Trip from Brownsville, TX to Palestine, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 30m

Distance

486.7 mi

783 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$67

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

9h 22m ★

6 AM

9h 31m

8 AM

9h 48m

10 AM

9h 37m

12 PM

9h 35m

3 PM

9h 38m

5 PM

9h 47m

8 PM

9h 26m

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

Best Time

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Brownsville, TX

Eddie O.

Palestine, TX

Alfo Medeiros

Trip Overview

Brownsville, TX to Palestine, TX is 486.7 miles and takes about 9h 30m via U.S. Highway 77, with a fuel budget near $72 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though an overnight is recommended. This trip takes you through the Great Plains region of Texas, primarily on highways. With 2 recommended stops and a driving time just under 10 hours, this route is best tackled over two days to allow for a more relaxed pace. Consider this drive if you're looking for a straightforward transit through Texas with minimal complex navigation.

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

243.3 miles from Brownsville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
U.S. Highway 77	126.7 mi	2h 20m
US 79	84.7 mi	1h 36m
United States Highway 77	57.9 mi	1h 5m
US 77	44.9 mi	53m
North Navarro Street	40.1 mi	45m
State Highway 21	36.6 mi	40m
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 Palestine, TX.

Start on US 77 Business

0.3 mi · 40 sec · East Washington Street

Turn right onto East 7th Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · East 7th Street

Turn left onto North Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 20 sec · North Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83

11 mi · 12 min · North Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83

102 mi · 1 hr 53 min · U.S. Highway 77

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 14 sec

Merge onto I 69E; US 77

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 69E; US 77

Continue on U.S. Highway 77

12 mi · 12 min · U.S. Highway 77

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road

485 ft · 17 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road

Turn right onto County Road 10

1.0 mi · 4 min · County Road 10

Turn left onto County Road 79

4.0 mi · 15 min · County Road 79

Turn left onto County Road 18

0.2 mi · 43 sec · County Road 18

Turn sharp right

1.1 mi · 2 min

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 57 sec

Merge onto US 77

2.3 mi · 2 min · Driscoll Bypass

Continue on US 77

13 mi · 14 min · U.S. Highway 77

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 50 sec

Continue on I 37; US 77; I 69E

463 ft · 5 sec · I 37; US 77; I 69E

Take the exit onto US 77

38 mi · 44 min · US 77

Toward Sinton, Victoria

Turn slight right onto US 77

33 mi · 37 min · United States Highway 77

Keep slight right at fork onto US 77

1.2 mi · 1 min · US Highway 77 South

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Use the left lane.

Merge onto US 59; US 77

13 mi · 14 min · US 59; US 77

Take the exit onto US 77

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 77

Turn left onto US 77

40 mi · 45 min · North Navarro Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

At end of road, turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Fairwinds Street

Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt

0.3 mi · 25 sec · West 4th Street

Turn left onto US 77

1.4 mi · 1 min · North Texana Street

Continue on US 77

0.2 mi · 14 sec · United States Highway 77

Continue on US 77

6.8 mi · 7 min · US 77

Continue on US 77; FM 532

25 mi · 28 min · United States Highway 77

Continue on US 77

2.7 mi · 3 min · South Jefferson Street

Continue on US 77

17 mi · 19 min · North US Highway 77

Continue on US 77

9.5 mi · 10 min · South Main Street

Take the exit

186 ft · 5 sec

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 31 sec · this road

Merge onto TX 21

37 mi · 40 min · State Highway 21

Turn left onto TX OSR

8.1 mi · 10 min · West Old San Antonio Road

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Merge onto US 190; TX 6

11 mi · 12 min · South State Highway 6

Continue on US 190; TX 6

2.1 mi · 2 min · South Market Street

Continue on US 79; TX 6

0.3 mi · 22 sec · North State Highway 6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 79

79 mi · 1 hr 30 min · US 79

Merge onto US 79; US 84

5.5 mi · 6 min · US 79; US 84

Turn right onto US 84

355 ft · 6 sec · Court Drive

Continue on US 84

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Oak Street

Turn right onto US 84; US 287

0.6 mi · 52 sec · West Spring Street

Turn slight left onto Loop 127

267 ft · 5 sec · Avenue A

Arrive at destination

Loop 127

Trip Plan

Given the 9.5-hour drive time, splitting this trip into two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Plan your first day to cover roughly half the distance, aiming for a stop around the 4-5 hour mark. The longest stretch without significant breaks is over 126 miles on U.S. Highway 77, so be sure to fuel up before entering this section. With 2 planned stops, you have flexibility for meals and rest, but pay attention to your fuel gauge, especially in the more rural areas between towns. Your estimated fuel cost is around $72.

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 243.3 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 4h 52m 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 107 miles or 2h 1m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 243.3 miles or 4h 52m 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 243.3 miles or 4h 52m

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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palestine, 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 243 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Palestine, TX

Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 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

San Antonio, TX

243 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 San Antonio, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

243 mi · about 4.8h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 243 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

San Diego, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 107 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Corpus Christi, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 243.3 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

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 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 31

5 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.

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

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.

132.9 mi into trip | ~2h 44m in

Turn sharp right

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

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.

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

$66.66 one way

$133.33 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 170 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$74.46	$148.92
premium	$4.23	$80.96	$161.91
diesel	$4.80	$91.90	$183.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$67

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$197–$307

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 170.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	146	1	$51.10	$23.36
Efficient EV	121.7	1	$42.59	$19.47
EV Truck/SUV	194.7	2	$68.14	$31.15

Gas CO2

170 kg

EV CO2

57 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.

Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Brownsville, TX

Late night in Brownsville on Monday

Local time

3:09 AM

CDT

Current temp

94°F

Partly Sunny

SE 17 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 6:07PM CDT until July 16 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:07PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX

Destination

Palestine, TX

Late night in Palestine on Monday

Local time

3:09 AM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

SSE 0 to 5 mph 33% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 6:07PM CDT until July 16 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 6:07PM 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

22 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 30m 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

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 ~68 min detour $25 near mile 83.9

View on nps.gov

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 84% of the 486.7 miles on major roads like U.S. Highway 77. You'll experience a long stretch of 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77 without much interruption. The transition to surface roads will occur after this highway portion, offering a change of pace. Expect a consistent, efficient drive for the majority of your time behind the wheel.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

52 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 US 79. 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 31 significant decision points across 486.7 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

476 ft 22 ft

Total Climb

632 ft

Total Descent

192 ft

Highest Point

476 ft

~486.7 mi in

Elevation Range

454 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 Palestine, 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

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Old Magnolia Coffee Shop

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Palestine, TX

Cuisine: sandwich;coffee_shop

Lotus Café

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Visit website

956 Coffee Co.

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Doña Elsa

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Cafeteria y delicias Mrs. Wong

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Heroica Matamoros

Pint & Barrel Draftshouse

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Palestine, TX

Visit website

Wingstop

Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00

Visit website

Brownsville Heritage Museum

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Brownsville, TX

Hours: Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00

Visit website

Link House

House

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Palestine, TX

Visit website

Site of McKnight Plaza

Memorial

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0 mi from route

Palestine Carnegie Library

Library

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Manautou Building

Memorial

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route

Cameron Hotel

Hotel

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Bluff Creek Ranch

Camp_site

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

señor de lona

Guest_house

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Value Place

Motel

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min 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 Palestine, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1846

Palestine is a city in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas. It dates way back to the origins of the Texas Republic practically, when Anderson County was carved out and needed a county seat. Then it was a stage stop on the route between Texarkana and Austin and later a stop for the railroad, from which it derives a lot of its fame today, because of a popular restored line between here and Rusk that offers a sense of train travel of yesteryear through the Piney Woods. The town itself looks a little stuck in the past, and can be worth a gander.

Top landmarks

• Sacred Heart Catholic Church and School — building in Palestine, Anderson County, Texas
• Texas State Railroad — Heritage railroad in east-central Texas
• Anderson County Courthouse — historic place in Palestine, Anderson County, Texas

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 243 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 14 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 Palestine, 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Palestine, 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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