Trip from Brownsville, TX to Stafford, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 45m

Distance

338.9 mi

545 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

6h 33m ★

6 AM

6h 45m

8 AM

7h 9m

10 AM

6h 53m

12 PM

6h 51m

3 PM

6h 55m

5 PM

7h 8m

8 PM

6h 38m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Brownsville, TX

Eddie O.

Stafford, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Brownsville to Stafford covers 338.9 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Since the route stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent landscape as you move north. This journey is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, though you should budget approximately $52 for fuel to cover the distance. Because it is a highway-focused drive, you can expect a fairly straightforward experience without the need for an overnight stay. It is a practical, direct transit for those looking to reach the Houston metropolitan area efficiently.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

169.4 miles from Brownsville, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m 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 77	37.6 mi	44m
United States Highway 77	33 mi	37m
Southwest Freeway	16.7 mi	18m
North Expressway	10.6 mi	12m
County Road 79	4 mi	15m
Driscoll Bypass	2.3 mi	2m

Longest stretch: U.S. Highway 77 — 126.7 mi, about 2h 20m

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

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 Stafford, 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 left at fork onto Spur 91

1.5 mi · 1 min · Spur 91

Merge onto US 59

89 mi · 1 hr 38 min · US Highway 59 South

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Continue on 59 Northbound Frontage Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · 59 Northbound Frontage Road

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 58 sec · this road

Continue on US 59 Northbound Frontage Road

2.0 mi · 4 min · US 59 Northbound Frontage Road

Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 69 North, US 59 North

Merge onto I 69; US 59

17 mi · 18 min · Southwest Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 112 Toward US 90 Alt: Sugar Land, Stafford Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Use the straight / right lanes.

Merge onto US 90 Alt

2.2 mi · 3 min · Main Street

Use the left lane.

Take the exit onto Stafford Road

459 ft · 17 sec · Stafford Road

Turn left onto US 90 Alt

255 ft · 12 sec · North Main Street

Turn left

55 ft · 6 sec

Turn right

53 ft · 3 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 6-hour and 45-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you arrive in Stafford with daylight to spare. Given the heavy reliance on US 77 and US 59, monitor your fuel levels before starting that long 126.7-mile stretch to avoid any mid-route stress. Flexibility is a key advantage of this trip, so feel free to adjust your pace if traffic patterns shift. Keeping your $52 fuel budget in mind, try to time your refueling breaks at larger intersections where service options are more reliable.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 169.4 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 3h 27m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.7 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 75 miles or 1h 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 169.4 miles or 3h 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stafford, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Brownsville, TX

This is one driving day of about 338.9 miles and 6h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Brownsville, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break 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

Meal stop

Aransas Pass, TX

169 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Lyford, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Corpus Christi, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 169.4 miles from Brownsville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

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

Cowboy Up Hang Gliding

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Wharton, Texas

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+18327402004

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

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 28

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 335.5 — 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

152.3 mi into trip | ~3h 7m in | US 77

Take the exit onto US 77 toward Sinton, Victoria

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Sinton, Victoria

335.5 mi into trip | ~6h 39m in

Take the exit toward US 90 Alt: Sugar Land, Stafford

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 112 Toward US 90 Alt: Sugar Land, Stafford

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$46.42 one way

$92.84 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 119 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$51.85	$103.70
premium	$4.23	$56.37	$112.74
diesel	$4.80	$63.99	$127.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 118.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	101.7	1	$35.58	$16.27
Efficient EV	84.7	0	$29.65	$13.56
EV Truck/SUV	135.6	1	$47.45	$21.69

Gas CO2

119 kg

EV CO2

40 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 17, 2026

Origin

Brownsville, TX

Morning in Brownsville on Sunday

Local time

10:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

95°F

Mostly Sunny

SE 8 to 15 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:39AM CDT until July 18 at 4:13AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:36AM CDT until July 17 at 10:30AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Destination

Stafford, TX

Morning in Stafford on Sunday

Local time

10:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

94°F

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 0 to 10 mph 19% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:39AM CDT until July 18 at 4:13AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:36AM CDT until July 17 at 10:30AM 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.

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

1 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

6h 45m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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...

6 mi from route ~15 min detour Free near mile 11.7

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 81.8

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a focused highway experience, as 94% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will primarily rely on U.S. Highway 77 and US Highway 59 South to navigate the distance. The route features a significant 126.7-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 77, which represents the longest uninterrupted segment of your journey. While the drive is heavily highway-oriented, the transition between these primary roads keeps the pace steady. Being behind the wheel here means settling into a consistent rhythm as you traverse the Texas plains.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

41 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 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.

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 28 significant decision points across 338.9 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

75 ft 36 ft

Total Climb

50 ft

Total Descent

10 ft

Highest Point

75 ft

~121 mi in

Elevation Range

40 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 Stafford, 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 Stafford, TX

Full guide →

Stafford is a city in the North Barrier Coast region of Texas.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 45m. Total distance: 338.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 45m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

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 — we found about 16 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 Stafford, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 16 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 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Stafford, 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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Trip from Brownsville, TX to Stafford, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-69

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Victoria County Northbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Victoria County Southbound Rest Area

Kenedy County Rest Area

Texas Travel Information Center at Harlingen

Buc-ee's

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area

Washington Plaza

Stillman House Museum

Gladys Porter Zoo

Southern Pacific Linear Park

Children's Museum of Brownsville

Lincoln Park

Cowboy Up Hang Gliding

Get Air Trampoline Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Brownsville, TX

Stafford, TX

Same local time

1 degrees cooler at arrival

6h 45m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

Padre Island National Seashore

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Brownsville, TX

Arriving in Stafford, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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