Road Trip Planning| Miles Kms | Item | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0 0.0 |
Welcome to Texas |
Texas Highway # 281 is called The Texas Tropical Trail and The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail and The Old Military Highway. |
| 0.0 0.0 |
 |
Photo - The Texas Tropical Trail, Highway marker sign. |
| 0.0 0.0 |
 |
Photo - The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail highway marker sign. |
| 0.0 0.0 |
City of Brownsville, Texas ( Central Blvd. ) |
Junction of Highway # 48 'Note' At this point is the highway terminus point for both highways 48 and 281.
Access also to Highways # 83 & # 77
East access via highway #48 to South San Padre Island, Texas. North access via highways U.S.# 83 to San Benito, Texas, Harlinggen, Texas, McAllen Texas. |
| 2.0 3.2 |
City of Brownsville Texas - Ruben M. Torres Blvd. |
Junction of farm road # 802 - Attractions in and around Brownsville: The Bird & Butterfly Farm, Los Fresnos, Texas - Brownsville Museum of Fine Art - Charro Days, Brownsville, Texas - The Children's Museum of Brownsville, Texas - Costumes of the Americas Museum - Dolphin Docks, South padre Island, Texas - The Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville, Texas - Historic Brownsville Museum - Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site, Brownsville, Texas - Schlitterbahn Waterpark, New Braunfels, Texas.
|
| 2.5 4.1 |
Junction of Farm Road # 3248 |
|
| 3.9 6.2 |
View from highway |
Driving west |
| 5.4 8.7 |
Community of El Carmen, Texas |
|
| 6.2 9.9 |
Access to community of San Pedro, Texas |
North of highway |
| 7.7 12.4 |
Junction of Farm Road # 1421 |
|
| 9.4 15.2 |
Junction of Farm Road # 732 |
|
| 10.6 17.0 |
Community of El Ranchito. Texas |
|
| 10.8 17.4 |
|
|
| 10.8 17.4 |
Junction of Farm Road # 1577 |
|
| 11.9 19.1 |
Community of Caladoz, Texas |
|
| 13.0 21.0 |
View from highway |
Driving west |
| 13.4 21.6 |
Junction of Farm Road # 32 |
Community of La Paloma, Texas. North to San Benito, Texas. |
| 15.5 24.9 |
Junction of Farm Road # 2520 |
North to city of San Benito |
| 17.8 28.7 |
Junction of Farm Road # 509 ( Paso Real Highway) |
|
| 18.4 29.6 |
Community of Los Indios, Texas |
Access to R V Park Campground, North side of highway |
| 19.4 31.3 |
Junction of Farm Road # 1479 |
North to cities of Rangerville, Texas, Harlingen, Texas
Services at highway, fuel.
Access to Airport. |
| 21.5 34.6 |
Roadside highway turnout with historical marker |
|
| 21.5 34.6 |
Roadside highway turnout with historical marker |
Alonso De Leon Expeditions. Spain's desire to colonize this area of the new world in the late 17th century was spurred by the fear that French adventurer Rene La Salle, who had landed on the Texas coast in 1684 was claiming vast areas for its bitter rival France. In 1685 Spain's Mexican Viceroy directed Alonso De Leon to lead expeditons against French encroachment & protect Spain's claim by colonizing Texas. |
| 21.5 34.6 |
 |
Photo taken from roadside turnout |
| 23.6 38.0 |
Community of Blue Town, Texas |
Junction of Farm Road # 506 |
| 24.5 39.5 |
Roadside highway turnout with historical marker |
Picnic Area with shelters, North side of highway.
Our Lady Of Visitation Catholic Chuch
A rare south Texas snowstorm marked the laying ceremonies for this church building Dec 29, 1880. The glothic revival edifice was constructed of bricks made at nearby El Rancho De Santa Maria. |
| 24.5 39.5 |
 |
Roadside highway turnout with historical marker. Picnic Area with shelters, North side of highway.
|
| 25.4 40.8 |
Junction of Farm Road # 2556 |
Point of Interest. The Texas Tropical Trail Route, joins farm road # 2556 north west at this point |
| 26.3 42.3 |
Point of Information |
Hidalgo County, Texas eastern boundary |
| 26.7 42.9 |
Community of El Zactal, Texas |
|
| 28.6 46.0 |
Junction of Farm Road # 491 |
North to city of Mercedes, Texas |
| 29.8 47.9 |
Roadside highway turnout with historical information sign |
Picnic Area, tables, shelters, south side of highway. |
| 31.3 50.3 |
City of Progreso, Texas |
Eastern boundary.
Junction of Farm Road # 1015. South to International Bridge Mexico / United States border crossing. |
| 31.6 50.9 |
Junction of Farm Road # 88 |
North to city of Weslaco, Texas |
| 33.0 53.1 |
Roadside highway turnout with historical marker |
|
| 33.5 53.9 |
View from highway |
Driving west |
| 36.0 57.9 |
Junction of Farm Road # 493 |
North to city of Donna, Texas. Community of Runn, Texas. |
| 40.1 64.5 |
View from highway |
|
| 40.6 65.3 |
Access to Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge |
South of highway The Santa Anna National Wildlife Refuge, Texas is located along the banks of the lower Rio Grande. |
| 40.6 65.4 |
Junction of Farm Road # 907 |
North to the city of Alamo, Texas. |
| 42.4 68.2 |
Junction of Farm Road # 2557 |
North to city of San Jaun, Texas. |
| 43.8 70.5 |
City of Pharr, Texas |
Corporate limits |
| 44.1 70.9 |
View from highway |
|
| 44.7 71.9 |
Junction of Spur # 600 |
South to International Bridge United States / Mexico Border crossing. West to city of Hidalgo, Texas. |
| 45.4 73.0 |
View from highway - Photo Pharr, Texas business area |
City of Pharr, Texas |
| 45.4 73.0 |
Start / Finish of Highway Travel Guide |
For continuance of highway # 281 see milebymile.com ,Driving Directions - Texas highway # 281 section 2 City of Pharr to city of Three Rivers, Texas - Se |