Trip from Brownsville, TX to Ennis, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 38m

Distance

505.3 mi

813 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$76

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

9h 30m ★

6 AM

9h 39m

8 AM

9h 56m

10 AM

9h 45m

12 PM

9h 43m

3 PM

9h 46m

5 PM

9h 55m

8 PM

9h 34m

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

Best Time

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Brownsville, TX

Eddie O.

city in Ellis County, Texas, United States

Ennis, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Brownsville, TX to Ennis, TX is 505.3 miles and takes about 9h 38m via U.S. Highway 77, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with a fuel budget near $79 and an overnight recommendation. This long-haul drive stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region. Given the nearly 10-hour estimated drive time, splitting this into two days is a practical approach for a more relaxed pace. You'll want to plan for at least one overnight stop along the way to make the most of your time and avoid fatigue.

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

252.7 miles from Brownsville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 2m 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
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
I 35E	13.9 mi	14m

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

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,975 veh/hr typical · worst 3,836

Quietest

2 AM

~487 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 104 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 Ennis, 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

1.3 mi · 1 min

Continue on I 37

18 mi · 18 min · I 37

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore

Turn right onto TX 359

12 mi · 16 min · State Highway 359

At end of road, turn left onto US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · South 8th Street

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · US Highway 181 South

Continue on US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive

Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239

233 ft · 3 sec · East Main Street

Continue on FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Helena Road

Turn straight onto TX 80

24 mi · 25 min · State Highway 80

Continue on TX 80

1.0 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue

Continue on TX 80; TX 97

31 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · South Colorado Street

Continue on US 183

0.2 mi · 16 sec · United States Highway 183

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 35 sec

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Merge onto TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Toward I 35 North: Waco Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35

65 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

14 mi · 14 min · I 35E

Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Exit 384 Toward Derrs Chapel Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto Derrs Chapel Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Derrs Chapel Road

Turn right onto TX 34

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Dale Evans Drive

Continue on TX 34

0.5 mi · 41 sec · Main Street

Turn straight onto TX 34

5.8 mi · 8 min · State Highway 34

Continue on TX 34

1.2 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Turn straight onto TX 34

1.1 mi · 1 min · Southwest State Highway 34

Continue on TX 34

4.9 mi · 7 min · West State Highway 34

Continue on TX 34

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Sycamore Street

Continue on TX 34

4.7 mi · 7 min · West State Highway 34

Continue on TX 34

0.9 mi · 1 min · Lake Bardwell Drive

Continue on TX 34

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Creechville Road

Turn left onto I 45 Bus; TX 34

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Kaufman Street

Turn left

87 ft · 8 sec

Turn right

31 ft · 2 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 9.5-hour drive time, plan for an overnight stay to break up the 505.3 miles. Aim to depart Brownsville in the morning to maximize daylight for your first day's travel. With two recommended stops, you can comfortably cover about 250 miles each day. Keep an eye on fuel, especially during the 126.7-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 77, as services might be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $79 is a good starting point for budgeting, but always factor in potential price variations.

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 252.7 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 5h 2m 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 111 miles or 2h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 252.7 miles or 5h 2m 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 252.7 miles or 5h 2m

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 8h 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ennis, 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 253 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Ennis, TX

Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 111 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.

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

San Antonio, TX

167 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.

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

253 mi · about 4.8h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 253 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 111 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 252.7 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

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

Doris D Miller Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Waco, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

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

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 30

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 483.4 — 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

305.8 mi into trip | ~6h 6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

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

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

483.4 mi into trip | ~9h 4m in

Take the exit toward Derrs Chapel Road

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 384 Toward Derrs Chapel Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$75.85 one way

$151.71 round trip

$3.81/gal 25.4 MPG avg 177 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.22	$83.93	$167.86
premium	$4.57	$90.81	$181.63
diesel	$6.28	$124.85	$249.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$76

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$206–$316

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 176.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	151.6	1	$53.06	$24.25
Efficient EV	126.3	1	$44.21	$20.21
EV Truck/SUV	202.1	2	$70.74	$32.34

Gas CO2

177 kg

EV CO2

59 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 Oct 19, 2026

Origin

Brownsville, TX

Late night in Brownsville on Sunday

Local time

4:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Mostly Cloudy

NNW 7 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Destination

Ennis, TX

Late night in Ennis on Sunday

Local time

4:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Partly Cloudy

0 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.

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

18 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

9h 38m 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

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...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 435.6

View on nps.gov

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

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 87.1

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 primarily highway driving, with 73% of the trip on major roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77, offering a significant period of consistent cruising. Expect to transition from highway speeds to surface roads as you approach your destination, which can involve more frequent intersections and changes in speed limits. The extensive highway share suggests relatively smooth travel for much of the distance.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

58 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 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 30 significant decision points across 505.3 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 305.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 364.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

757 ft 28 ft

Total Climb

998 ft

Total Descent

496 ft

Highest Point

757 ft

~360.9 mi in

Elevation Range

729 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 Ennis, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.

Skidmore

171 mi in | ~3h 25m

Waco

305.8 mi in | ~6h 6m

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Lotus Café

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Visit website

956 Coffee Co.

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Doña Elsa

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Cafeteria y delicias Mrs. Wong

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Heroica Matamoros

Burger King

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0 mi from route

Ennis, TX

Cuisine: burger

Hours: 06:00-22:00

Visit website

KFC

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0 mi from route

Ennis, TX

Cuisine: chicken

Visit website

Waffle House

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Ennis, TX

Cuisine: american

Hours: 24/7

Visit website

Wingstop

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

Welcome to Texas Sign

Attraction

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Ball Park

Park

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Mutual Public Square

Park

Near the start, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Heroico Colegio Militar

Park

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Stillman House Museum

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Brownsville, TX

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

Visit website

Brownsville Heritage Museum

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.2 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 — former US Amy post in Texas
• Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park — historic site in Brownsville (vicinity), Cameron County, Texas

Arriving in Ennis, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1872

Ennis is in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas.

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 253 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 33 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 Ennis, 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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 9.6 hours each way, a round trip means 19.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ennis, 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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