Victoria County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Brownsville, TX to Friendswood, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 18m
Distance
365.4 mi
588 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 8m
★
6 AM
7h 18m
8 AM
7h 40m
10 AM
7h 26m
12 PM
7h 24m
3 PM
7h 27m
5 PM
7h 39m
8 PM
7h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Friendswood, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Trip Overview
Brownsville, TX to Friendswood, TX is 365.4 miles and takes about 7h 18m via U.S. Highway 77 and US Highway 59 South, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, moving from the southern tip of the state up towards the Houston metropolitan area. The majority of this route is highway driving, making it a straightforward trip. You'll likely find it a practical option for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours.
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
182.7 miles from Brownsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 42m 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 |
| Southwest Freeway | 20.1 mi | 22m |
| South Sam Houston Tollway West | 15.4 mi | 17m |
| North Expressway | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| East Broadway Street | 4.3 mi | 6m |
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 Friendswood, 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
89 mi
·
1 hr 38 min
·
US Highway 59 South
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
27
Continue on 59 Northbound Frontage Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
59 Northbound Frontage Road
28
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
this road
29
Continue on US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
30
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
31
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 69 North, US 59 North
32
Merge onto I 69; US 59
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 115
Toward Sam Houston Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
35
Merge onto BW 8
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
South Sam Houston Parkway West
36
Continue on SHT
15 mi
·
17 min
·
South Sam Houston Tollway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward TX 35: Mykawa Road, Telephone Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Turn straight onto BW 8
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Sam Houston Parkway East
39
Turn right onto TX 35
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Telephone Road
40
Continue on TX 35
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
41
Turn left onto FM 518
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
East Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
42
Continue on FM 518
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Friendswood Drive
43
Continue on FM 518
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Friendswood Drive
44
Arrive at destination
FM 518
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour drive time, starting early in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip in one day. With 2 recommended stops, you can plan for a break about midway through your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77. The estimated fuel cost is around $57, so budget accordingly. This is a manageable drive that allows for flexibility in your stopping times.
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 182.7 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 3h 42m 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182.7 miles or 3h 42m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Friendswood, 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 365.4 miles and 7h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 182.7 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.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
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
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
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
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 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 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 websiteFrankie Carter Randolph Park
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Friendswood, Texas
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+12814826055
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 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 255 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 359.6 — 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
7
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
6
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.
7
355.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 2m in
Take the exit toward TX 35: Mykawa Road, Telephone Road
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.
Toward TX 35: Mykawa Road, Telephone Road
6
359.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 9m in
|
FM 518 / East Broadway Street
Turn left onto FM 518 / East Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.47 one way
$110.94 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
128 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $61.14 | $122.28 |
| premium | $4.58 | $65.89 | $131.77 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $76.96 | $153.93 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.23
Sam Houston Tollway
(15.4 mi)
$1.23
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
$55
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 109.6 | 1 | $38.37 | $17.54 |
| Efficient EV | 91.4 | 1 | $31.97 | $14.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.2 | 1 | $51.16 | $23.39 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 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
Afternoon in Brownsville on Wednesday
Local time
2:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 2 to 7 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 8:49PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Friendswood, TX
Afternoon in Friendswood on Wednesday
Local time
2:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 5 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 8:49PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
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
7h 18m 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 12.6
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 88.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 89% of the drive on high-speed roads. You'll encounter the longest stretch without a major road change at 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77. Expect a consistent cruising experience for most of the trip. The transition from highway to city streets will become more noticeable as you approach your destination.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
44 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 25 significant decision points across 365.4 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
106 ft
26 ft
Total Climb
149 ft
Total Descent
156 ft
Highest Point
106 ft
~313.2 mi in
Elevation Range
81 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 Friendswood, TX, road signs point toward Sinton, Victoria and Sam Houston Tollway.
Sinton
152.3 mi in
|
~3h 7m
|
via US 77
Victoria
152.3 mi in
|
~3h 7m
|
via US 77
Sam Houston Tollway
339 mi in
|
~6h 43m
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 Friendswood, TX
Full guide →Founded 1960
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 18m. Total distance: 365.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 18m 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 $1.23 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 18 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 Friendswood, 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 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
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 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Friendswood, 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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