Origin
Henderson, TX
Night in Henderson on Tuesday
Local time
10:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Henderson, TX to Brownsville, TX
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
10h 6m
Distance
534.7 mi
860 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$81
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 58m
★
6 AM
10h 7m
8 AM
10h 25m
10 AM
10h 13m
12 PM
10h 11m
3 PM
10h 14m
5 PM
10h 24m
8 PM
10h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Henderson, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Brownsville, TX
Eddie O.
Trip Overview
This 534.7-mile journey from Henderson, TX to Brownsville, TX is a substantial undertaking, estimated to take 10 hours and 6 minutes of pure driving time. Given its length and the estimated fuel cost of $81, it's best planned as a two-day trip, with two recommended stops along the way. You'll primarily travel on Diboll Relief Route and U.S. Highways 77 and 59, covering about 68% of the route on highways. This long-distance drive traverses the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward path south through Texas.
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
267.3 miles from Henderson, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 6m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The road character on this route is largely defined by its highway segments, accounting for 68% of the total mileage. You'll experience stretches of faster driving, including a significant 113.5-mile segment on the Diboll Relief Route, which suggests some extended periods of continuous travel. While not exclusively interstate, the prevalence of U.S. Highways means you'll likely encounter a mix of well-maintained, higher-speed roads and potentially some more local sections as you progress south. Expect a drive that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 48 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Diboll Relief Route is the longest continuous segment at about 113.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 10h 6m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 217.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 534.7 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 217.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 386.1 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 478.7 miles (I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
217.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 7m in
Take the exit toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 94
Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartle...
7
386.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 21m 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
6
478.7 mi into trip
|
~9h 5m in
|
I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
524.5 mi into trip
|
~9h 53m in
|
I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77; US 83 / North Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
533.5 mi into trip
|
~10h 4m in
Take the exit toward 12th-14th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward 12th-14th Street
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 Henderson, TX to Brownsville, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 10: Cottonwood along the way.
Spur 10: Cottonwood
217.1 mi in
|
~4h 7m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Diboll Relief Route | 113.5 mi | 2h 4m |
| U.S. Highway 77 | 105 mi | 1h 56m |
| US Highway 59 | 74.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| Alamo Street | 37.1 mi | 43m |
| Southwest Freeway | 34.7 mi | 40m |
| US Highway 77 South | 33.2 mi | 37m |
| I 69E | 31.3 mi | 33m |
| South US Highway 59 | 19.4 mi | 22m |
Longest stretch:
Diboll Relief Route
— 113.5 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Henderson, TX and Brownsville, TX.
1
Start on US 79 Business; TX 64 Business
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 79; US 259
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Highway 79
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto US 259
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US Route 259
4
Continue on US 259
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
North Railroad Avenue
5
Continue on US 259
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US Route 259
6
Continue on US 259
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US Highway 259
7
Take the exit
224 ft
·
6 sec
Toward US 59 South: Lufkin
8
Continue on this road
420 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
this road
10
Turn left
104 ft
·
4 sec
11
Turn right onto US 59
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
North US Highway 59
12
Continue on US 59
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Northwest Stallings Drive
13
Continue on US 59; TX 7; TX 21; Loop 224
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
Stallings Drive
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
15
Turn straight
223 ft
·
6 sec
16
Merge onto US 59
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Street
17
Continue on US 59
19 mi
·
22 min
·
South US Highway 59
18
Take the exit
396 ft
·
9 sec
Toward South First Street
19
Turn straight onto South Medford Drive
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Medford Drive
20
Turn left onto US 59 Bus
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
South First Street
21
Continue on US 59
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 59
22
Continue on US 59
114 mi
·
2 hr 4 min
·
Diboll Relief Route
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 69; US 59
35 mi
·
40 min
·
Southwest Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 94
Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road
25
Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
26
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
27
Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
28
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
29
Merge onto US 59
9.2 mi
·
10 min
·
US 59
30
Keep slight left at fork onto US 59
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 59
31
Take the exit
1.5 mi
·
2 min
32
Continue on US 59
75 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
US Highway 59
33
Keep slight left at fork onto Spur 91
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur 91
34
Merge onto US 77
33 mi
·
37 min
·
US Highway 77 South
35
Turn straight onto US 77
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Alamo Street
36
Take the exit onto US 77
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
US 77
Toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
38
Merge onto I 37; US 77; I 69E
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
I 37; US 77; I 69E
Use the straight lane.
39
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.
40
Keep slight left at fork onto US 77
61 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77
44 mi
·
46 min
·
U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Continue on I 69E; US 77; US 83
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Expressway
43
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.
44
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 1B
Toward 12th-14th Street
Use the slight right lane.
45
Turn straight onto South Expressway
331 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Expressway
46
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 12th Street
Use the right lane.
47
Turn right onto US 77 Business
29 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Washington Street
48
Arrive at destination
US 77 Business
Trip Plan
For this 10-hour drive, planning for an overnight split is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to start your first day early to maximize daylight driving. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 534.7 miles into manageable segments, ensuring you have opportunities to refuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches like the 113.5 miles on Diboll Relief Route, and consider filling up before you hit those extended highway portions. The estimated fuel cost of $81 is a good baseline for budgeting your trip.
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 267.3 miles from Henderson, TX, or about 5h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.5 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 118 miles or 2h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 267.3 miles or 5h 6m 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 267.3 miles or 5h 6m
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 9h
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 Henderson, 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 Henderson, TX
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Brownsville, TX
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 118 miles from Henderson, 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 Diboll Relief Route for about 113.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 267.3 mi from Henderson, TX · 5h 6m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
176 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
353 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 Corpus Christi, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
267 mi · about 5.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Houston, TX after about 267 miles or 5.1 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 267.3 miles from Henderson, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Diboll Relief Route if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 267 miles or 5.1 hours on the road.
Arriving in Brownsville, TX
The final approach into Brownsville, 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 Brownsville, TX.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Brownsville, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$80.79 one way
$161.59 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
187 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $88.44 | $176.87 |
| premium | $4.54 | $95.47 | $190.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $118.06 | $236.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$81
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$211–$321
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 187.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 160.4 | 1 | $56.14 | $25.67 |
| Efficient EV | 133.7 | 1 | $46.79 | $21.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 213.9 | 2 | $74.86 | $34.22 |
Gas CO2
187 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 Tuesday
Local time
10:13 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
26 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
10h 6m 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 Henderson, TX to Brownsville, TX covers 534.7 miles and takes about 10h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Diboll Relief Route, U.S. Highway 77, US Highway 59. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
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 267 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 267.3 miles from Henderson, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $80.79 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 24 significant decision points across 534.7 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 217.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 386.1 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 478.7 miles (I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Henderson, TX to Brownsville, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 10: Cottonwood along the way.
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