The Cost of a Trip between Brownsville, Texas and Urbana, Ohio: Navigating Current Gas Prices
If you’re planning a road trip from Brownsville, Texas to Urbana, Ohio, understanding the cost of your trip is crucial. Of course, gas prices can fluctuate based on a variety of factors such as supply and demand, inflation, and economic stability. As of 2021, the average price of gas in the United States ranges from around $2.30 to $4.00 per gallon. In this article, we’ll break down the cost of a road trip between Texas and Ohio, highlighting different possible routes along with the cost and distance of each. We’ll also recommend the best route based on affordability, time, and other factors.
Possible Routes
Before we dive into the cost of a road trip from Brownsville to Urbana, let’s take a look at some possible routes.
Route 1: I-35 North through Oklahoma City and Kansas City, MO
One possible route is to take I-35 north through Oklahoma City and Kansas City, MO before cutting across to Urbana. This is a popular and relatively straightforward route. The distance between Brownsville and Urbana is roughly 1,100 miles and will take around 17 hours of driving time.
Route 2: Taking I-10 East through New Orleans and Atlanta
Another option is to take I-10 East through New Orleans and Atlanta before heading North to Urbana. This route is slightly longer, coming in at around 1,300 miles and taking approximately 20 hours of driving time.
Route 3: Taking I-40 East through Nashville and Knoxville
Finally, you may want to consider taking I-40 East through Nashville and Knoxville before heading North to Urbana. This route is also around 1,300 miles and takes about 20 hours of driving time.
Cost Breakdown
Now that we’ve looked at some possible routes, let's break down the cost of a road trip from Brownsville to Urbana based on current gas prices.
Route 1: I-35 North
Taking the I-35 North route, you will pass through states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois. These states have varying gas prices, so we’ll use the average price of gas to calculate the total cost of the trip.
According to AAA’s fuel gauge report, the average price of gas in Texas as of June 2021 is $2.73 per gallon, while in Oklahoma it’s $2.82 per gallon, Missouri is $2.82 per gallon, and Illinois is $3.11 per gallon.
Assuming you get 30 miles to the gallon in your vehicle, the total cost of gas for the trip will be around $145. In addition, you should budget for tolls, food, and lodging if you plan on making any stops along the way.
Route 2: Taking I-10 East
If you decide to take the I-10 East route, you will pass through states such as Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Here are the average gas prices as of June 2021 according to AAA’s fuel gauge report:
- Texas: $2.73 per gallon
- Louisiana: $2.72 per gallon
- Mississippi: $2.76 per gallon
- Alabama: $2.77 per gallon
- Georgia: $2.87 per gallon
- Tennessee: $2.85 per gallon
Assuming you get 30 miles to the gallon, the total cost of gas for this trip will be around $175. Again, keep in mind to budget for additional costs such as tolls and stops for food and lodging.
Route 3: Taking I-40 East
Taking the I-40 East route, you’ll pass through states such as Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Here are the average gas prices for these states based on AAA’s fuel gauge report:
- Texas: $2.73 per gallon
- Arkansas: $2.79 per gallon
- Tennessee: $2.85 per gallon
- Kentucky: $2.96 per gallon
Assuming you get 30 miles to the gallon, the total cost of gas for this trip will be around $175. Once again, keep in mind to budget for additional costs such as tolls, food, and lodging.
Best Route Recommendation
Of the three routes mentioned above, taking the I-35 North route is the most direct, and therefore, the most cost-effective option. It will also take less time compared to the other routes, coming in at around 17 hours of driving time.
While the I-10 East and I-40 East routes are also viable, they are longer, making them more expensive and time-consuming. However, depending on your individual circumstances, the other routes may be preferable.
Conclusion
When planning a road trip, it’s important to take into account the cost of gas, especially if you’ll be driving long distances. While pricing can vary over time, using the average price of gas as a guide can be helpful in budgeting for your trip. Understanding the different routes and their associated costs can also be a helpful tool in determining what path is best for you. Taking all this into consideration, we recommend taking the I-35 North route as the most effective and affordable option for a road trip from Brownsville to Urbana. Drive safe and enjoy the journey!