Trip from Grand Prairie, TX to Raymondville, TX

Drive Time

8h 51m

Distance

483.4 mi

778 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$74

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
8h 44m ★
6 AM
8h 52m
8 AM
9h 8m
10 AM
8h 57m
12 PM
8h 56m
3 PM
8h 58m
5 PM
9h 7m
8 PM
8h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Grand Prairie, TX, TX

Grand Prairie, TX

Ken Jacobsen

Downtown Raymondville, TX, TX

Raymondville, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

The drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Raymondville, TX covers 483.4 miles and takes about 8h 51m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on South R L Thornton Freeway, U.S. Highway 77, TX 130 Toll for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.5 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $73.84 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

241.7 miles from Grand Prairie, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 14m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 8h 51m highway drive covering 483.4 miles, with most of the trip on South R L Thornton Freeway and U.S. Highway 77. The longest continuous stretch is about 80.5 miles on South R L Thornton Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South R L Thornton Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 80.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South R L Thornton Freeway and U.S. Highway 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 483.4 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 15.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 226.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 25 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
15.3 mi into trip | ~21m 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
167.2 mi into trip | ~2h 57m 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
226.4 mi into trip | ~3h 53m 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
7
381.4 mi into trip | ~6h 56m in | I 69E; US 77

Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville

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. Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
8
482.1 mi into trip | ~8h 48m in

Take the exit toward TX 186: Raymondville, Port Mansfield

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 48 Toward TX 186: Raymondville, Port Mansfield

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Raymondville, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Brownsville along the way.

Brownsville

381.4 mi in | ~6h 56m | via I 69E; US 77

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South R L Thornton Freeway 80.5 mi 1h 22m
U.S. Highway 77 69.4 mi 1h 18m
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: South R L Thornton Freeway — 80.5 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grand Prairie, TX and Raymondville, TX.

1

Start on this road

219 ft · 21 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Northeast 5th Street

189 ft · 14 sec · Northeast 5th Street
3

Turn left onto TX 180

0.2 mi · 27 sec · East Main Street
4

Turn right onto FM 1382

5.4 mi · 9 min · South Belt Line Road
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 20 East Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto I 20

9.3 mi · 9 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 44 sec
Exit 467B Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 35E

81 mi · 1 hr 22 min · South R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

26 mi · 26 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 55 sec
Exit 265 Toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio Use the slight right lane.
13

Continue on TX 130 Toll

59 mi · 54 min · TX 130 Toll
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 470 Toward US 183 South: Lockhart Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on US 183

0.5 mi · 35 sec · United States Highway 183
16

Continue on US 183

4.9 mi · 8 min · North Colorado Street
17

Continue on US 183

10 mi · 11 min · US 183
18

Continue on US 183

4.2 mi · 6 min · North Magnolia Avenue
19

Continue on TX 80

51 mi · 56 min · TX 80
20

Turn slight left onto FM 792

8.4 mi · 10 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792
21

Continue on TX 72; TX 239

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
22

Turn left onto US 181

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
23

Continue on US 181

40 mi · 45 min · South US Highway 181
24

Continue on US 181

0.8 mi · 55 sec · North 8th Street
25

Continue on US 181

16 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South
26

Take the exit onto US 181

0.3 mi · 45 sec · US 181
27

Keep slight right at fork onto US 181

213 ft · 5 sec · US Route 181
28

Turn straight onto US 181

0.7 mi · 1 min · US Highway 181
29

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec
30

Merge onto US 77

12 mi · 13 min · US 77
31

Take the exit onto US 77

0.1 mi · 13 sec · US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
32

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
33

Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the straight lane.
34

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.
35

Keep slight left at fork onto US 77

61 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77
36

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77

8.1 mi · 8 min · U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 48 Toward TX 186: Raymondville, Port Mansfield Use the straight / right lanes.
38

Turn straight onto Interstate 69E Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Interstate 69E Frontage Road
39

Turn right onto TX 186

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Hidalgo Avenue
40

Turn left onto US 77 Business

149 ft · 4 sec · South 7th Street
41

Turn right

142 ft · 10 sec
42

Arrive at destination

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 241.7 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, or about 4h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.5 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 106 miles or 1h 55m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 241.7 miles or 4h 14m 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 241.7 miles or 4h 14m

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 7h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Raymondville, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Grand Prairie, 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 Grand Prairie, TX

Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Raymondville, TX

Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 106 miles from Grand Prairie, 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 South R L Thornton Freeway for about 80.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 241.7 mi from Grand Prairie, TX · 4h 14m into the drive

Downtown Austin, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Austin, TX

242 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 Austin, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Austin, TX

242 mi · about 4.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 242 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Killeen, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 106 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 241.7 miles from Grand Prairie, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before South R L Thornton Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 242 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.

Arriving in Raymondville, TX

The final approach into Raymondville, 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 Raymondville, TX.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Raymondville, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 100
View on nps.gov
Padre Island National Seashore

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...

28 mi from route ~69 min detour $25 near mile 450.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$73.84 one way

$147.68 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 169 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $80.92 $161.84
premium $4.59 $87.37 $174.75
diesel $5.64 $107.39 $214.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$74

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$204–$314

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 169.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 145 1 $50.76 $23.20
Efficient EV 120.9 1 $42.30 $19.34
EV Truck/SUV 193.4 2 $67.68 $30.94

Gas CO2

169 kg

EV CO2

57 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Grand Prairie, TX

Late night in Grand Prairie on Monday

Local time

2:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Raymondville, TX

Late night in Raymondville on Monday

Local time

2:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

80°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

20 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

8h 51m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Raymondville, TX covers 483.4 miles and takes about 8h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South R L Thornton Freeway, U.S. Highway 77, TX 130 Toll. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 242 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 241.7 miles from Grand Prairie, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $73.84 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 483.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 226.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Grand Prairie, TX to Raymondville, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Brownsville along the way.

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