Kenedy County Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Brownsville, TX to Alice, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
148.8 mi
239 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 6m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Alice, TX
Atahan Demir
Trip Overview
Spanning 148.8 miles across the Great Plains of Texas, this journey from Brownsville to Alice is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 2 hours and 56 minutes. You will primarily navigate via U.S. Highway 77, North Expressway, and West King Avenue to complete the transit. Because the total drive time remains under three hours, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $23 for fuel, making this an affordable connection between these two South Texas hubs. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, the route offers a reliable path that avoids unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.4 miles from Brownsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 102 mi | 1h 53m |
| West King Avenue | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| North Expressway | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| US 281 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| South 6th Street | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| US 281 Business | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| South Cameron Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East 7th Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
U.S. Highway 77
— 102 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brownsville, TX and Alice, 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 right at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
9
Turn left onto FM 772
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
FM 772
10
Turn straight onto US 77 Business
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
South 6th Street
11
Turn left onto TX 141
14 mi
·
17 min
·
West King Avenue
12
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
13
Merge onto US 281
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
US 281
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
15
Continue on US 281 Business
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 281 Business
16
Turn right onto FM 1352
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Cecilia Street
17
Turn left onto FM 665
345 ft
·
7 sec
·
Old Kingsville Road
18
Turn slight right onto FM 665
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Cameron Street
19
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
94 ft
·
4 sec
·
East 2nd Street
20
Arrive at destination
East 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple given the manageable three-hour duration, but leaving mid-morning can help you avoid any localized congestion on the North Expressway. Since the route includes only one primary stop, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your itinerary based on your energy levels. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before heading out, as the $23 estimated cost can fluctuate based on vehicle efficiency during the long 102-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 77. Because the road is largely highway-based, ensure your tires and fluids are checked for sustained high-speed driving. Taking advantage of the route's brevity allows you to arrive in Alice with enough time to settle in before your day concludes.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.4 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102 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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.4 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alice, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brownsville, TX
This is one driving day of about 148.8 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Brownsville, 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 102 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.4 miles from Brownsville, 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 102 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.
Texas Travel Information Center at Harlingen
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
Love's Travel Stop
1.8 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 websiteDick Kleberg Park
4.3
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Later in the drive, right off the route
Final third
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Kingsville, Texas
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+13612218705
Visit websiteStillman 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 websiteGladys 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 websiteSouthern 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 websiteChildren'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 websiteLincoln 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 websiteGet Air Trampoline Park
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
1.8 mi from route
~4 min detour
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: 10 am–8 pm
+19564293782
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 114.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North Frontage Road
Turn left onto North Frontage Road
Navigation decision point
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
114.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
114.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.48 one way
$44.97 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $24.61 | $49.22 |
| premium | $4.54 | $26.57 | $53.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.85 | $65.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.62 | $7.14 |
| Efficient EV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.02 | $5.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.5 | 0 | $20.83 | $9.52 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Brownsville, TX
Morning in Brownsville on Tuesday
Local time
6:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alice, TX
Morning in Alice on Tuesday
Local time
6:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
SSE 10 to 18 mph
0% chance
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.
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
11 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
2h 56m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 10.3
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
~67 min detour
$25
near mile 87.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is defined by its efficiency, with 83 percent of the trip spent on major thoroughfares. You should prepare for a consistent pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 102 miles on U.S. Highway 77. The road maintains a steady rhythm that allows you to cover ground quickly through the Texas landscape. While the path remains largely consistent in character, the transition from the expressway to local avenues like West King Avenue marks your final approach into Alice. It is a no-nonsense route that prioritizes direct travel over technical maneuvers.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102 mi on U.S. Highway 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and West King Avenue. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near North Frontage Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (North Frontage Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Alice, TX
Full guide →Founded 1888
Alice is a city of 19,000 people (2018) on the South Texas Plains between Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo, and San Antonio. It is a focal point for the oil industry in the area, and is considered to the "birthplace of Tejano music".
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 2h 56m. Total distance: 148.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102 miles on U.S. Highway 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Alice, 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (North Frontage Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alice, TX before heading back.
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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