Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Brownsville, TX to Little Elm, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 53m
Distance
437.3 mi
704 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$60
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 46m
★
6 AM
8h 54m
8 AM
9h 10m
10 AM
8h 59m
12 PM
8h 58m
3 PM
9h 0m
5 PM
9h 9m
8 PM
8h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Little Elm, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Brownsville, TX to Little Elm, TX is 437.3 miles and takes about 8h 53m via U.S. Highway 77, with a fuel budget near $66 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas, beginning in the southern part of the state and heading north. It's a predominantly highway drive recommended for an overnight trip, allowing you to break up the nearly 9-hour travel time. Expect a straightforward path that covers a significant distance across the state.
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
218.7 miles from Brownsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 126.7 mi | 2h 20m |
| United States Highway 77 | 57.9 mi | 1h 5m |
| US 77 | 48.5 mi | 57m |
| South Main Street | 48 mi | 57m |
| North Navarro Street | 40.1 mi | 45m |
| North Travis Avenue | 25.4 mi | 29m |
| North US Highway 77 | 17.3 mi | 19m |
| US 59 | 13.2 mi | 14m |
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 Little Elm, 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 right at fork onto US 77
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 77 South
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Use the left lane.
26
Merge onto US 59; US 77
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 59; US 77
27
Take the exit onto US 77
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 77
28
Turn left onto US 77
40 mi
·
45 min
·
North Navarro Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
At end of road, turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Fairwinds Street
30
Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
West 4th Street
31
Turn left onto US 77
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Texana Street
32
Continue on US 77
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
United States Highway 77
33
Continue on US 77
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
US 77
34
Continue on US 77; FM 532
25 mi
·
28 min
·
United States Highway 77
35
Continue on US 77
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Jefferson Street
36
Continue on US 77
17 mi
·
19 min
·
North US Highway 77
37
Continue on US 77
48 mi
·
57 min
·
South Main Street
38
At end of road, turn left onto US 77; US 190; TX 36
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
US 77; US 190; TX 36
39
Turn right onto US 77
25 mi
·
29 min
·
North Travis Avenue
40
Turn right onto TX 320
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Gassaway Avenue
41
Continue on TX 320
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 320
42
Continue on TX 7
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
TX 7
43
Turn left onto TX 6 Business
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Craik Street
44
Continue on TX 6 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Business Highway 6
45
Turn right onto FM 2308
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lakeview Drive
46
Turn left onto FM 147
12 mi
·
21 min
·
Mc Clanahan Road
47
Turn left onto FM 339
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
FM 339
48
Turn right onto Lcr 624
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Lcr 624
49
Continue on Lcr 625
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Lcr 625
50
Arrive at destination
Lcr 625
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour-plus drive time, splitting this trip over two days is a good idea. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight hours for your first leg. With two recommended stops, plan to cover roughly half the distance on day one, finding a comfortable place to rest before continuing north. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77, where services might be more spread out. The estimated fuel cost of $66 should help you budget accordingly.
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 218.7 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 4h 24m 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 96 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 218.7 miles or 4h 24m 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 218.7 miles or 4h 24m
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 7h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Little Elm, 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 219 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Little Elm, TX
Aim for roughly 219 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 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.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
219 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 Corpus Christi, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
219 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Corpus Christi, TX after about 219 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 96 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 218.7 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.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 219 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
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.
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
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
290 Travel 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 websiteLincoln 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 websiteTony Gonzalez Park
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
1.9 mi from route
~5 min detour
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19565416202
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 305 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 238.2 — 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
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
6
224.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 30m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
238.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 47m in
|
US 77 / North Navarro Street
Turn left onto US 77 / North Navarro Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.90 one way
$119.79 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
153 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $66.90 | $133.81 |
| premium | $4.23 | $72.74 | $145.48 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $82.57 | $165.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$190–$300
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 131.2 | 1 | $45.92 | $20.99 |
| Efficient EV | 109.3 | 1 | $38.26 | $17.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 174.9 | 2 | $61.22 | $27.99 |
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 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.
Origin
Brownsville, TX
Morning in Brownsville on Tuesday
Local time
10:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 8 to 16 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 7:48PM CDT until July 17 at 4:47PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 7:29PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Little Elm, TX
Morning in Little Elm on Tuesday
Local time
10:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph
22% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 7:48PM CDT until July 17 at 4:47PM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 7:29PM 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.
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
8 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
8h 53m 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.
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
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 422.2
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
~67 min detour
$25
near mile 90.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly highway, with 67% of the 437.3 miles on major roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77, suggesting a consistent cruising experience for a significant portion of the drive. The remaining miles will likely be on surface roads, offering a change of pace as you transition between highway segments and approach your destination. Be prepared for the shift in traffic and speed limits when you leave the main highways.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
50 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 United States 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
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 30 significant decision points across 437.3 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 1.8 miles (I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.9 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
513 ft
30 ft
Total Climb
563 ft
Total Descent
153 ft
Highest Point
513 ft
~406.1 mi in
Elevation Range
483 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 Little Elm, TX, road signs point toward Sinton and Victoria.
Sinton
152.3 mi in
|
~3h 7m
|
via US 77
Victoria
152.3 mi in
|
~3h 7m
|
via US 77
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 Little Elm, TX
Full guide →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 219 miles on day one.
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 Little Elm, 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 11 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 1.8 miles (I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 132.9 miles: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Yes — Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, Waco Mammoth National Monument and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Little Elm, 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.
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