How far is Brownsville, TX from Waco, TX?

The driving distance from Brownsville, TX to Waco, TX is about 434.2 miles (698.7 km), with a travel time of about 08h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 390.8 miles (628.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
434.18 mi
08h 17m
Flight
390.79 mi
628.91 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Brownsville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
390.79 mi
Kilometers
628.91 km
Flight Time
00h 47m

Driving Distance

Road route
434.18 mi
Kilometers
698.75 km
Drive Time
08h 17m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 08h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waco
Thu, Apr 23, 7:25 AM CDT
Return by in Brownsville
Thu, Apr 23, 3:43 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Brownsville
2026-04-22T23:08
Arrive Waco
Thu, Apr 23, 7:25 AM CDT
Route Timing
08h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:18 PM to 3:48 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
7:24 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Brownsville
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Kenedy
TX

City

From Brownsville
217.6 mi
04h 08m
To Waco
216.5 mi
04h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Brownsville Weather
TX
Live fallback forecast
86°F
Wednesday
Using Cameron Park as the closest live forecast in the Cameron County weather hub.

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SE
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Brownsville and Waco.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brownsville and Waco.

  1. 1

    Start on East Washington Street

    1682 ft · 41 sec · East Washington Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East 7th Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · East 7th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Frontage Road

    999 ft · 20 sec · North Frontage Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 69E North, US 77 North, US 83 North

    2235 ft · 55 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto North Expressway

    10.6 mi · 12 min · North Expressway

  6. 6

    Continue on U.S. Highway 77

    102 mi · 1 hr 53 min · U.S. Highway 77

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    1157 ft · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight right

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  9. 9

    Continue on U.S. Highway 77

    11.6 mi · 13 min · U.S. Highway 77

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    1410 ft · 34 sec

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road

    148 m · 18 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto County Road 10

    1 mi · 4 min · County Road 10

  13. 13

    Turn left onto County Road 79

    4 mi · 16 min · County Road 79

  14. 14

    Turn left onto County Road 18

    848 ft · 44 sec · County Road 18

  15. 15

    Turn sharp right

    1.1 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Take the ramp straight

    2351 ft · 57 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Driscoll Bypass

    2.3 mi · 2 min · Driscoll Bypass

  18. 18

    Continue on U.S. Highway 77

    13.2 mi · 14 min · U.S. Highway 77

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    1.4 mi · 1 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    1.3 mi · 1 min

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    18.3 mi · 18 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore

    1275 ft · 33 sec

  23. 23

    Turn right onto State Highway 359

    12.4 mi · 17 min · State Highway 359

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South 8th Street

    1.3 km · 56 sec · South 8th Street

  25. 25

    Continue on US Highway 181 South

    40.2 mi · 46 min · US Highway 181 South

  26. 26

    Continue on South Sunset Strip Drive

    1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive

  27. 27

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  28. 28

    Keep slight left to continue on East Main Street

    71 m · 4 sec · East Main Street

  29. 29

    Continue on Helena Road

    8.4 mi · 11 min · Helena Road

  30. 30

    Turn straight onto State Highway 80

    23.6 mi · 26 min · State Highway 80

  31. 31

    Continue on South Nixon Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue

  32. 32

    Continue on State Highway 80 North

    30.8 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North

  33. 33

    Continue on US 183

    10.1 mi · 12 min · US 183

  34. 34

    Continue on South Colorado Street

    4.9 mi · 9 min · South Colorado Street

  35. 35

    Continue on United States Highway 183

    1282 ft · 17 sec · United States Highway 183

  36. 36

    Keep slight left to continue on TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

    2447 ft · 35 sec

  37. 37

    Merge slight left onto Pickle Parkway

    58.5 mi · 55 min · Pickle Parkway

  38. 38

    Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North: Waco

    2045 ft · 50 sec

  39. 39

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail

    64.7 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail

  40. 40

    Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway

    2.5 mi · 3 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

  41. 41

    Take the exit slight right toward 18th - 17th Streets

    1380 ft · 34 sec

  42. 42

    Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway

    759 ft · 21 sec · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

  43. 43

    Turn left onto South 17th Street

    1.4 mi · 4 min · South 17th Street

  44. 44

    Turn left onto West Waco Drive

    143 m · 26 sec · West Waco Drive

  45. 45

    Continue on West Waco Drive

    34 m · 8 sec · West Waco Drive

  46. 46

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Waco Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Brownsville and Waco.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
46 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
6 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
U.S. Highway 77
149 mi · 34%
Purple Heart Trail
64.7 mi · 15%
Pickle Parkway
58.5 mi · 13%
US Highway 181 South
40.2 mi · 9%
State Highway 80 North
30.8 mi · 7%
State Highway 80
23.6 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

U.S. Highway 77

Continue on U.S. Highway 77

102 mi · 01h 53m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
08h 17m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.4 mi
390.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kenedy
04h 08m from Brownsville
Leave By
7:24 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Brownsville and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Waco.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Brownsville to Waco?

The road trip is about 434.2 miles (698.7 km) and usually takes 08h 17m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Kenedy is a useful midpoint, sitting about 217.6 miles from Brownsville and 216.5 miles from Waco.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 390.8 miles (628.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.89 one way or $115.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 136.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Brownsville and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Waco.

Stop Ideas Near Kenedy

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Kenedy, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Kenedy.

RAIL

San Antonio Station

90 mi away
350 Hoefgen Street
RAIL

San Marcos Station

118 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Brownsville and Waco. Straight-line distance: 390.79 mi (628.91 km).

Brownsville

#1 Brownsville

The southernmost city in Texas.

Population183,428
Coordinates25.9017500, -97.4974800
Altitude10
CountryUnited States
Waco

#2 Waco

The 11th most populous city in Texas.

Population141,377
Coordinates31.5493300, -97.1466700
Altitude143
CountryUnited States
Start: Brownsville (-97.49748, 25.90175)
End: Waco (-97.14667, 31.54933)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 699 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 28m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 14m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.32 gal
58 L · about $57.89
Round trip
$115.79
30.64 gal · 116 L
Estimated CO2
136.1 kg one way
Round trip: 272.3 kg / 600 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $57.89 $115.79
Mid-grade $4.25 $65.14 $130.28
Premium $4.59 $70.33 $140.67
Diesel $3.99 $61.17 $122.35

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Brownsville and Waco. The current time is 23:08:00.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.