
26

Continue on US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
27

Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
28

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street
29

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road
30

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80
31

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue
32

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North
33

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
34

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street
35

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183
36

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
37

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
39

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

59 mi · 1 hr 2 min · I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.
43

Take the exit

411 ft · 7 sec
Exit 430A Toward Oak Lawn Avenue Use the slight right lane.
44

Keep slight right at fork

468 ft · 9 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45

Turn right onto Oak Lawn Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Oak Lawn Avenue
46

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward DNT North
47

Merge onto DNT

10 mi · 11 min · Dallas North Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward Belt Line Road, Arapaho Road Use the slight right lane.
49

Continue on Dallas Parkway

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Dallas Parkway
50

Turn left onto Belt Line Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Belt Line Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
51

Turn right onto Addison Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Addison Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
52

Turn right onto Addison Circle

200 ft · 11 sec · Addison Circle
53

Turn left

66 ft · 7 sec
54

Turn right

84 ft · 6 sec
55

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For this 10-hour, 540.8-mile drive, it's highly recommended to split the trip over two days. Plan to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight driving and allow for two stops to break up the journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $82, ensure your vehicle is fueled before departing Brownsville, and keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77. Consider an overnight stop around the halfway point to avoid fatigue and make the most of your travel time.

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 270.4 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 5h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.7 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 119 miles or 2h 14m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 270.4 miles or 5h 23m 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 270.4 miles or 5h 23m

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 9h 2m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Brownsville, 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 Brownsville, TX

Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Addison, TX

Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 miles from Brownsville, 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 U.S. Highway 77 for about 126.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

San Antonio, TX

178 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.

city in Bell County, Texas, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Killeen, TX

357 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 Killeen, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

New Braunfels, TX

270 mi · about 5.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near New Braunfels, TX after about 270 miles or 5.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 119 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Braunfels, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 270.4 miles from Brownsville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 126.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 270 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Quality Services Towing & Tires

0 mi from route

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

0 mi from route

San Patricio County Southbound Rest Area

0 mi from route

Flying J Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Hill County Southbound 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

San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Flying J 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

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.1 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.1 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

Circle K

0.1 mi from route

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.2 mi from route

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

0.2 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.2 mi from route

Buc-ee's

0.2 mi from route

TA

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.3 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.9 mi from route

Service Plaza

2.3 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

2.5 mi from route

Washington Plaza

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Brownsville, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19565422064

Visit website

Stillman House Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Brownsville, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+19565415560

Visit website

Gladys Porter Zoo

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Brownsville, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19565467187

Visit website

Southern Pacific Linear Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+19565422064

Visit website

Children's Museum of Brownsville

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19565489300

Visit website

Dick Kleberg Park

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Kingsville, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+13612218705

Visit website

Lincoln Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Brownsville, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+19569974875

Visit website

NTER - The Great Escape

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Waxahachie, Texas

Hours: 5–9 pm

+12149801053

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 35

5 decision points cluster between mile 364.7 and 539.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
364.7 mi into trip | ~7h 2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 35 North: Waco
7
469.5 mi into trip | ~8h 50m in | I 35E

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 35E: Dallas
7
528.7 mi into trip | ~9h 52m in

Take the exit toward Oak Lawn Avenue

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 430A Toward Oak Lawn Avenue
7
528.8 mi into trip | ~9h 52m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
539.4 mi into trip | ~10h 5m in

Take the exit toward Belt Line Road, Arapaho Road

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward Belt Line Road, Arapaho Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$81.72 one way

$163.43 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 189 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $89.44 $178.89
premium $4.54 $96.56 $193.11
diesel $5.61 $119.40 $238.80

Estimated Tolls: $0.80

Dallas North Tollway (10 mi) $0.80

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

$82

Tolls

$1

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$213–$323

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 189.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 162.2 2 $56.78 $25.96
Efficient EV 135.2 1 $47.32 $21.63
EV Truck/SUV 216.3 2 $75.71 $34.61

Gas CO2

189 kg

EV CO2

63 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Jun 23, 2022

Origin

Brownsville, TX

Late night in Brownsville on Tuesday

Local time

4:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Addison, TX

Late night in Addison on Tuesday

Local time

4:22 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

10h 9m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

8 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 428.9
View on nps.gov
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

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...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore

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 93.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

The road character for this 540.8-mile trip is predominantly highway driving, with 74% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent travel. While much of the drive will involve high-speed travel on interstates like I-35E, you'll also navigate segments of U.S. Highway 77 and the Purple Heart Trail, which may offer a slightly different pace. The overall feel is that of a long-distance journey across Texas, with stretches of open road characteristic of the Great Plains.

74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
55 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.7 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 Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 364.7 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 35 significant decision points across 540.8 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 364.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 469.5 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 528.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Brownsville, TX and Addison, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.

Skidmore

171 mi in | ~3h 25m

Waco

305.8 mi in | ~6h 6m

About the Cities

Starting 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 — Texas, a former US Amy post
  • Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park — historic site in Brownsville (vicinity), Cameron County, Texas

Arriving in Addison, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1846

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77. 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 270 miles on day one.

Expect about $0.80 in tolls one way, starting with Dallas North 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.

Yes — we found about 36 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 Addison, 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. There are 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 364.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 469.5 miles (I 35E): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 528.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument, 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 10.2 hours each way, a round trip means 20.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Addison, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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