Texas United States #281
Texas Tropical Trail (The Old Military Highway)
Texas Road Map Travel Guide
City of Brownsville to City of Pharr,
Highway 281 as well as being called "The old Military Highway", and is part of the "Texas Tropical Trail" the highway is also part of "The Great Texas Birding Trail"

Printer Version PDF
Km	Miles	Road Item	Road Summary
0.0 (73.0)	0.0 (45.4)	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 (73.0)	0.0 (45.4)		Photo - The Texas Tropical Trail, Highway marker sign.
0.0 (73.0)	0.0 (45.4)		Photo - The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail highway marker sign.
0.0 (73.0)	0.0 (45.4)	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.
3.2 (69.8)	2.0 (43.4)	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.
4.1 (68.9)	2.5 (42.8)	Junction of Farm Road # 3248
6.2 (66.8)	3.9 (41.5)	View from highway	Driving west
8.7 (64.3)	5.4 (40.0)	Community of El Carmen, Texas
9.9 (63.1)	6.2 (39.2)	Access to community of San Pedro, Texas	North of highway
12.4 (60.6)	7.7 (37.7)	Junction of Farm Road # 1421
15.2 (57.8)	9.4 (35.9)	Junction of Farm Road # 732
17.0 (56.0)	10.6 (34.8)	Community of El Ranchito. Texas
17.4 (55.6)	10.8 (34.5)
17.4 (55.6)	10.8 (34.5)	Junction of Farm Road # 1577
19.1 (53.9)	11.9 (33.5)	Community of Caladoz, Texas
21.0 (52.0)	13.0 (32.3)	View from highway	Driving west
21.6 (51.4)	13.4 (31.9)	Junction of Farm Road # 32	Community of La Paloma, Texas. North to San Benito, Texas.
24.9 (48.1)	15.5 (29.9)	Junction of Farm Road # 2520	North to city of San Benito
28.7 (44.3)	17.8 (27.5)	Junction of Farm Road # 509 ( Paso Real Highway)
29.6 (43.4)	18.4 (27.0)	Community of Los Indios, Texas	Access to R V Park Campground, North side of highway
31.3 (41.7)	19.4 (25.9)	Junction of Farm Road # 1479	North to cities of Rangerville, Texas, Harlingen, Texas Services at highway, fuel. Access to Airport.
34.6 (38.4)	21.5 (23.9)	Roadside highway turnout with historical marker
34.6 (38.4)	21.5 (23.9)	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 initiating the colonization of Texas
34.6 (38.4)	21.5 (23.9)		Photo taken from roadside turnout
38.0 (35.0)	23.6 (21.7)	Community of Blue Town, Texas	Junction of Farm Road # 506
39.5 (33.5)	24.5 (20.8)	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.
39.5 (33.5)	24.5 (20.8)		Roadside highway turnout with historical marker. Picnic Area with shelters, North side of highway.
40.8 (32.2)	25.4 (20.0)	Junction of Farm Road # 2556	Point of Interest. The Texas Tropical Trail Route, joins farm road # 2556 north west at this point
42.3 (30.7)	26.3 (19.1)	Point of Information	Hidalgo County, Texas eastern boundary
42.9 (30.1)	26.7 (18.7)	Community of El Zactal, Texas
46.0 (27.0)	28.6 (16.8)	Junction of Farm Road # 491	North to city of Mercedes, Texas
47.9 (25.1)	29.8 (15.6)	Roadside highway turnout with historical information sign	Picnic Area, tables, shelters, south side of highway.
50.3 (22.7)	31.3 (14.1)	City of Progreso, Texas	Eastern boundary. Junction of Farm Road # 1015. South to International Bridge Mexico / United States border crossing.
50.9 (22.1)	31.6 (13.7)	Junction of Farm Road # 88	North to city of Weslaco, Texas
53.1 (19.9)	33.0 (12.4)	Roadside highway turnout with historical marker
53.9 (19.1)	33.5 (11.9)	View from highway	Driving west
57.9 (15.1)	36.0 (9.4)	Junction of Farm Road # 493	North to city of Donna, Texas. Community of Runn, Texas.
64.5 (8.5)	40.1 (5.3)	View from highway
65.3 (7.7)	40.6 (4.8)	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.
65.4 (7.6)	40.6 (4.7)	Junction of Farm Road # 907	North to the city of Alamo, Texas.
68.2 (4.8)	42.4 (3.0)	Junction of Farm Road # 2557	North to city of San Jaun, Texas.
70.5 (2.5)	43.8 (1.6)	City of Pharr, Texas	Corporate limits
70.9 (2.1)	44.1 (1.3)	View from highway
71.9 (1.1)	44.7 (0.7)	Junction of Spur # 600	South to International Bridge United States / Mexico Border crossing. West to city of Hidalgo, Texas.
73.0 (0.0)	45.4 (0.0)	View from highway - Photo Pharr, Texas business area	City of Pharr, Texas
73.0 (0.0)	45.4 (0.0)	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 milebymile.com , Texas highway # 281 section 2 City of Pharr to city of Three Rivers