Trip from Brownsville, TX to Dickinson, TX

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

Drive Time

7h 29m

Distance

377.2 mi

607 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

7h 19m ★

6 AM

7h 29m

8 AM

7h 50m

10 AM

7h 36m

12 PM

7h 34m

3 PM

7h 37m

5 PM

7h 49m

8 PM

7h 23m

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

Best Time

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Brownsville, TX

Eddie O.

Dickinson, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Brownsville, TX to Dickinson, TX is 377.2 miles and takes about 7h 29m via U.S. Highway 77 and US Highway 59 South, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward path north. With 89% of the drive on highways, expect a predominantly high-speed cruising experience. It's a solid one-day option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently between South Texas and the Houston area.

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

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

188.6 miles from Brownsville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
U.S. Highway 77	126.7 mi	2h 20m
US Highway 59 South	88.6 mi	1h 38m
US 77	37.6 mi	44m
United States Highway 77	33 mi	37m
South Sam Houston Tollway West	21 mi	24m
Southwest Freeway	20.1 mi	22m
Gulf Freeway	11.8 mi	13m
North Expressway	10.6 mi	12m

Longest stretch: U.S. Highway 77 — 126.7 mi, about 2h 20m

Traffic on I-69

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~682 veh/hr typical · worst 936

Quietest

2 AM

~109 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.3×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on US 77 Business

0.3 mi · 40 sec · East Washington Street

Turn right onto East 7th Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · East 7th Street

Turn left onto North Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 20 sec · North Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83

11 mi · 12 min · North Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83

102 mi · 1 hr 53 min · U.S. Highway 77

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 14 sec

Merge onto I 69E; US 77

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 69E; US 77

Continue on U.S. Highway 77

12 mi · 12 min · U.S. Highway 77

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road

485 ft · 17 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road

Turn right onto County Road 10

1.0 mi · 4 min · County Road 10

Turn left onto County Road 79

4.0 mi · 15 min · County Road 79

Turn left onto County Road 18

0.2 mi · 43 sec · County Road 18

Turn sharp right

1.1 mi · 2 min

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 57 sec

Merge onto US 77

2.3 mi · 2 min · Driscoll Bypass

Continue on US 77

13 mi · 14 min · U.S. Highway 77

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 50 sec

Continue on I 37; US 77; I 69E

463 ft · 5 sec · I 37; US 77; I 69E

Take the exit onto US 77

38 mi · 44 min · US 77

Toward Sinton, Victoria

Turn slight right onto US 77

33 mi · 37 min · United States Highway 77

Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91

1.5 mi · 1 min · Spur 91

Merge onto US 59

89 mi · 1 hr 38 min · US Highway 59 South

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Continue on 59 Northbound Frontage Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · 59 Northbound Frontage Road

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 58 sec · this road

Continue on US 59 Northbound Frontage Road

2.0 mi · 4 min · US 59 Northbound Frontage Road

Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 69 North, US 59 North

Merge onto I 69; US 59

20 mi · 22 min · Southwest Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 17 sec

Exit 115 Toward Sam Houston Tollway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 52 sec

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto BW 8

0.1 mi · 10 sec · South Sam Houston Parkway West

Continue on SHT

21 mi · 24 min · South Sam Houston Tollway West

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on BW 8

0.2 mi · 16 sec · South Sam Houston Parkway East

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 50 sec

Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Houston, Galveston Use the right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 57 sec

Toward I 45 South: Galveston Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 45

12 mi · 13 min · Gulf Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 19 Toward FM 517: Dickinson

Turn straight onto South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

Turn left onto FM 517

1.5 mi · 2 min · Pine Drive

Continue on FM 517

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Pine Street

Arrive at destination

FM 517

Trip Plan

Given the 7-hour drive time, leaving Brownsville in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Dickinson with daylight to spare. You'll have two suggested stops along the way, which can help break up the 377.2 miles. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is over 126 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. The estimated fuel cost is around $59, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads as you get closer to Dickinson.

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 188.6 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 3h 49m 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 83 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 188.6 miles or 3h 49m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dickinson, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Brownsville, TX

This is one driving day of about 377.2 miles and 7h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Brownsville, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

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.

city and county seat of Nueces County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Corpus Christi, TX

189 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.

Popular next leg

Corpus Christi, TX to Dickinson, TX

231.5 mi · 4h 32m

Pacing Suggestions

Lyford, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aransas Pass, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 188.6 miles from Brownsville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

1.6 mi from route

San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area

2.2 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

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 28

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 361.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

339 mi into trip | ~6h 43m in

Take the exit toward Sam Houston Tollway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 115 Toward Sam Houston Tollway

339.2 mi into trip | ~6h 43m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

361.2 mi into trip | ~7h 8m in

Take the exit toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Houston, Galveston

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

Use the right lane. Toward I 45 North, I 45 South: Houston, Galvest...

361.8 mi into trip | ~7h 9m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 45 South: Galveston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 45 South: Galveston

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$51.66 one way

$103.33 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 132 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$57.71	$115.42
premium	$4.23	$62.74	$125.49
diesel	$4.80	$71.22	$142.44

Estimated Tolls: $1.68

Sam Houston Tollway (21 mi) $1.68

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

$52

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 132 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	113.2	1	$39.61	$18.11
Efficient EV	94.3	1	$33.01	$15.09
EV Truck/SUV	150.9	1	$52.81	$24.14

Gas CO2

132 kg

EV CO2

44 kg (67% 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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Brownsville, TX

Morning in Brownsville on Sunday

Local time

10:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 9 to 13 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:00AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 11:42PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Dickinson, TX

Morning in Dickinson on Sunday

Local time

10:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Partly Cloudy

S 5 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 1:00AM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 11:42PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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

Very similar conditions

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

Road read

7h 29m 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...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 13

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 91

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 89% of the 377.2 miles on these faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 126.7 miles, primarily on U.S. Highway 77. Expect to transition to surface roads for the remaining 11% of the trip, likely closer to your destination in Dickinson. Keep an eye out for the increased exit density as you approach more populated areas.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

45 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 US Highway 59 South. 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 28 significant decision points across 377.2 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 339 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 339.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

119 ft 12 ft

Total Climb

125 ft

Total Descent

149 ft

Highest Point

119 ft

~296.4 mi in

Elevation Range

107 ft

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 Dickinson, TX, road signs point toward Sinton, Victoria and Sam Houston Tollway.

Sinton

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Sugar Land, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

The Prairie Table

Cafe

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Missouri City, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00

Visit website

956 Coffee Co.

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Fast_food

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Cuisine: wings

Sushi Bento

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: sushi

Delicious Desserts and Deli

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop;sandwich;tex-mex;dessert

Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00

Visit website

Mai Colachi BBQ & Grill

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Sugar Land, TX

Welcome to Texas Sign

Attraction

Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00

Visit website

Brownsville Heritage Museum

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Value Place

Motel

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

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 Dickinson, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1977

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 7h 29m. Total distance: 377.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 29m 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.

Expect about $1.68 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston 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 19 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 Dickinson, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dickinson, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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