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Trip from Brownsville, TX to Levelland, TX

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

Drive Time

12h 32m

Distance

688.9 mi

1,109 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$104

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
12h 21m ★
6 AM
12h 32m
8 AM
12h 55m
10 AM
12h 40m
12 PM
12h 38m
3 PM
12h 41m
5 PM
12h 54m
8 PM
12h 26m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Brownsville, TX, TX

Brownsville, TX

Eddie O.

city in Texas, USA

Levelland, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 688.9-mile journey from Brownsville, TX, to Levelland, TX, is a substantial undertaking, estimated to take around 12 hours and 32 minutes of driving time. Given its length and the fact that it spans the Great Plains region, it's best planned as a two-day trip rather than a single-day push. You'll primarily be on US 281, U.S. Highway 77, and I-10, with highways making up 77% of the route. Budget approximately $104 for fuel, and plan for about three stops along the way. This is a long-distance drive that requires careful planning to ensure a comfortable experience.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

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

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

344.4 miles from Brownsville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 25m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 281 122.7 mi 2h 12m
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
Highway 84 20 mi 19m
Longest stretch: US 281 — 122.7 mi, about 2h 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

3.3 mi · 4 min · Slaton Road
49

Turn left onto Southeast Loop 289

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Southeast Loop 289
50

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
51

Merge onto Loop 289

8.5 mi · 9 min · Loop 289
52

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward TX 114: 19th Street
53

Turn straight onto West Loop 289

0.2 mi · 23 sec · West Loop 289
54

Turn left onto TX 114

4.9 mi · 7 min · 19th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
55

Continue on TX 114

3.0 mi · 3 min · Highway 114
56

Continue on TX 114

17 mi · 18 min · East State Highway 114
57

Turn left onto Avenue H

0.4 mi · 1 min · Avenue H
58

Turn right onto 5th Street

372 ft · 15 sec · 5th Street
59

Turn left onto Avenue I

377 ft · 16 sec · Avenue I
60

Turn left onto TX 114 Bus

365 ft · 7 sec · Houston Street
61

Arrive at destination

TX 114 Bus

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 12-hour, 32-minute drive, consider splitting it over two days. Departing early in the morning, especially on the first day, will help you cover significant ground. With 688.9 miles and a $104 fuel cost, pacing your stops is crucial; aim for roughly three breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the longest stretch of 122.7 miles on US 281, to avoid running low. Planning an overnight stay around the halfway point will break up the drive and make it more manageable.

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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 344.4 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 6h 25m 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 152 miles or 2h 57m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 344.4 miles or 6h 25m 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 344.4 miles or 6h 25m

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 11h 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Levelland, 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 344 miles and 6.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Levelland, TX

Aim for roughly 344 miles and 6.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 152 miles from Brownsville, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 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

227 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.

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

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Mount Pleasant, TX

455 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 Mount Pleasant, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Kerrville, TX

344 mi · about 6.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 344 miles or 6.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Corpus Christi, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 152 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kerrville, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 344.4 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 344 miles or 6.3 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.

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 45

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 289.7 — 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.
6
289.7 mi into trip | ~5h 32m in | I 10; US 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$104.09 one way

$208.19 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 241 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $113.94 $227.88
premium $4.54 $123.00 $246.00
diesel $5.61 $152.10 $304.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$104

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$234–$344

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 241 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $72 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 206.7 2 $72.33 $33.07
Efficient EV 172.2 1 $60.28 $27.56
EV Truck/SUV 275.6 3 $96.45 $44.09

Gas CO2

241 kg

EV CO2

81 kg (66% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Brownsville, TX

Late night in Brownsville on Sunday

Local time

5:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Mostly Cloudy

SSE 13 to 16 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Levelland, TX

Late night in Levelland on Sunday

Local time

5:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

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

10 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

12h 32m 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.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 261.3
View on nps.gov
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

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

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...

28 mi from route ~70 min detour $25 near mile 95
View on nps.gov
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...

30 mi from route ~74 min detour Free near mile 332.6
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

The drive from Brownsville to Levelland is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 77% of the 688.9 miles utilizing major roadways like US 281, U.S. Highway 77, and I-10. Expect a significant stretch of 122.7 miles on US 281 without major changes in scenery, indicating a consistent pace for much of the trip. While not exclusively a monotonous interstate grind, the character leans towards efficient travel over scenic detours. This route is designed for covering distance, so the road's personality is one of steady progression through the Texas landscape.

77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
61 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

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 281 and U.S. Highway 77. 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 45 significant decision points across 688.9 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 Levelland, 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

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 344 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 Levelland, 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 3 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.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park and Padre Island National Seashore (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 12.5 hours each way, a round trip means 25.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Levelland, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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