Victoria County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Brownsville, TX to Bay City, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 10m
Distance
296.6 mi
477 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 57m
★
6 AM
6h 10m
8 AM
6h 36m
10 AM
6h 19m
12 PM
6h 17m
3 PM
6h 20m
5 PM
6h 34m
8 PM
6h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Bay City, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Brownsville, TX to Bay City, TX is 296.6 miles and takes about 6h 10m via U.S. Highway 77, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, moving from the southern edge of the Great Plains region northward. It's a straightforward, primarily highway drive that should feel familiar if you've traveled through similar Texas landscapes before. Given the relatively short duration, it's a practical option for a single-day excursion.
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
148.3 miles from Brownsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 126.7 mi | 2h 20m |
| US 77 | 37.6 mi | 44m |
| United States Highway 77 | 33 mi | 37m |
| North Wells Street | 27.3 mi | 40m |
| US Highway 59 South | 27.2 mi | 29m |
| North Expressway | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| FM 2431 | 8.8 mi | 15m |
| TX 35 | 6.3 mi | 9m |
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 Bay City, 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
0.8 mi
·
50 sec
21
Continue on I 37; US 77; I 69E
463 ft
·
5 sec
·
I 37; US 77; I 69E
22
Take the exit onto US 77
38 mi
·
44 min
·
US 77
Toward Sinton, Victoria
23
Turn slight right onto US 77
33 mi
·
37 min
·
United States Highway 77
24
Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 91
25
Merge onto US 59
27 mi
·
29 min
·
US Highway 59 South
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward Loop 521
27
Continue on Loop 521
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
28
Turn right onto TX 111
27 mi
·
40 min
·
North Wells Street
29
Continue on FM 2431
8.8 mi
·
15 min
·
FM 2431
30
Turn right onto FM 1468
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Broadway
31
At end of road, turn left onto TX 35
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
TX 35
32
Arrive at destination
TX 35
Trip Plan
For this drive, leaving in the morning is best to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With a total duration of just over 6 hours, you can comfortably complete this in one day without needing to stop overnight. The route only lists one recommended stop, so plan your refueling and break times around that or other convenient points along U.S. Highway 77. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 126.7-mile stretch on the highway, as services can be spaced out.
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 148.3 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.7 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 65 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.3 miles or 3h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay City, 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 296.6 miles and 6h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 126.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 148.3 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 126.7 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.
Victoria 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
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
Love's Travel Stop
1.4 mi from route
San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area
2.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 152.3 — 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.
5
132.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
Turn sharp right
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
152.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
|
US 77
Take the exit onto US 77 toward Sinton, Victoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Sinton, Victoria
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.62 one way
$81.25 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $45.38 | $90.75 |
| premium | $4.23 | $49.34 | $98.67 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $56.00 | $112.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89 | 1 | $31.14 | $14.24 |
| Efficient EV | 74.2 | 0 | $25.95 | $11.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.6 | 1 | $41.52 | $18.98 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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
Brownsville, TX
Late night in Brownsville on Monday
Local time
2:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:45AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:45AM MDT until July 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Bay City, TX
Late night in Bay City on Monday
Local time
2:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 5 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:45AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:45AM MDT until July 17 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 10m 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...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 10.2
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 92.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 85% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on U.S. Highway 77. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 126.7 miles, so expect long periods of cruising. You'll transition to surface roads for the remaining 15% of the trip. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of the drive, with a steady pace before reaching your destination.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and US 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near North Frontage Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 296.6 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 1.2 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
109 ft
23 ft
Total Climb
158 ft
Total Descent
142 ft
Highest Point
109 ft
~233.1 mi in
Elevation Range
86 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.
Between Brownsville, TX and Bay City, TX, road signs point toward Sinton, Victoria and Loop 521.
Sinton
152.3 mi in
|
~3h 7m
|
via US 77
Victoria
152.3 mi in
|
~3h 7m
|
via US 77
Loop 521
251.6 mi in
|
~4h 59m
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 Bay City, TX
Full guide →Bay City is a small city in the Gulf Coast region of Texas. It's on SH-35, about two hours from Houston, at the Colorado River.
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 10m. Total distance: 296.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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 — we found about 11 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 Bay City, 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 11 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bay City, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bay City, TX
More trips to Bay City, TX
Explore more options from Brownsville, TX or browse trips ending in Bay City, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.