Trip from Brownsville, TX to Mansfield, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 42m
Distance
512.6 mi
825 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Mansfield, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Brownsville, TX to Mansfield, TX is 512.6 miles and takes about 9h 42m via U.S. Highway 77, Purple Heart Trail, and Pickle Parkway, with a fuel budget near $77 and an overnight recommendation. This long-haul drive spans the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward route for those heading north. With a recommended two days for the trip, you'll have ample time to break up the 512.6 miles comfortably. This route is a solid option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground within 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
256.3 miles from Brownsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 6m 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 |
| I 35W | 30.4 mi | 31m |
| State Highway 80 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| I 37 | 19.7 mi | 19m |
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,461 veh/hr typical · worst 3,169
Quietest
2 AM
~387 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 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 Mansfield, TX.
Start on US 77 Business
Turn right onto East 7th Street
Turn left onto North Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83
Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 69E; US 77
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road
Turn right onto County Road 10
Turn left onto County Road 79
Turn left onto County Road 18
Turn sharp right
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 77
Continue on US 77
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 37
Take the exit
Turn right onto TX 359
At end of road, turn left onto US 181
Continue on US 181
Continue on US 181
Turn right onto TX 72; TX 239
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 72; TX 239
Continue on FM 792
Turn straight onto TX 80
Continue on TX 80
Continue on TX 80; TX 97
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183
Continue on US 183
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 35
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35; US 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Burleson Boulevard
Turn right onto FM 917
Continue on FM 917
Continue on FM 917
Turn left onto South Main Street
Turn right onto East Broad Street
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 9h 42m estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended for a more relaxed experience. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight hours, especially if you plan to stop around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a clear break is 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77. Planning your overnight stop will be key to making this drive manageable, ensuring you don't feel rushed on either day.
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.
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 113 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 256.3 miles or 5h 6m 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 256.3 miles or 5h 6m
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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mansfield, 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 256 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Mansfield, TX
Aim for roughly 256 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
169 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
256 mi · about 4.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 256 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 113 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 256.3 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 256 miles or 4.9 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.
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
San Patricio County Southbound Rest Area
Flying J Travel Plaza
Pilot Travel Center
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
Kenedy County Rest Area
Texas Travel Information Center at Harlingen
San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area
Flying J Travel Center
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Road Ranger
Buc-ee's
Service Plaza
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
Circle K
Ascent Travel Center
Bell County Northbound Rest Area
Pilot Travel Center
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
QuikTrip
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
Road Ranger
Love's Travel Stop
QuikTrip
Buc-ee's
TA
Service Plaza
Washington Plaza
Near the start, right off the route
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19565422064
Visit websiteStillman House Museum
Near the start, right off the route
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+19565415560
Visit websiteGladys Porter Zoo
Near the start, right off the route
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+19565467187
Visit websiteSouthern Pacific Linear Park
Near the start, right off the route
Brownsville, TX
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+19565422064
Visit websiteChildren's Museum of Brownsville
Near the start, short detour
Brownsville, TX
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19565489300
Visit websiteCultural Activities Center
Later in the drive, short detour
Temple, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm
+12547739926
Visit websiteLincoln Park
Near the start, short detour
Brownsville, Texas
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+19569974875
Visit websiteGet Air Trampoline Park
Near the start, short 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 285 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 499.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 North: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.21 one way
$140.42 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $78.42 | $156.85 |
| premium | $4.23 | $85.27 | $170.53 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $96.79 | $193.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$200–$310
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 179.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 153.8 | 1 | $53.82 | $24.60 |
| Efficient EV | 128.2 | 1 | $44.85 | $20.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 205 | 2 | $71.76 | $32.81 |
Gas CO2
179 kg
EV CO2
60 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
Morning in Brownsville on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Partly Sunny
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 5:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:19PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Mansfield, TX
Morning in Mansfield on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 5:23PM CDT until July 16 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 5:19PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM 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
6 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 42m 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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend about 74% of your time on highways, with a significant 126.7-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 77. This means you'll experience extended periods of cruising before transitioning to surface roads. The profile of this drive is best described as a long-haul, so plan for a steady pace. You'll notice the change from more urban environments to more rural cruising as you move further north.
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.
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 512.6 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
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,004 ft
Total Descent
437 ft
Highest Point
722 ft
~366.1 mi in
Elevation Range
694 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 Mansfield, TX, road signs point toward Skidmore and Waco.
Skidmore
Waco
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Starbucks
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Temple, TX
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteFire Street Roasters
Cafe
Later in the drive, short detour
Temple, TX
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo,Su 07:00-15:00; Tu-Sa 07:00-19:00
Visit websiteLotus Café
Cafe
Near the start, short detour
Brownsville, TX
Visit websiteStarbucks
Cafe
Near the end, short detour
Mansfield, TX
Cuisine: coffee_shop
956 Coffee Co.
Cafe
Near the start, short detour
Brownsville, TX
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteDoña Elsa
Cafe
Near the start, short detour
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Ellie's Texas Roots
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Mansfield, TX
Cuisine: tea;limonade
Hours: Sa 08:00-12:00
Visit websiteWingstop
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Brownsville, TX
Cuisine: wings
McDonald's
Fast_food
Early in the drive, right off the route
Cuisine: burger
Visit websiteItaliano's Pizza
Restaurant
Later in the drive, right off the route
Temple, TX
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Visit websiteSmolik's Smokehouse
Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Cuisine: barbecue
Visit websiteSushi Bento
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: sushi
Welcome to Texas Sign
Attraction
Near the start, short detour
Brownsville, TX
Santa Fe Kids Stop
Park
Later in the drive, short detour
Temple, TX
Ball Park
Park
Around the midpoint, short detour
Mutual Public Square
Park
Near the start, short detour
Heroico Colegio Militar
Park
Near the start, short detour
Stillman House Museum
Museum
Near the start, right off the route
Brownsville, TX
Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00
Visit websiteBrownsville Heritage Museum
Museum
Near the start, right off the route
Brownsville, TX
Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00
Visit websiteMansfield Mill
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Manautou Building
Memorial
Near the start, right off the route
Public Market and Town Hall
Memorial
Near the start, right off the route
Juan H. Fernandez Store
Memorial
Near the start, right off the route
Cameron Hotel
Hotel
Near the start, right off the route
Hot Springs Lodges
Motel
Around the midpoint, short detour
Kyle Hotel
Hotel
Later in the drive, short detour
TX
señor de lona
Guest_house
Near the start, short detour
El Quemador Ranch
Guest_house
Early in the drive, short detour
Value Place
Motel
Near the start, short 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 Mansfield, TX
Full guide →Founded 1856
Mansfield (Texas) is a fast growing city south of Arlington, between Dallas and Fort Worth.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
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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