The drive from Irving, TX to Port Isabel, TX covers 547.2 miles and takes about 10h 1m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on U.S. Highway 77, South R L Thornton Freeway, TX 130 Toll for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-haul drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105 miles on U.S. Highway 77.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $79.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
273.6 miles from Irving, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
U.S. Highway 77
105 mi
1h 56m
South R L Thornton Freeway
80.5 mi
1h 22m
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 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,975 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,836
Quietest
2 AM
~487 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Irving, TX and Port Isabel, TX.
1
Start on North Ohio Street
436 ft·24 sec·North Ohio Street
2
Turn left onto West 2nd Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 2nd Street
3
Turn straight onto TX 356
0.9 mi·1 min·East Irving Boulevard
4
Turn slight right
393 ft·17 sec
5
Turn slight right onto South Loop 12
187 ft·3 sec·South Loop 12
6
Take the ramp
410 ft·10 sec
Toward Loop 12 South
7
Merge onto Loop 12
5.3 mi·5 min·South Walton Walker Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 12
1.4 mi·1 min·South Walton Walker Boulevard
Toward Loop 12 SouthUse the slight left lane.
9
Turn slight right onto Duncanville Road
3.2 mi·6 min·Duncanville Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto West Interstate 20
0.2 mi·21 sec·West Interstate 20
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 20 East
12
Merge onto I 20
4.6 mi·4 min·Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 467BToward I 35E South: WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 35E
81 mi·1 hr 22 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
26 mi·26 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.7 mi·55 sec
Exit 265Toward TX 130 Toll South: San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on TX 130 Toll
59 mi·54 min·TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 470Toward US 183 South: LockhartUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on US 183
0.5 mi·35 sec·United States Highway 183
22
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi·8 min·North Colorado Street
23
Continue on US 183
10 mi·11 min·US 183
24
Continue on US 183
4.2 mi·6 min·North Magnolia Avenue
25
Continue on TX 80
51 mi·56 min·TX 80
26
Turn slight left onto FM 792
8.4 mi·10 min·Farm-to-Market Road 792
27
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi·1 min·East Main Street
28
Turn left onto US 181
1.2 mi·1 min·South Sunset Strip Drive
29
Continue on US 181
40 mi·45 min·South US Highway 181
30
Continue on US 181
0.8 mi·55 sec·North 8th Street
31
Continue on US 181
16 mi·18 min·US Highway 181 South
32
Take the exit onto US 181
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 181
33
Keep slight right at fork onto US 181
213 ft·5 sec·US Route 181
34
Turn straight onto US 181
0.7 mi·1 min·US Highway 181
35
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
36
Merge onto US 77
12 mi·13 min·US 77
37
Take the exit onto US 77
0.1 mi·13 sec·US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
38
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
39
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
2.5 mi·2 min·I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the straight lane.
40
Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77
31 mi·33 min·I 69E; US 77
Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, BrownsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight left at fork onto US 77
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·U.S. Highway 77
42
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77
44 mi·46 min·U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83
2.1 mi·2 min·North Expressway
44
Keep slight right at fork onto I 169; TX 550 Toll
3.7 mi·3 min·Interstate 169
Exit 10BToward TX 550 Toll: Port of BrownsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on I 169; TX 550 Toll
0.8 mi·51 sec·I-169, TX 550 Toll
46
Continue on FM 511
2.0 mi·2 min·FM 511
47
Continue on TX 550 Toll
3.7 mi·4 min·State Highway 550
48
Turn left
0.2 mi·27 sec
Use the left lane.
49
Merge onto TX 48
14 mi·15 min·Brownsville-Port Isabel Highway
50
Turn right onto TX 100
1.0 mi·2 min·State Highway 100
51
Turn slight right onto TX 100
0.1 mi·24 sec·West Queen Isabella Boulevard
52
Turn right onto South Musina Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Musina Street
53
Arrive at destination
South Musina Street
Trip Plan
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 273.6 miles from Irving, TX, or about 4h 52m 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 120 miles or 2h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 273.6 miles or 4h 52m 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 273.6 miles or 4h 52m
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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Isabel, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Irving, 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 Irving, TX
Aim for roughly 274 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Port Isabel, TX
Aim for roughly 274 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 120 miles from Irving, 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.
The midpoint is around 273.6 miles from Irving, 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 274 miles or 5 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.2 and 521.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.2 mi into trip|~9m in|Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard toward Loop 12 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Loop 12 South
7
16.8 mi into trip|~23m 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
168.8 mi into trip|~3h 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
228 mi into trip|~3h 56m 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
8
521.4 mi into trip|~9h 31m in|I 169; TX 550 Toll / Interstate 169
Keep slight right at fork onto I 169; TX 550 Toll / Interstate 169 toward TX 550 Toll: Port of Brownsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward TX 550 Toll: Port of Brownsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$79.39 one way
$158.77 round trip
$3.69/gal25.4 MPG avg192 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.08
$87.96
$175.92
premium
$4.43
$95.48
$190.96
diesel
$5.60
$120.62
$241.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$209–$319
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 191.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
164.2
2
$57.46
$26.27
Efficient EV
136.8
1
$47.88
$21.89
EV Truck/SUV
218.9
2
$76.61
$35.02
Gas CO2
191 kg
EV CO2
64 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 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.
Forecast as of Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Irving, TX
Morning
in Irving on Friday
Local time
6:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued September 2 at 12:17AM CDT until September 3 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 1 at 11:45PM CDT until September 2 at 2:15AM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Destination
Port Isabel, TX
Morning
in Port Isabel on Friday
Local time
6:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Clear
S 12 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued September 2 at 12:17AM CDT until September 3 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 1 at 11:45PM CDT until September 2 at 2:15AM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston 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.
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
2 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
10h 1m 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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 528.4
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
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 94.4
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
$25
near mile 452.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
547.2 mi / 10h 1m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: U.S. Highway 77.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
53 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 South R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.2 miles in near Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard.
Driving Effort10/10
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 29 significant decision points across 547.2 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 7.2 miles (Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
782 ft8 ft
Total Climb
492 ft
Total Descent
968 ft
Highest Point
782 ft
~156.4 mi in
Elevation Range
774 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Irving, TX to Port Isabel, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Brownsville along the way.
Irving is a city in the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Irving has experienced exponential growth over the past fifty years, and is home to a multitude of attractions of all types, from modern art to major sporting events. Founded in 1902 out of the remnants of the small community of Kit, Irving is now a bustling city of approximately 197,000 residents.
Rather like Dallas, it is divided into a highly affluent northern half and less affluent but highly diverse southern half. It is bounded to the east by the northern fork (Elm Fork) of the Trinity River and to the northwest by the sprawling D/FW International Airport.
Top landmarks
•Ruth Paine Home — house in Irving, Texas, United States
The City of Port Isabel, population 6,300 in 2019, is the southernmost city and port on the Texas coast. It is a tourism, retirement, sports fishing and commercial fishing destination and the gateway to South Padre Island.
Top landmarks
•Point Isabel Lighthouse — structure in Port Isabel, Cameron County, Texas
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 274 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Port Isabel, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.2 miles (Loop 12 / South Walton Walker Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, Waco Mammoth National Monument and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.0 hours each way, a round trip means 20.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Port Isabel, TX before the return drive.
