Origin
Brownsville, TX
Afternoon in Brownsville on Saturday
Local time
3:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brownsville, TX to Horizon City, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13h 50m
Distance
810.4 mi
1,304 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$122
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
13h 38m
★
6 AM
13h 51m
8 AM
14h 16m
10 AM
13h 59m
12 PM
13h 57m
3 PM
14h 1m
5 PM
14h 14m
8 PM
13h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Horizon City, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Brownsville, TX to Horizon City, TX covers 810.4 miles and takes about 13h 50m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 10, US 281, U.S. Highway 77 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 516.7 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $122.45 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
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
405.2 miles from Brownsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 516.7 mi | 8h 10m |
| US 281 | 122.7 mi | 2h 12m |
| U.S. Highway 77 | 102 mi | 1h 53m |
| McDermott Freeway | 15.5 mi | 18m |
| Nueces Street | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| West King Avenue | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| North Expressway | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| South 6th Street | 4.4 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 516.7 mi, about 8h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brownsville, TX and Horizon City, TX.
1
Start on US 77 Business
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Washington Street
2
Turn right onto East 7th Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East 7th Street
3
Turn left onto North Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Frontage Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83
11 mi
·
12 min
·
North Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83
102 mi
·
1 hr 53 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
9
Turn left onto FM 772
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
FM 772
10
Turn straight onto US 77 Business
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
South 6th Street
11
Turn left onto TX 141
14 mi
·
17 min
·
West King Avenue
12
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
13
Merge onto US 281
54 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
US 281
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Nueces Street
15
Continue on US 281
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 281
16
Take the exit onto US 281
68 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 140B
Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto East César E. Chávez Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
East César E. Chávez Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 10 West, I 35 North
20
Merge onto I 10; I 35; US 87
93 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Pan Am Expressway
21
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
McDermott Freeway
Exit 156
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87
15 mi
·
17 min
·
McDermott Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
517 mi
·
8 hr 10 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward FM 1281: Horizon City, Socorro
25
Continue on Gateway Boulevard West
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Gateway Boulevard West
26
Keep slight right at fork onto Gateway Boulevard West
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Gateway Boulevard West
27
Turn right onto FM 1281
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Horizon Boulevard
28
Turn left onto Ashford Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Ashford Street
29
Turn right onto Alderwood Manor Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Alderwood Manor Drive
30
Turn left onto Darrington Road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Darrington Road
31
Turn right onto Jasper Drive
66 ft
·
2 sec
·
Jasper Drive
32
Arrive at destination
Jasper Drive
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 405.2 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 7h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 516.7 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 178 miles or 3h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 405.2 miles or 7h 21m 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 405.2 miles or 7h 21m
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 12h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Horizon City, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brownsville, 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 Brownsville, TX
Aim for roughly 405 miles and 6.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Horizon City, TX
Aim for roughly 405 miles and 6.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 178 miles from Brownsville, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 516.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
267 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
535 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 Big Lake, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
405 mi · about 6.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 405 miles or 6.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 178 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 405.2 miles from Brownsville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 516.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 405 miles or 6.9 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 265 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 289.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North
8
272.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m in
Take the exit toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodome
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 140B
Toward Cesar Estrada Chavez Boulevard, Alamodom...
8
274.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 13m in
|
I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
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 156
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North: El Paso
6
275.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 14m in
|
I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
289.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 32m in
|
I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$122.45 one way
$244.91 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
284 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $134.04 | $268.07 |
| premium | $4.54 | $144.69 | $289.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $178.93 | $357.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$122
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$252–$362
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 283.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $85 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 243.1 | 3 | $85.09 | $38.90 |
| Efficient EV | 202.6 | 2 | $70.91 | $32.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 324.2 | 4 | $113.46 | $51.87 |
Gas CO2
284 kg
EV CO2
95 kg (67% less)
Plan for 3 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.
Destination
Horizon City, TX
Afternoon in Horizon City on Saturday
Local time
2:06 PM
MDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Big Lake, TX
535 mi in
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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
13h 50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
810.4 mi / 13h 50m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: I 10.
95% 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: 516.7 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US 281. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 810.4 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,023 ft
30 ft
Total Climb
4,268 ft
Total Descent
280 ft
Highest Point
4,023 ft
~810.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,994 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.
On the drive from Brownsville, TX to Horizon City, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Alamodome along the way.
Alamodome
272.4 mi in
|
~5h 9m
About the Cities
Starting in Brownsville, TX
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 516.7 miles on I 10. 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 405 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 Horizon City, 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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 13.8 hours each way, a round trip means 27.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Horizon City, TX before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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