Origin
Brownsville, TX
Night in Brownsville on Wednesday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brownsville, TX to Alton, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
71.9 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Alton, TX
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
The drive from Brownsville, TX to Alton, TX covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 83, U.S. Highway 77, North Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.2 miles on US 83. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.86 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
35.9 miles from Brownsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 25m highway drive covering 71.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 83 and U.S. Highway 77. The longest continuous stretch is about 39.2 miles on US 83.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 83 is the longest continuous segment at about 39.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 83 and U.S. Highway 77. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near North Frontage Road.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 25m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North Frontage Road
Turn left onto North Frontage Road
Navigation decision point
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
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway
Merge onto I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
25.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen
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 26B
Toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen
8
64.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward FM 1016, TX 107: Conway Avenue
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 136
Toward FM 1016, TX 107: Conway Avenue
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 Alton, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fm 1016 along the way.
Fm 1016
64.9 mi in
|
~1h 14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 83 | 39.2 mi | 43m |
| U.S. Highway 77 | 13.2 mi | 14m |
| North Expressway | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| South Conway Avenue | 5.9 mi | 9m |
| East 7th Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Expressway 83 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Washington Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Frontage Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 83
— 39.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brownsville, TX and Alton, 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
13 mi
·
14 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 83
39 mi
·
43 min
·
US 83
Exit 26B
Toward I 2 West, US 83: McAllen
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 136
Toward FM 1016, TX 107: Conway Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto East Expressway 83
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Expressway 83
10
Turn right onto TX 107
5.9 mi
·
9 min
·
South Conway Avenue
11
Turn right onto FM 676
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
FM 676
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.9 miles from Brownsville, TX, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.2 miles.
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 16 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.9 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brownsville, TX
This is one driving day of about 71.9 miles and 1h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Brownsville, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 83 for about 39.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.9 mi from Brownsville, TX · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.9 miles from Brownsville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alton, TX
The final approach into Alton, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.86 one way
$21.73 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $11.89 | $23.78 |
| premium | $4.54 | $12.84 | $25.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.87 | $31.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.07 | $4.60 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Alton, TX
Night in Alton on Wednesday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 25m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Brownsville, TX to Alton, TX covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 83, U.S. Highway 77, North Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.9 miles from Brownsville, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 25m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
On the drive from Brownsville, TX to Alton, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fm 1016 along the way.
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