Origin
Richardson, TX
Night in Richardson on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richardson, TX to Brownsville, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 49m
Distance
538.3 mi
866 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$81
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 41m
★
6 AM
9h 50m
8 AM
10h 7m
10 AM
9h 56m
12 PM
9h 54m
3 PM
9h 57m
5 PM
10h 6m
8 PM
9h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richardson, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Trip Overview
This 538-mile journey from Richardson, Texas, to Brownsville, Texas, is a significant undertaking, estimated to take around 9 hours and 49 minutes of pure driving time. Given the distance and duration, it's strongly recommended to split this into two days to avoid fatigue. The route primarily utilizes U.S. Highway 77 and TX 130 Toll, making for an 88% highway experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $81, this long-distance drive through the Great Plains region of Texas is best approached with a plan for overnight rest. You'll be covering a lot of ground, so breaking it up is key.
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
269.2 miles from Richardson, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 105 mi | 1h 56m |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| 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
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richardson, TX and Brownsville, TX.
1
Start on this road
99 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Continue on West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Main Street
4
Turn left onto South Central Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Central Expressway
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 75 South
6
Merge onto US 75
11 mi
·
11 min
·
South Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
501 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Use the slight left lane.
8
Continue on North Central Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Central Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn right onto Elm Street
304 ft
·
10 sec
·
Elm Street
10
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Pearl Expressway
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Young Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Young Street
12
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
315 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Harwood Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Canton Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Canton Street
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 30 West
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
16
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco
Use the left / right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
19
Continue on I 35E
89 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
26 mi
·
26 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 265
Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
24
Continue on TX 130 Toll
59 mi
·
54 min
·
TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 470
Toward US 183 South: Lockhart
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on US 183
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
United States Highway 183
27
Continue on US 183
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
North Colorado Street
28
Continue on US 183
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 183
29
Continue on US 183
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North Magnolia Avenue
30
Continue on TX 80
51 mi
·
56 min
·
TX 80
31
Turn slight left onto FM 792
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 792
32
Continue on TX 72; TX 239
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
33
Turn left onto US 181
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sunset Strip Drive
34
Continue on US 181
40 mi
·
45 min
·
South US Highway 181
35
Continue on US 181
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
North 8th Street
36
Continue on US 181
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US Highway 181 South
37
Take the exit onto US 181
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 181
38
Keep slight right at fork onto US 181
213 ft
·
5 sec
·
US Route 181
39
Turn straight onto US 181
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 181
40
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
41
Merge onto US 77
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 77
42
Take the exit onto US 77
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
43
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
44
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the straight lane.
45
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.
46
Keep slight left at fork onto US 77
61 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
47
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77
44 mi
·
46 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Expressway
49
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.
50
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 1B
Toward 12th-14th Street
Use the slight right lane.
51
Turn straight onto South Expressway
331 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Expressway
52
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 12th Street
Use the right lane.
53
Turn right onto US 77 Business
29 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Washington Street
54
Arrive at destination
US 77 Business
Trip Plan
For this 9-hour, 49-minute drive, departing early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and reach your overnight stop comfortably. With two recommended stops, you can break the 538 miles into manageable segments. Consider planning your overnight stay around the halfway point to ensure a balanced driving experience. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 105 miles on U.S. Highway 77, as services can be spaced out. The $81 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always budget a little extra for unforeseen needs.
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 269.2 miles from Richardson, TX, or about 4h 45m 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 118 miles or 2h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 269.2 miles or 4h 45m 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 269.2 miles or 4h 45m
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 43m
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 Richardson, 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 Richardson, TX
Aim for roughly 269 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Brownsville, TX
Aim for roughly 269 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 118 miles from Richardson, 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.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
178 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
355 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 New Braunfels, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
269 mi · about 4.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 269 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 118 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 269.2 miles from Richardson, 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 105 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 269 miles or 4.9 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 335 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 234.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
9
14.2 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
7
14.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 35E South: Waco
7
175.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 5m 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
234.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 1m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$81.34 one way
$162.68 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
188 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $89.03 | $178.06 |
| premium | $4.54 | $96.11 | $192.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $118.85 | $237.70 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.98
Central Expressway
(12.3 mi)
$0.98
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Tolls
$1
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$212–$322
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 188.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 161.5 | 1 | $56.52 | $25.84 |
| Efficient EV | 134.6 | 1 | $47.10 | $21.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 215.3 | 2 | $75.36 | $34.45 |
Gas CO2
188 kg
EV CO2
63 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.
Destination
Brownsville, TX
Night in Brownsville on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
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 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 49m 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
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 111.4
View on nps.gov
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 538.3
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 445.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 88% of the drive taking place on major roadways like U.S. Highway 77 and TX 130 Toll. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 105 miles along U.S. Highway 77, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. While much of the drive will be on high-speed roads, the character of the route is that of a long-distance trek rather than a winding scenic byway. You'll be covering considerable distance efficiently, with limited opportunities for spontaneous detours.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
54 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 12.1 miles in.
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 33 significant decision points across 538.3 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 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Richardson, TX
Full guide →Founded 1840
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 269 miles on day one.
Expect about $0.98 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 9.8 hours each way, a round trip means 19.7 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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