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Trip from Brownsville, TX to Amarillo, TX

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

Drive Time

14h 3m

Distance

780.5 mi

1,256 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$118

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
13h 51m ★
6 AM
14h 4m
8 AM
14h 29m
10 AM
14h 12m
12 PM
14h 10m
3 PM
14h 14m
5 PM
14h 28m
8 PM
13h 56m

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 Amarillo, TX, TX

Amarillo, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embarking on the journey from Brownsville, TX, to Amarillo, TX, covers a significant distance of 780.5 miles, projected to take around 14 hours of driving time. This long-distance drive, primarily utilizing US 281 and Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, is best split over two days, especially given the considerable duration. With an estimated fuel cost of $118, planning your budget is straightforward. The route traverses the Great Plains region, offering a consistent landscape as you travel north through the heart of Texas. While it's technically possible to complete in a single day, breaking it up will make the experience far more manageable and enjoyable.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

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

Break Rhythm

4 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

390.3 miles from Brownsville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7h 11m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 281 122.7 mi 2h 12m
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway 109.9 mi 1h 51m
U.S. Highway 77 102 mi 1h 53m
I 10 98.7 mi 1h 37m
US 84 74.5 mi 1h 14m
Frisco Avenue 41.9 mi 44m
State Highway 153 29.5 mi 33m
North Main Street 29.3 mi 30m
Longest stretch: US 281 — 122.7 mi, about 2h 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brownsville, TX and Amarillo, 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

54 mi · 1 hr 1 min · US 281
14

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

15 mi · 18 min · Nueces Street
15

Continue on US 281

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 281
16

Take the exit onto US 281

68 mi · 1 hr 10 min · US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 140B Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome Use the slight right lane.
18

Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard

1.4 mi · 3 min · East César E. Chávez Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
19

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 10 West, I 35 North
20

Merge onto I 10; I 35; US 87

93 ft · 1 sec · South Pan Am Expressway
21

Take the exit onto I 10; US 87

0.9 mi · 1 min · McDermott Freeway
Exit 156 Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87

15 mi · 17 min · McDermott Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

99 mi · 1 hr 37 min · I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
24

Take the exit onto US 83

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 83
Exit 456 Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
25

Turn right onto US 83; US 377

29 mi · 30 min · North Main Street
Use the right lane.
26

Continue on US 83

42 mi · 44 min · Frisco Avenue
27

Continue on US 83

17 mi · 18 min · Roberts Avenue
28

Turn right onto US 67; US 83

387 ft · 18 sec · Hutchings Avenue
Use the right lane.
29

Turn left onto TX 158

6.3 mi · 7 min · North Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
30

Turn right onto FM 2111

12 mi · 13 min · FM 2111
31

Turn left onto TX 153

29 mi · 33 min · State Highway 153
32

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153

19 ft · 0 sec · State Highway 153
33

Turn right onto TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70
34

Continue on TX 70

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street
35

Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue
36

Take the ramp

340 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
37

Merge onto I 20; US 84

6.0 mi · 5 min · I 20; US 84
38

Take the exit onto US 84

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 84
Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
39

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 84
40

Turn right onto Loop 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Avenue F
41

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Avenue F
42

Turn straight onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Ralls Road
43

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 15th Street
44

Turn right onto US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84
45

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 19 min · Highway 84
46

Continue on US 84

4.6 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
47

Continue on US 84

6.8 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84
48

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 5 min · Slaton Road
49

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
50

Turn slight right onto Interstate 27

321 ft · 6 sec · Interstate 27
51

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
52

Merge onto I 27; US 87

110 mi · 1 hr 51 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
53

Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87

13 mi · 15 min · Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
54

Keep slight left at fork onto US 87

0.9 mi · 2 min · US 87
Toward US 87 North Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
55

Keep slight right at fork onto US 87; Original US Route 66

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Fillmore Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
56

Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60

105 ft · 1 sec · East Amarillo Boulevard
57

Arrive at destination

I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60

Trip Plan

For this 14-hour drive, departing early in the morning is highly recommended, especially if you plan to split it over two days. Aim to complete about half the journey on day one, ensuring you reach a comfortable stopping point with adequate amenities. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a major town could be over 120 miles. With 4 planned stops, you can easily incorporate breaks for rest and refueling, making the 780.5 miles feel less daunting. Considering the fuel cost of approximately $118, factoring this into your overall trip budget is a wise move.

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 4 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 390.3 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 7h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.7 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 172 miles or 3h 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 390.3 miles or 7h 11m 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 390.3 miles or 7h 11m

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 12h 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amarillo, 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 390 miles and 7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Amarillo, TX

Aim for roughly 390 miles and 7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 172 miles from Brownsville, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 4 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 281 for about 122.7 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

258 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.

Popular next leg

San Antonio, TX to Amarillo, TX

506.9 mi · 8h 52m

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

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Sweetwater, TX

515 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 Sweetwater, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Kerrville, TX

390 mi · about 7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 390 miles or 7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 172 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Live Oak, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 390.3 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 US 281 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 390 miles or 7 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.

Round1 Bowling & Arcade North Star Mall

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 278.8

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+12104482030

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 780.5

Amarillo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Chevrolet Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 780.5

Amarillo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18003239935

Visit website

EVmatch Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 780.5

Amarillo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16508228157

Visit website

EVmatch Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 780.5

Amarillo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16508228157

Visit website

Universal EV Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 780.5

Amarillo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18663502738

Visit website

Universal EV Charging Station

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 780.5

Amarillo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18663502738

Visit website

Universal EV Charging Station

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 780.5

Amarillo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18663502738

Visit website

Universal EV Charging Station

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 780.5

Amarillo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18663502738

Visit website

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

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

Get 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 website

Tony Gonzalez Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Brownsville, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19565416202

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 43

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 778.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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
8
272.4 mi into trip | ~5h 9m in

Take the exit toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 140B Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodom...
8
274.2 mi into trip | ~5h 13m in | I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

Take the exit onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso

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 156 Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
6
275.1 mi into trip | ~5h 14m in | I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
778.9 mi into trip | ~13h 59m in | US 87

Keep slight left at fork onto US 87 toward US 87 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 87 North

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$117.94 one way

$235.87 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 273 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $129.09 $258.18
premium $4.54 $139.35 $278.71
diesel $5.61 $172.32 $344.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$118

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$248–$358

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 273.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $82 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 234.1 2 $81.95 $37.46
Efficient EV 195.1 2 $68.29 $31.22
EV Truck/SUV 312.2 3 $109.27 $49.95

Gas CO2

273 kg

EV CO2

91 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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Brownsville, TX

Evening in Brownsville on Saturday

Local time

8:11 PM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Amarillo, TX

Evening in Amarillo on Saturday

Local time

8:11 PM

CDT

Current temp

85°F

Sunny

SW 30 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 5:12PM CDT until April 16 at 5:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 4:16PM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

59°F

Sweetwater, TX

515 mi in

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

6 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

14h 3m 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?

This route offers a substantial highway experience, with 67% of the drive on major roadways. You'll encounter stretches like the 122.7-mile segment on US 281, which provides a consistent pace for extended periods. While not exclusively interstate, the majority of the drive is on well-maintained highways, suggesting a relatively smooth and efficient travel experience. The character of the road is largely about covering ground across the expansive Texas landscape, rather than winding through mountains or coastal scenery.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
57 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.7 mi on US 281.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

At 14h 3m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 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 43 significant decision points across 780.5 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

Between Brownsville, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward Alamodome, Menard and Lubbock.

Alamodome

272.4 mi in | ~5h 9m

Menard

388.4 mi in | ~7h 9m | via US 83

Lubbock

541.9 mi in | ~9h 55m | via US 84

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 Amarillo, TX

Full guide →

Amarillo, which means "yellow" in Spanish, is the center of the Texas Panhandle at the edge of the Great Plains.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 122.7 miles on US 281. 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 390 miles on day one.

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 Amarillo, 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 4 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 14.1 hours each way, a round trip means 28.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Amarillo, 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.

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