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Trip from Brownsville, TX to Orange, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed May 27, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 9m

Distance

464.1 mi

747 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$73

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
9h 1m ★
6 AM
9h 10m
8 AM
9h 26m
10 AM
9h 15m
12 PM
9h 14m
3 PM
9h 16m
5 PM
9h 25m
8 PM
9h 5m

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

Downtown Brownsville, TX, TX

Brownsville, TX

Eddie O.

city in Orange County, Texas, United States

Orange, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Brownsville, TX to Orange, TX is 464.1 miles and takes about 9h 9m via U.S. Highway 77 and US Highway 59 South, with a fuel budget near $73 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though an overnight is recommended. This trip stays within Texas, traversing the eastern edge of the Great Plains region. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward trek across the state. It's a practical option if you're looking to connect these two points efficiently, with a high highway percentage suggesting minimal time on slower roads.

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

232 miles from Brownsville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Highway 77 126.7 mi 2h 20m
East Freeway 102.7 mi 1h 54m
US Highway 59 South 88.6 mi 1h 38m
US 77 37.6 mi 44m
Southwest Freeway 34.7 mi 40m
United States Highway 77 33 mi 37m
North Expressway 10.6 mi 12m
County Road 79 4 mi 15m
Longest stretch: U.S. Highway 77 — 126.7 mi, about 2h 20m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~4,800 veh/hr typical

Quietest

2 AM

~537 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

8.9×

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 Orange, 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

33 mi · 37 min · Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69; US 59

2.1 mi · 2 min · Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34

Continue on I 69; US 59

1.2 mi · 1 min · Eastex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 132 Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Antonio Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 10 East: Beaumont Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
37

Merge onto I 10; US 90

4.3 mi · 5 min · East Freeway
38

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

13 mi · 16 min · East Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
39

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

85 mi · 1 hr 33 min · East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 874A Toward US 90 Business: Pinehurst
41

Turn straight onto West I-10 Service Road

0.5 mi · 56 sec · West I-10 Service Road
42

Keep slight right at fork onto US 90 Bus

1.6 mi · 2 min · West Park Avenue
43

Continue on US 90 Bus

1.5 mi · 2 min · Strickland Drive
44

Turn left onto US 90 Bus; TX 87

1.0 mi · 1 min · Macarthur Drive
45

Continue on US 90 Bus

0.6 mi · 1 min · Green Avenue
46

Turn right onto 7th Street

45 ft · 2 sec · 7th Street
47

Arrive at destination

7th Street

Trip Plan

Given the 9h 9m estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is a good idea to avoid fatigue. Plan for at least two stops to break up the 464.1 miles. Departing early in the morning on your first day will allow you to cover a significant portion, perhaps around 250-300 miles, before finding a place to rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches, as services can be spaced out on highway segments. The $73 fuel cost is an estimate, so be sure to check current prices.

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 232 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 4h 38m 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 102 miles or 1h 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 232 miles or 4h 38m 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 232 miles or 4h 38m

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

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange, 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 232 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Orange, TX

Aim for roughly 232 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 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.

Downtown Brazoria, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Brazoria, TX

232 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 Brazoria, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Brazoria, TX

232 mi · about 4.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Brazoria, TX after about 232 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Bishop, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 102 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Inez, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 232 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 U.S. Highway 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 126.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 232 miles or 4.6 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.

Victoria County Northbound Rest Area

0 mi from route

Service Plaza

0 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

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

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

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.3 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.4 mi from route

Chambers County Westbound Rest Area

0.5 mi from route

Chambers County Eastbound Rest Area

0.5 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

1.5 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

1.7 mi from route

San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area

2.2 mi from route

Service Plaza

2.4 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

2.5 mi from route

Stark Museum of Art

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0 mi from route

Orange, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+14098862787

Visit website

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

Brazos River Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Sugar Land, Texas

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+12812752825

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

Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Orange, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+14096709113

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

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 30

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 360.2 — 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
6
351.4 mi into trip | ~6h 58m in | I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
354.8 mi into trip | ~7h 2m in

Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Antonio

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 132 Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Anto...
7
355 mi into trip | ~7h 3m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East: Beaumont

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 East: Beaumont
6
360.2 mi into trip | ~7h 10m in | I 10 / East Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / East Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$72.94 one way

$145.88 round trip

$3.99/gal 25.4 MPG avg 162 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.39 $80.16 $160.32
premium $4.72 $86.22 $172.45
diesel $5.60 $102.25 $204.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$73

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$203–$313

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 162.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-18.

Driving Electric?

About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 139.2 1 $48.73 $22.28
Efficient EV 116 1 $40.61 $18.56
EV Truck/SUV 185.6 2 $64.97 $29.70

Gas CO2

162 kg

EV CO2

54 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.

Forecast as of May 27, 2026

Origin

Brownsville, TX

Evening in Brownsville on Wednesday

Local time

5:20 PM

CDT

Current temp

90°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 9 to 13 mph 36% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 9:31AM CDT until May 27 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued May 27 at 9:24AM CDT until May 27 at 12:30PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Destination

Orange, TX

Evening in Orange on Wednesday

Local time

5:20 PM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 5 to 10 mph 87% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 9:31AM CDT until May 27 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued May 27 at 9:24AM CDT until May 27 at 12:30PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth 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

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

9h 9m 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

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 ~69 min detour $25 near mile 80
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend about 95% of the 464.1 miles on highways, with the longest continuous stretch being 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77. This means you'll experience mostly highway cruising for the bulk of the drive. Expect the transition from highway to surface roads to occur late in your trip as you approach Orange. The high highway share indicates frequent exits and merges will be common.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
47 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 East Freeway. 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 30 significant decision points across 464.1 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 351.4 miles (I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 354.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

103 ft 6 ft

Total Climb

121 ft

Total Descent

150 ft

Highest Point

103 ft

~298.3 mi in

Elevation Range

97 ft

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 Orange, TX, road signs point toward Sinton, Victoria and San Antonio.

Sinton

152.3 mi in | ~3h 7m | via US 77

Victoria

152.3 mi in | ~3h 7m | via US 77

San Antonio

354.8 mi in | ~7h 2m

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 Orange, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1830

Orange is in the Bayous region of East Texas. It is on the Sabine River, which is the border between Texas and Louisiana.

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 232 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 37 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 Orange, 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 37 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 351.4 miles (I 69; US 59 / Southwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 354.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 9.2 hours each way, a round trip means 18.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Orange, 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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