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Trip from Hurst, TX to Brownsville, 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 40m

Distance

529.4 mi

852 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$73

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
9h 32m ★
6 AM
9h 41m
8 AM
9h 58m
10 AM
9h 47m
12 PM
9h 45m
3 PM
9h 48m
5 PM
9h 58m
8 PM
9h 36m

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

city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Hurst, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Brownsville, TX, TX

Brownsville, TX

Eddie O.

Trip Overview

Hurst to Brownsville is 529 miles and takes about 9 hours 40 minutes via U.S. Highway 77, North South Freeway, and TX 130 Toll, with a fuel budget near $77 and an overnight recommendation. This long-haul drive will take you across Texas, staying within the Great Plains region. Given the 9 hour 40 minute duration, it's best to split this into two days to avoid fatigue. Plan for a comfortable pace with at least two stops along the way.

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

264.7 miles from Hurst, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 41m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
U.S. Highway 77 105 mi 1h 56m
North South Freeway 85 mi 1h 28m
TX 130 Toll 58.5 mi 54m
TX 80 51.2 mi 56m
South US Highway 181 40.2 mi 45m
Purple Heart Trail 37.9 mi 39m
I 69E 31.3 mi 33m
I 35 26.5 mi 26m
Longest stretch: U.S. Highway 77 — 105 mi, about 1h 56m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~2,844 veh/hr typical · worst 3,686

Quietest

2 AM

~446 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Hurst, TX and Brownsville, TX.

1

Start on Harrison Lane

51 ft · 9 sec · Harrison Lane
2

Turn left onto West Pipeline Road

2.1 mi · 4 min · West Pipeline Road
3

Turn left onto Northeast Loop 820

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Northeast Loop 820
Use the left lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 820 South
5

Merge onto I 820; TX 121; TX 183

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Airport Freeway
Exit 25A Toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth Use the slight right lane.
7

Continue on TX 121

6.9 mi · 8 min · Airport Freeway
Exit 24B Toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Ft Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South: Waco Use the slight left lane.
9

Merge onto I 35W; US 287; US 377

85 mi · 1 hr 28 min · North South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec
Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.
14

Continue on TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on US 183

0.5 mi · 35 sec · United States Highway 183
17

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · North Colorado Street
18

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
19

Continue on US 183

4.2 mi · 6 min · North Magnolia Avenue
20

Continue on TX 80

51 mi · 56 min · TX 80
21

Turn slight left onto FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792
22

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
23

Turn left onto US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
24

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · South US Highway 181
25

Continue on US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · North 8th Street
26

Continue on US 181

16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South
27

Take the exit onto US 181

0.3 mi · 45 sec · US 181
28

Keep slight right at fork onto US 181

213 ft · 5 sec · US Route 181
29

Turn straight onto US 181

0.7 mi · 1 min · US Highway 181
30

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec
31

Merge onto US 77

12 mi · 13 min · US 77
32

Take the exit onto US 77

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
33

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
34

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the straight lane.
35

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.
36

Keep slight left at fork onto US 77

61 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77
37

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

44 mi · 46 min · U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38

Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Expressway
39

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77; US 83

9.0 mi · 10 min · North Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 1B Toward 12th-14th Street Use the slight right lane.
41

Turn straight onto South Expressway

331 ft · 8 sec · South Expressway
42

Turn right onto East 12th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East 12th Street
Use the right lane.
43

Turn right onto US 77 Business

29 ft · 0 sec · East Washington Street
44

Arrive at destination

US 77 Business

Trip Plan

For this 9 hour 40 minute drive, breaking it into two days is strongly advised. Aim to leave early on your first day to cover roughly half the distance, leaving you with a shorter drive on day two. With two recommended stops, consider one midway point for an overnight stay. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before entering the 105-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 77, as services can be more spread out in that section. Budgeting around $77 for fuel should cover the 529-mile trip.

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 264.7 miles from Hurst, TX, or about 4h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105 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 116 miles or 2h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 264.7 miles or 4h 41m 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 264.7 miles or 4h 41m

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 34m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hurst, 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 Hurst, TX

Aim for roughly 265 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Brownsville, TX

Aim for roughly 265 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 116 miles from Hurst, 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 105 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

San Antonio, TX

175 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.

Overnight Options

Night 1

San Antonio, TX

265 mi · about 4.8h in

A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 265 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Waxahachie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 116 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

San Antonio, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 264.7 miles from Hurst, 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 105 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 265 miles or 4.8 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.

Quality Services Towing & Tires

0 mi from route

Bell County Northbound Rest Area

0 mi from route

Hill County Northbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

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

Flying J Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Walburg Travel Center & Food Court

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

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

Buc-ee's

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.1 mi from route

Circle K

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Flying J Travel Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Hill County Southbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.2 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

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

0.3 mi from route

QuikTrip

0.3 mi from route

Bell County Southbound Rest Area

0.4 mi from route

San Patricio County Northbound Rest Area

2.1 mi from route

Washington Plaza

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Brownsville, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

+19565422064

Visit website

Stillman House Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Brownsville, Texas

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+19565415560

Visit website

Gladys Porter Zoo

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 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 end, right off the route

Home stretch 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 end, short detour

Home stretch 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Brownsville, TX

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+19565489300

Visit website

Lincoln Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Brownsville, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+19569974875

Visit website

iFLY Indoor Skydiving - Fort Worth

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

Hurst, Texas

Hours: 10:30 am–6:30 pm

+18178184359

Visit website

Get Air Trampoline Park

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 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 26

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 380.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
2.9 mi into trip | ~5m in | TX 121 / Airport Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 121 / Airport Freeway toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 25A Toward TX 121 South: Downtown, Fort Worth
8
10.1 mi into trip | ~14m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South: Waco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South:...
7
166.6 mi into trip | ~2h 56m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
7
225.8 mi into trip | ~3h 52m in

Take the exit toward US 183 South: Lockhart

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
7
380.8 mi into trip | ~6h 55m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$72.51 one way

$145.02 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 185 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.89 $80.99 $161.99
premium $4.23 $88.06 $176.12
diesel $4.80 $99.96 $199.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$73

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$203–$313

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 185.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 158.8 1 $55.59 $25.41
Efficient EV 132.4 1 $46.32 $21.18
EV Truck/SUV 211.8 2 $74.12 $33.88

Gas CO2

185 kg

EV CO2

62 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

Hurst, TX

Late night in Hurst on Monday

Local time

5:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 36% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:47PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:46PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Destination

Brownsville, TX

Late night in Brownsville on Monday

Local time

5:35 AM

CDT

Current temp

94°F

Partly Sunny

SE 17 mph 5% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 4:47PM CDT until July 16 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 16 at 4:46PM CDT until July 16 at 5:30PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

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

5 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

9h 40m 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.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

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 91.3
View on nps.gov
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

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 near mile 529.4
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore

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 438.1
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 88% of this trip on highways, cruising for extended periods. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 105 miles on U.S. Highway 77, so be sure to fuel up before you hit that segment. Expect to transition from the North South Freeway and TX 130 Toll to U.S. Highway 77, which will involve more surface road driving as you approach your destination.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105 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 North South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near TX 121 / Airport Freeway.

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 26 significant decision points across 529.4 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 2.9 miles (TX 121 / Airport Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

742 ft 14 ft

Total Climb

352 ft

Total Descent

871 ft

Highest Point

742 ft

~151.3 mi in

Elevation Range

728 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Hurst, TX

Full guide →

Arriving 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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 105 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 265 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 32 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 Brownsville, 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 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (TX 121 / Airport Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument, 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 9.7 hours each way, a round trip means 19.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brownsville, 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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