Trip from Brownsville, TX to Marshall, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 27, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
11h 11m
Distance
574 mi
924 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$90
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.
Marshall, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
Brownsville, TX to Marshall, TX is 574 miles and takes about 11 hours and 11 minutes via US Highway 77 and US 59, with a fuel budget near $83 and an overnight recommendation. This is a long-haul drive that will take you across a significant portion of Texas, moving from the southern tip of the state into East Texas. Given the duration, it's best to plan for at least two days on the road. You'll be covering a lot of ground, so prepare for a full day of driving if you choose to do it in one go, or break it up to make the trip more comfortable.
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
287 miles from Brownsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 40m 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 59 | 57.5 mi | 1h 5m |
| I-69 | 42 mi | 44m |
| Eastex Freeway | 39.8 mi | 46m |
| US 77 | 37.6 mi | 44m |
| Southwest Freeway | 34.7 mi | 40m |
| United States Highway 77 | 33 mi | 37m |
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
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 Marshall, 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; US 77; I 69E
Take the exit onto US 77
Turn slight right onto US 77
Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91
Merge onto US 59
Take the exit
Continue on 59 Northbound Frontage Road
Continue on this road
Continue on US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 69; US 59
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69; US 59
Continue on I 69; US 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69; US 59
Continue on I-69; US 59
Continue on US 59; FM 942
Take the exit onto US 59
Keep slight right at fork onto US 59
Turn left
Continue on this road
Merge onto Loop 224
Continue on US 59
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto US 259
Continue on US 259
Continue on US 259
Turn right onto TX 315
Take the ramp
Merge onto TX 149
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 59 Business
Turn left onto US 80
Turn left onto North Wellington Street
Turn left onto West Houston Street
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 11-hour drive, splitting it over two days is the most practical approach. Aim to depart early from Brownsville to maximize daylight for your first leg. You'll have about 3 stops planned along the way, so use these for breaks and to refuel. Given the longest stretch is over 120 miles, ensure your fuel tank is sufficiently filled before heading into those longer segments on U.S. Highway 77. Keep an eye on your fuel costs, estimated around $83, and 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.
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 126 miles or 2h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 287 miles or 5h 40m 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 287 miles or 5h 40m
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 10h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marshall, 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 287 miles and 5.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Marshall, TX
Aim for roughly 287 miles and 5.6 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
189 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.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
379 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 Porter Heights, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
287 mi · about 5.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Houston, TX after about 287 miles or 5.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 126 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 287 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 287 miles or 5.6 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.
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Flying J Travel Center
Victoria County Southbound Rest Area
Kenedy County Rest Area
Polk County Northbound Rest Area
Polk County Southbound Rest Area
Texas Travel Information Center at Harlingen
Buc-ee's
Love's Travel Stop
Pilot Travel Center
Pilot Travel Center
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Road Ranger
TA
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
QuikTrip
QuikTrip
Service Plaza
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
Love's Travel Stop
San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area
TA Express
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 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 websiteTony Gonzalez Park
Near the start, short 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 355 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 351.4 — 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
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn sharp right
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Take the exit onto US 77 toward Sinton, Victoria
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$90.21 one way
$180.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.39 | $99.14 | $198.28 |
| premium | $4.72 | $106.64 | $213.28 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $126.46 | $252.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$90
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$220–$330
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 200.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-18.
Driving Electric?
About $60 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 172.2 | 2 | $60.27 | $27.55 |
| Efficient EV | 143.5 | 1 | $50.23 | $22.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 229.6 | 2 | $80.36 | $36.74 |
Gas CO2
201 kg
EV CO2
67 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Brownsville, TX
Evening in Brownsville on Wednesday
Local time
6:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 20 at 7:16PM CDT until May 25 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 20 at 7:16PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Marshall, TX
Evening in Marshall on Wednesday
Local time
6:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Cloudy
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 20 at 7:16PM CDT until May 25 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 20 at 7:16PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
11h 11m 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...
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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 95% of the 574 miles on major roads like U.S. Highway 77 and US 59. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77. Expect a consistent cruising experience with minimal time spent on surface streets. The transition to surface roads will occur near the end of your trip, as you approach Marshall.
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.
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 35 significant decision points across 574 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
Total Climb
430 ft
Total Descent
53 ft
Highest Point
412 ft
~574 mi in
Elevation Range
377 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 Marshall, TX, road signs point toward Sinton, Victoria and Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches.
Sinton
Victoria
Loop 287 East: Nacogdoches
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 Marshall, TX
Full guide →Founded 1841
Marshall is a city in the Central Piney Woods of Texas. This is the third-largest city in this region.
Top landmarks
- • Marshall — historic place in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas
- • Old Harrison County Courthouse — historic place in Marshall, Harrison County, Texas
- • First Methodist Church — historic place in Marshall, Harrison County, Texas
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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