Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Brownsville, TX to Tyler, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10h 27m
Distance
533.7 mi
859 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$80
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 18m
★
6 AM
10h 28m
8 AM
10h 46m
10 AM
10h 34m
12 PM
10h 32m
3 PM
10h 35m
5 PM
10h 45m
8 PM
10h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Tyler, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Brownsville to Tyler is 533.7 miles and takes about 10 hours 27 minutes via U.S. Highway 77 and US 79, with a fuel budget near $77 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though an overnight is recommended. This route primarily traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a long-haul experience that's mostly highway driving. Given the distance and duration, this trip is best broken into two days for a more relaxed pace. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive across 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
266.9 miles from Brownsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 19m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 126.7 mi | 2h 20m |
| US 79 | 86.8 mi | 1h 40m |
| United States Highway 77 | 57.9 mi | 1h 5m |
| US 77 | 44.9 mi | 53m |
| North Navarro Street | 40.1 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 155 | 39.9 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 21 | 36.6 mi | 40m |
| North US Highway 77 | 17.3 mi | 19m |
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 Tyler, 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 right at fork onto US 77
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 77 South
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Use the left lane.
26
Merge onto US 59; US 77
13 mi
·
14 min
·
US 59; US 77
27
Take the exit onto US 77
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 77
28
Turn left onto US 77
40 mi
·
45 min
·
North Navarro Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
At end of road, turn right onto US 77; US 90 Alt
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Fairwinds Street
30
Continue on US 77; US 90 Alt
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
West 4th Street
31
Turn left onto US 77
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Texana Street
32
Continue on US 77
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
United States Highway 77
33
Continue on US 77
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
US 77
34
Continue on US 77; FM 532
25 mi
·
28 min
·
United States Highway 77
35
Continue on US 77
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Jefferson Street
36
Continue on US 77
17 mi
·
19 min
·
North US Highway 77
37
Continue on US 77
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
South Main Street
38
Take the exit
186 ft
·
5 sec
39
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
this road
40
Merge onto TX 21
37 mi
·
40 min
·
State Highway 21
41
Turn left onto TX OSR
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
West Old San Antonio Road
42
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
43
Merge onto US 190; TX 6
11 mi
·
12 min
·
South State Highway 6
44
Continue on US 190; TX 6
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Market Street
45
Continue on US 79; TX 6
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
North State Highway 6
46
Keep slight left at fork onto US 79
79 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
US 79
47
Merge onto US 79; US 84
7.7 mi
·
10 min
·
US 79; US 84
48
Turn left onto TX 155
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Link Street
49
Turn straight onto TX 155
21 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 155
50
Continue on TX 155
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Elm Street
51
Continue on TX 155
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Frankston Highway
52
Continue on TX 155
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 155
53
Continue on TX 155
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Frankston Highway
54
Continue on TX 155
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
South Vine Avenue
55
Turn right onto US 69; TX 64; TX 110; TX 155
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Glenwood Boulevard
56
Continue on US 69; TX 64; TX 110; TX 155
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
West Fifth Street
57
Turn left onto US 69
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Broadway Avenue
58
Arrive at destination
North Broadway Avenue
Trip Plan
With a 10-hour drive time, planning for two days is wise. Consider departing Brownsville in the morning to cover about half the distance, aiming for a stop around the halfway point of your journey. This allows for a more manageable second day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches on U.S. Highway 77, as services can be spread out. The $77 fuel estimate is based on average prices, so adjust based on current rates and your vehicle's MPG. Breaking up the 533.7 miles will make the drive more comfortable.
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 266.9 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 5h 19m 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 117 miles or 2h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 266.9 miles or 5h 19m 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 266.9 miles or 5h 19m
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 9h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tyler, 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 267 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tyler, TX
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 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.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
176 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
352 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 Houston, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
267 mi · about 5.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Houston, TX after about 267 miles or 5.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 117 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 266.9 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 267 miles or 5.2 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
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
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
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
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
290 Travel Plaza
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 websiteStillman 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 websiteGladys 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 websiteSouthern 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 websiteChildren'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 websiteTyler Rose Garden
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, short detour
Home stretch
1.3 mi from route
~3 min detour
Tyler, Texas
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+19035311212
Visit websiteVisit Tyler/SPORTyler
4.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.1 mi from route
Tyler, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19035936905
Visit websiteLincoln 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 websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 325 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.
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
5
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.
5
132.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
Turn sharp right
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
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.
6
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
$80.12 one way
$160.24 round trip
$3.81/gal
25.4 MPG avg
187 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $88.65 | $177.30 |
| premium | $4.57 | $95.92 | $191.84 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $129.83 | $259.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$210–$320
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 186.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 160.1 | 1 | $56.04 | $25.62 |
| Efficient EV | 133.4 | 1 | $46.70 | $21.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 213.5 | 2 | $74.72 | $34.16 |
Gas CO2
187 kg
EV CO2
62 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.
Origin
Brownsville, TX
Afternoon in Brownsville on Tuesday
Local time
2:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 7 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Tyler, TX
Afternoon in Tyler on Tuesday
Local time
2:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
18 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
10h 27m 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 92
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 primarily highway cruising, with 84% of the total distance on major roads like U.S. Highway 77 and US 79. You'll experience a longest stretch of 126.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77, indicating significant periods of uninterrupted driving. The highway driving will transition to surface roads for the remaining 16% of the trip, likely closer to your destinations. Expect a consistent pace for the majority of the drive.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
58 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 32 significant decision points across 533.7 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
538 ft
24 ft
Total Climb
866 ft
Total Descent
363 ft
Highest Point
538 ft
~533.7 mi in
Elevation Range
514 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 Tyler, 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 — former US Amy post in Texas
- • Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park — historic site in Brownsville (vicinity), Cameron County, Texas
Arriving in Tyler, TX
Full guide →Founded 1846
Tyler is the county seat of Smith County, in eastern Texas. It boasts the nation's largest municipal rose garden and hosts the Texas Rose Festival each October.
Top landmarks
- • Blackstone Building — building in Tyler, Smith County, Texas
- • Carnegie Public Library — historic place in Tyler, Smith County, Texas
- • People's National Bank Building — building in Tyler, Smith 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 267 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 Tyler, 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.
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.
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 10.5 hours each way, a round trip means 20.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tyler, 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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