Trip from Houston, TX to Llano Grande, 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

6h 36m

Distance

345.5 mi

556 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

6h 25m ★

6 AM

6h 37m

8 AM

7h 1m

10 AM

6h 45m

12 PM

6h 43m

3 PM

6h 47m

5 PM

7h 0m

8 PM

6h 30m

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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Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Llano Grande, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

Houston, TX to Llano Grande, TX is 345.5 miles and takes about 6h 36m via U.S. Highway 77, US Highway 59, and Alamo Street, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Great Plains region, mostly on highways, making for a straightforward trip. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, it’s a good option if you want to get to your destination without a lengthy travel day. The majority of the route is highway driving, so expect consistent speeds for most of the trip.

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

172.7 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 21m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
U.S. Highway 77	90.7 mi	1h 39m
US Highway 59	74.7 mi	1h 22m
Alamo Street	37.1 mi	43m
US Highway 77 South	33.2 mi	37m
Southwest Freeway	32.8 mi	37m
I 69E	31.3 mi	33m
US 59	15.8 mi	18m
I 2	14.1 mi	15m

Longest stretch: U.S. Highway 77 — 90.7 mi, about 1h 39m

Traffic on I-69

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 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 Houston, TX and Llano Grande, TX.

Start on Louisiana Street

148 ft · 11 sec · Louisiana Street

Turn left onto Congress Street

298 ft · 14 sec · Congress Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto Smith Street

2.7 mi · 5 min · Smith Street

Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 69; US 59

33 mi · 37 min · Southwest Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 94 Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Merge onto US 59

9.2 mi · 10 min · US 59

Keep slight left at fork onto US 59

6.6 mi · 7 min · US 59

Take the exit

1.5 mi · 2 min

Continue on US 59

75 mi · 1 hr 22 min · US Highway 59

Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91

1.0 mi · 1 min · Spur 91

Merge onto US 77

33 mi · 37 min · US Highway 77 South

Turn straight onto US 77

37 mi · 43 min · Alamo Street

Take the exit onto US 77

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 77

Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77

31 mi · 33 min · I 69E; US 77

Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 77

61 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77

29 mi · 30 min · U.S. Highway 77

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min

Exit 26B Toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 2; US 83

14 mi · 15 min · I 2; US 83

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Exit 160 Toward FM 1015: Bill Summers, International Boulevard Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Expressway 83

0.7 mi · 1 min · Expressway 83

Turn sharp left onto FM 1015

1.4 mi · 2 min · North International Boulevard

Turn right onto 6N

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 18th Street

Turn left onto 3½W

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Pleasantview Drive

Turn right

0.1 mi · 36 sec

Turn left onto Erasmo Drive

123 ft · 5 sec · Erasmo Drive

Arrive at destination

Erasmo Drive

Trip Plan

Given the 6h 36m duration, leaving Houston in the morning should allow you to arrive in Llano Grande with plenty of daylight remaining. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway mark, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, as the fuel cost is estimated at $51. The route mainly follows U.S. Highway 77 and US Highway 59, so pay attention to signage for these highways. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility; however, be aware that the longest stretch on U.S. Highway 77 is over 90 miles, so ensure you have enough fuel before starting that segment.

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 172.7 miles from Houston, TX, or about 3h 21m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.7 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 76 miles or 1h 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 172.7 miles or 3h 21m 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 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Llano Grande, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Houston, 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 Houston, TX

This is one driving day of about 345.5 miles and 6h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Houston, 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 90.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Aransas Pass, TX

173 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

Bay City, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Aransas Pass, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 172.7 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.1 mi from route

Estero Llano Grande State Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Weslaco, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+19565653919

Visit website

Downtown Aquarium

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–8:30 pm

+17132233474

Visit website

Brazos River Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Sugar Land, Texas

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+12812752825

Visit website

Union Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Houston, Texas

+17132598070

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

El Campo, Texas

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 341.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Congress Street

Turn left onto Congress Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

35.6 mi into trip | ~44m in

Take the exit toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

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

Exit 94 Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartle...

204.5 mi into trip | ~3h 58m in | I 69E; US 77

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

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. Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

326.5 mi into trip | ~6h 12m in

Take the exit toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen

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 26B Toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen

341.7 mi into trip | ~6h 28m in

Take the exit toward FM 1015: Bill Summers, International Boulevard

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 160 Toward FM 1015: Bill Summers, International Bou...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.32 one way

$94.65 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 121 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$52.86	$105.72
premium	$4.23	$57.47	$114.94
diesel	$4.80	$65.24	$130.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 120.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

EV Charging Along Route

7 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good

Houston, TX - Yale Street - Tesla Supercharger

Houston, TX

Tesla

35 DCFC

Houston, TX - Franklin Street - Tesla Supercharger

Houston, TX

Tesla

24 DCFC

W 23rd St Hub

Houston, TX

SHELL_RECHARGE

20 DCFC

Washington Ave Hub

Houston, TX

SHELL_RECHARGE

16 DCFC

Houston, TX - 3333 Telephone Road - Tesla Supercharger

Houston, TX

Tesla

16 DCFC

Main St Hub

Houston, TX

SHELL_RECHARGE

14 DCFC

Walmart 5959 (Houston, TX)

Houston, TX

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Tesla: 3 SHELL_RECHARGE: 3 Electrify America: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	103.7	1	$36.28	$16.58
Efficient EV	86.4	0	$30.23	$13.82
EV Truck/SUV	138.2	1	$48.37	$22.11

Gas CO2

121 kg

EV CO2

40 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 Jul 20, 2026

Origin

Houston, TX

Late night in Houston on Monday

Local time

12:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Mostly Clear

SW 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 10:14PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 10:09PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX

Destination

Llano Grande, TX

Late night in Llano Grande on Monday

Local time

12:54 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Mostly Clear

SE 10 to 14 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 10:14PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 10:09PM CDT by NWS Lubbock 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

6h 36m 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...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour Free near mile 321.7

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 ~67 min detour $25 near mile 262.1

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 86% of this 345.5-mile drive on highways, so expect to maintain higher speeds for a significant portion of the trip. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 90.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77. You'll transition to surface roads like Alamo Street for the final leg, so be prepared for a change in pace and potentially more local traffic as you near Llano Grande.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 90.7 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. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Congress Street.

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 22 significant decision points across 345.5 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: near the start (Congress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.5 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

104 ft 30 ft

Total Climb

149 ft

Total Descent

112 ft

Highest Point

104 ft

~74 mi in

Elevation Range

74 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Houston, TX and Llano Grande, TX, road signs point toward Spur 10: Cottonwood and Brownsville.

Spur 10: Cottonwood

35.6 mi in | ~44m

Brownsville

204.5 mi in | ~3h 58m | via I 69E; US 77

About the Cities

Starting in Houston, TX

Full guide →

“Space City” · Founded 1836

Houston is a sprawling port city in Southeastern Texas. An oil boom and continuing international immigration has brought explosive growth to the city, and it is now the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and the most diverse large city since 2021. While at first glance, the city appears to be a 9-5 central business district surrounded by a sea of suburbs and strip malls, there are many hidden gems to be discovered. === Welcome World Cup fans === Games will be played at NRG Stadium on the south side of Houston The best way to get to the stadium on game day is to use MetroRail trains (red line to NRG Stadium/Astrodome). Fare cards can be purchased at kiosks at train platforms and cost US$1.25 per ride The best hotels for football fans are downtown or near the medical center (both areas have easy access to MetroRail).

Top landmarks

• Museum of Fine Arts, Houston — art museum in Houston, Texas
• Astrodome — historic place in Houston, Harris County, Texas
• Rothko Chapel — building in Houston, Harris 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 6h 36m. Total distance: 345.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 90.7 miles on U.S. Highway 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 18 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 Llano Grande, 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 18 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 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Llano Grande, 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, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Houston, TX or browse trips ending in Llano Grande, TX.

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Trip from Houston, TX to Llano Grande, 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 Southbound Rest Area

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Victoria County Northbound 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

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area

Estero Llano Grande State Park

Downtown Aquarium

Brazos River Park

Union Station

Legacy Park

Cidercade Houston

Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area and Picnic Pavilion

Zlotnik Park at Legacy Fields

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Houston, TX

Llano Grande, TX

Same local time

Very similar conditions

6h 36m 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 Houston, 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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