Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Grand Prairie, TX to Brenham, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 12m
Distance
222.3 mi
358 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 13m
8 AM
4h 39m
10 AM
4h 22m
12 PM
4h 19m
3 PM
4h 23m
5 PM
4h 38m
8 PM
4h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grand Prairie, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Brenham, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Grand Prairie, TX to Brenham, TX is 222.3 miles and takes about 4h 12m via South R L Thornton Freeway and East State Highway 6, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, moving from one part of Texas to another. Expect a mostly highway experience for this drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. The relatively short distance and clear route mean you can plan for a relaxed departure or arrival.
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
111.2 miles from Grand Prairie, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 80.5 mi | 1h 22m |
| East State Highway 6 | 46.6 mi | 46m |
| Farm to Market Road 60 East | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| South State Highway 6 | 13.5 mi | 14m |
| TX 36 | 11.5 mi | 17m |
| North Harvey Mitchell Parkway | 9.8 mi | 12m |
| Lyndon B Johnson Freeway | 9.3 mi | 9m |
| North State Highway 6 | 6.2 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
South R L Thornton Freeway
— 80.5 mi, about 1h 22m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,710 veh/hr typical · worst 3,817
Quietest
2 AM
~466 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 43 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 Grand Prairie, TX and Brenham, TX.
1
Start on this road
219 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Northeast 5th Street
189 ft
·
14 sec
·
Northeast 5th Street
3
Turn left onto TX 180
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Turn right onto FM 1382
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
South Belt Line Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 20 East
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 20
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 467B
Toward I 35E South: Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 35E
81 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 337
Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
12
Turn left onto US 77 Bus
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Loop Drive
13
Continue on Loop 484
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Marlin Highway
14
Continue on TX 6
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
East State Highway 6
15
Continue on TX 6
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Memorial Street
16
Continue on TX 6
37 mi
·
37 min
·
East State Highway 6
17
Continue on TX 6
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
18
Continue on TX 6
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North State Highway 6
19
Continue on US 79; TX 6
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Market Street
20
Continue on US 190; TX 6
14 mi
·
14 min
·
South State Highway 6
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward FM 2818: Harvey Mitchell Parkway
22
Continue on North Earl Rudder Freeway
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Earl Rudder Freeway
23
Turn right onto FM 2818
9.8 mi
·
12 min
·
North Harvey Mitchell Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward FM 60
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
Toward FM 60
Use the right lane.
26
Merge onto FM 60
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Raymond Stotzer Parkway
27
Continue on FM 60
3.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Raymond Stotzer Parkway
Toward FM 60: Snook
28
Continue on FM 60
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Farm to Market Road 60 East
29
At end of road, turn left onto TX 36
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 36 South
30
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 36
12 mi
·
17 min
·
TX 36
31
Turn left onto TX 36 Bus
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Park Street
32
Continue on TX 36 Bus
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
North Austin Parkway
33
Turn left onto US 290 Bus
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Alamo Street
34
Arrive at destination
US 290 Bus
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 12m estimated drive time, leaving Grand Prairie in the morning allows ample time to reach Brenham before evening. With just one stop recommended, you can easily manage your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $33 and planning your fill-ups around the highway segments is wise. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; consider leaving slightly earlier if you prefer a more leisurely pace or want to avoid potential afternoon traffic. A good tip is to check your navigation app for any real-time traffic updates before you depart, especially around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.2 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.5 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 49 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.2 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brenham, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grand Prairie, 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 Grand Prairie, TX
This is one driving day of about 222.3 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Grand Prairie, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 80.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111.2 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.5 miles.
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
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteLouis Tussaud's Palace of Wax
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
1.1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Grand Prairie, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+19722632391
Visit websiteNTER - The Great Escape
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
1.6 mi from route
~4 min detour
Waxahachie, Texas
Hours: 5–9 pm
+12149801053
Visit websiteDoris D Miller Park
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, short detour
Halfway reset
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Waco, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 5.6 and 183.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 20 East
7
15.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 35E South: Waco
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 467B
Toward I 35E South: Waco
7
96.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 337
Toward US 77 Business: Elm Avenue
6
183.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward FM 60
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FM 60
8
183.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FM 60
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward FM 60
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.45 one way
$60.90 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $34.01 | $68.02 |
| premium | $4.23 | $36.98 | $73.95 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $41.97 | $83.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.7 | 0 | $23.34 | $10.67 |
| Efficient EV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.45 | $8.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.9 | 1 | $31.12 | $14.23 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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
Grand Prairie, TX
Late night in Grand Prairie on Monday
Local time
1:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
S 5 to 10 mph
16% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 6:44PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 6:35PM CDT until July 19 at 9:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Brenham, TX
Late night in Brenham on Monday
Local time
1:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 6:44PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 19 at 6:35PM CDT until July 19 at 9:30PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa 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
7 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
4h 12m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
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?
You'll spend about 84% of this 222.3-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 80.5 miles along South R L Thornton Freeway. After the highway segments, you will transition to surface roads, including Farm to Market Road 60 East. Be prepared for a higher volume of exits and potential merging traffic as you navigate the initial highway portions.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.5 mi on South R L Thornton Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and East State Highway 6. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 222.3 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 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
680 ft
228 ft
Total Climb
491 ft
Total Descent
671 ft
Highest Point
680 ft
~63.5 mi in
Elevation Range
452 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 Grand Prairie, TX and Brenham, TX, road signs point toward Fm 60 and Fm 60: Snook.
Fm 60
183.6 mi in
|
~3h 20m
Fm 60: Snook
184.8 mi in
|
~3h 22m
|
via FM 60
About the Cities
Starting in Grand Prairie, TX
Full guide →Founded 1863
Grand Prairie is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas.
Arriving in Brenham, TX
Full guide →Founded 1844
Brenham is a city in the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas. It is the county seat of Washington, County and is about halfway between Houston and Austin on U.S. Highway 290. Brenham is largely known throughout Texas for its proximity to the Birthplace of Texas (Washington, Texas) and its largest employer, Blue Bell Creameries. Brenham has a humid subtropical climate so expect very hot, humid summers. Conversely, the winters are very mild, and the coldest temperatures of the year rarely get below freezing.
Top landmarks
- • F. W. Schuerenberg House — historic place in Brenham, Washington County, Texas
- • Washington County Courthouse — historic courthouse in Brenham, Washington County, Texas
- • Brenham Downtown Historic District — historic district in Brenham, Washington County, 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 4h 12m. Total distance: 222.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.5 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 Brenham, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Brenham, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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