Car Rental - Brownsville 

 

Rent a car in Brownsville and you’ll find yourself at Texas’ southernmost edge, separated from the Mexican border town of Matamaros by the Rio Grande River. It’s a town defined by history and has a distinct Hispanic feel.

We have several holiday car rental pick-up offices in Brownsville, including at Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport. This means you can collect your Brownsville car rental as soon as you touchdown, for ultimate flexibility and freedom.

Choose from our wide range of rental cars at Brownsville, including SUVs fit for family vacations, plus sedans and cabriolets perfect for couples and solo business travelers.

Once you’ve collected your Brownsville car rental you can investigate all there is to see and do – not just in the city, but also in the whole of the Rio Grande Valley. You can skirt the border as you head west, drive up the eastern coast to Corpus Christi and beyond to Houston or San Antonio. The popular resort of South Padre Island is less than an hour away.

Reserve your rental car in Brownsville today for a Texan adventure to treasure.

Brownsville Locations

A Quick Guide to Brownsville

South Padre Island

South Padre Island

South Padre Island, TX, 78597

This island is easy to get to in your Brownsville car rental. It runs for miles, with the resort town occupying the southern end. The resort varies hugely with the seasons – raucous and youthful during Spring Break, hot with a Gulf breeze in summer, and relaxed in winter. Visit the lighthouse, chill on the beach or join in the fun.

Boca Chica State Park

Boca Chica State Park

Boca Chica Boulevard, TX, 78521

A world away from Spring Break, Boca Chica is a world of relative hush. Here you’ll find unspoiled beaches and undisturbed nature, while birdwatchers can look out for egrets, plover and pelicans. There are few better places in the area for a barbecue or camp-out.

Palo Alto Battlefield

Palo Alto Battlefield

7200 Paredes Line Road, TX, 78526

The Battle of Palo Alto took place in 1846, one of the earliest skirmishes between America and Mexico that precluded full-on war. This site, just to Brownsville’s north, has a visitor center and exhibits that will take you through this history and how important the battle was in terms of how the map of America was eventually redrawn.

Daddy’s Seafood & Cajun Restaurant

1808 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, TX, 78597

There’s a surfeit of seafood restaurants out on South Padre Island, but at Daddy’s the Cajun flavors elevate it above much of the competition. Dishes range from oysters and popcorn shrimp to burgers and Cajun delights like red snapper fillet – but the Cajun boils are the main attraction.

Vermillion Restaurant and Watering Hole

115 Paredes Line Road, TX, 78521

Visitors and locals have been flocking to this reliable Tex-Mex spot since it first opened its doors in 1934. Start with chicken nachos deluxe, then fill up on enchiladas, chicken-fried steak and stacked burgers.

El Ultimo Taco

938 North Expressway, TX, 78521

It might not look much from the outside – but there’s a reason for the lines at this taqueria. In an area full of exceptional Mexican and Tex-Mex eateries, this consistently tops polls for some of the Valley’s best tacos. Park up your  rental car in Brownsville and find out what the hype is all about.

Isla Grand Beach Resort

500 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, TX, 78597

To be in pole position for the beaches and resorts of South Padre Island, there are few better choices than the Isla. It has its own lovely pools but is also a short saunter to the soft sand and warm sea. Grab a beachfront cabana and, after the sun goes down, wager on hermit crab races and dine al fresco.

Homewood Suites by Hilton

3759 North Expressway, TX, 78520

The ideal base for South Padre Island or Matamoros day trips, this modern Hilton is also close to the airport, mall and main sights in Brownsville itself. It’s pet-friendly, has an outdoor pool, free parking for your holiday car rental and centers for both business and fitness.

Residence Inn by Marriott

3975 North Expressway 83, TX, 78520

Just off Highway 77 / I-69E, this Marriott is also about eight miles from the Brownsville airport in your rental car. Rooms are large and guests can benefit from full kitchens and high-speed internet, making it ideal for longer stays and self-catering. There’s also complimentary hot breakfast, as well as numerous places to eat nearby.

Driving In and Around Brownsville

  • 1400 East Adams Street Garage (78520) is open 24/7 and has 210 spaces for your holiday car rental. It’s close to many stores and restaurants in Brownsville, and a short stroll from the Jacob Brown Auditorium.
  • Sunrise Mall (78521) has in excess of 100 stores and almost 5000 free parking spaces for customers.
  • Downtown Brownsville has parking meters with time limits to use in your Brownsville rental car.

 

  • Interstate 69 East (I-69E) runs through the heart of Brownsville from southeast to northwest, concurrent with US 77. After it leaves Brownsville, it goes north for a short while. You can then follow the US 77 north to Kingsville and Corpus Christi.
  • Interstate 2 (I-2) runs for around 47 miles from east to west across south Texas, running next to US 83. Its eastern end is just to the northwest of Brownsville.
  • Texas State Highway 48 (SH 48) begins on the western end of Brownsville and proceeds east and northeast for just over 22 miles, running across the water to Port Isabel.

 

How to get from Brownsville to Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi is a fine day trip from Brownsville in your rental car and can be reached in fewer than three hours.

  1. Join the I-69E North / US 77 North.
  2. Stay left and continue on the I-69E North.
  3. Continue on the road as it becomes the US 77 North.
  4. Exit for TX-44 East towards Corpus Christi.

 

How to get from Brownsville to South Padre Island

This resort town is blessed with sunshine and beautiful beaches. It should take less than an hour to drive there from Brownsville in your holiday car rental. Follow SH 48 northeast to Port Isabel, then take a right on to State Park Road 100 to arrive at the main beach resort area.