Origin
Brownsville, TX
Afternoon in Brownsville on Sunday
Local time
3:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountDrive Time
2h 56m
Distance
148.8 mi
239 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Alice, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Spanning 148.8 miles across the Great Plains of Texas, this journey from Brownsville to Alice is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 2 hours and 56 minutes. You will primarily navigate via U.S. Highway 77, North Expressway, and West King Avenue to complete the transit. Because the total drive time remains under three hours, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $23 for fuel, making this an affordable connection between these two South Texas hubs. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, the route offers a reliable path that avoids unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.4 miles from Brownsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
This highway-focused drive is defined by its efficiency, with 83 percent of the trip spent on major thoroughfares. You should prepare for a consistent pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 102 miles on U.S. Highway 77. The road maintains a steady rhythm that allows you to cover ground quickly through the Texas landscape. While the path remains largely consistent in character, the transition from the expressway to local avenues like West King Avenue marks your final approach into Alice. It is a no-nonsense route that prioritizes direct travel over technical maneuvers.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on U.S. Highway 77 and West King Avenue. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near North Frontage Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (North Frontage Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto North Frontage Road
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Highway 77 | 102 mi | 1h 53m |
| West King Avenue | 14.5 mi | 17m |
| North Expressway | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| US 281 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| South 6th Street | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| US 281 Business | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| South Cameron Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East 7th Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Brownsville, TX and Alice, TX.
Start on US 77 Business
Turn right onto East 7th Street
Turn left onto North Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83
Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn left onto FM 772
Turn straight onto US 77 Business
Turn left onto TX 141
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 281
Take the exit
Continue on US 281 Business
Turn right onto FM 1352
Turn left onto FM 665
Turn slight right onto FM 665
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
Arrive at destination
Planning your departure is simple given the manageable three-hour duration, but leaving mid-morning can help you avoid any localized congestion on the North Expressway. Since the route includes only one primary stop, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your itinerary based on your energy levels. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before heading out, as the $23 estimated cost can fluctuate based on vehicle efficiency during the long 102-mile stretch on U.S. Highway 77. Because the road is largely highway-based, ensure your tires and fluids are checked for sustained high-speed driving. Taking advantage of the route's brevity allows you to arrive in Alice with enough time to settle in before your day concludes.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.4 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alice, TX than in the middle of the route.
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brownsville, TX
This is one driving day of about 148.8 miles and 2h 56m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74.4 mi from Brownsville, TX · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 74.4 miles from Brownsville, 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 102 miles.
The final approach into Alice, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Alice, TX.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$22.73 one way
$45.46 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $24.91 | $49.82 |
| premium | $4.59 | $26.90 | $53.79 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $33.06 | $66.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.62 | $7.14 |
| Efficient EV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.02 | $5.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.5 | 0 | $20.83 | $9.52 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Brownsville on Sunday
Local time
3:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Alice on Sunday
Local time
3:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Brownsville, TX or browse trips ending in Alice, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
Explore maps for Brownsville, TX or Alice, TX on MapSof.net.