U.S. Route 83 in Texas

U.S. Highway 83 (US 83), dedicated as the Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, is a U.S. Highway in the U.S. state of Texas that begins at US 77 (Interstate 69E, I-69E) in Brownsville and follows the Rio Grande to Laredo, then heads north through Abilene to the Oklahoma border north of Perryton, the seat of Ochiltree County. It is the longest highway in Texas at a length of about 895 miles (1,440 km), besting the east–west I-10, which has a length of 879 miles (1,415 km).[1]

US Highway 83
Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
US 83 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length	895.0 mi (1,440.4 km)
Existed	1932–present
Major junctions
South end	United States-Mexico border in Brownsville
	I-69E / US 77 from Brownsville to Harlingen I-2 from Harlingen to Penitas I-69C / US 281 in Pharr I-35 in Laredo I-69W / US 59 in Laredo I-10 / US 377 in Junction I-20 / US 84 / US 277 in Abilene I-40 in Shamrock
North end	US 83 at OK state line near Perryton
Location
Counties	Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Zapata, Webb, Dimmit, Zavala, Uvalde, Real, Kerr, Edwards, Kimble, Menard, Concho, Runnels, Taylor, Jones, Fisher, Stonewall, King, Cottle, Childress, Collingsworth, Wheeler, Hemphill, Lipscomb, Ochiltree
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided Highways in Texas Interstate U.S. State Toll Loops Spurs FM/RM Park Rec ← SH 82 → SH 83

In the Lower Rio Grande Valley, US 83 is a freeway that is at or close to interstate standards from Brownsville to Penitas. In May 2013, the Texas Department of Transportation applied to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to designate this 48-mile (77 km) section as I-2. After the Special Committee on Route Numbering initially disapproved the application, the AASHTO Board of Directors approved the I-2 designation, conditional on the concurrence of the Federal Highway Administration.[2] On May 29, 2013, the segment of US 83 was approved as an I-69 connector using the I-2 designation extending approximately 46 miles (74 km) from Harlingen to west of Mission.[3]

Route description

US 83's southern terminus is at a concurrency with I-69E/US 77 on the south side of Brownsville at the Brownsville – Veterans Port of Entry at the US/Mexico border. It remains co-signed with I-69E/US 77 until Harlingen, where I-69E/US 77 makes a sharp turn northward and US 83 maintains a westerly route to McAllen, concurrent with I-2 until Palmview. From there, the highway roughly parallels the Rio Grande until Laredo where it makes a northwesterly turn toward Carrizo Springs, the seat of Dimmit County. The speed limit on US 83 is briefly 75 mph through Dimmit County.

Merging with I-35 just south of downtown, US 83 remains co-signed with the interstate until an exit at Botines, Texas. From there, it continues northward, intersecting with I-10 just south of Junction. US 83 is co-signed with I-10 for approximately 8 miles (13 km), turning northward and leaving I-10 at the Kimble County Airport.

After continuing northward through several rural western Texas towns, US 83 then merges with US 84 east of Tuscola, where it makes a sharp turn back to the north. US 83/84 remains a co-signed route until Abilene, where US 84 turns to the northwest and US 83 remains northbound, merging with US 277 on the west side of the city. US 83/277 remains a co-signed route until approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Anson, where US 277 turns northeast, and US 83, northwest.

After merging with US 380 in Aspermont and briefly sharing a route, US 83 continues northward, merging with US 62 in Paducah. US 83/62 continues as a co-signed route until approximately 15 miles (24 km) south of Wellington, where US 62 makes a sharp turn eastward, leaving US 83 to continue northward, where it crosses into Oklahoma approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Perryton.[1]

Major intersections

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Cameron	Brownsville	0.0	0.0	Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates over the Rio Grande south end of US 77 overlap
		0.9	1.4	University Boulevard / East Avenue - UT-Brownsville, Texas Southmost College	at-grade intersection
	overlap; see I-69E
	Harlingen	26.9	43.3	I-69E north / US 77 north – Raymondville, Corpus Christi, Airport	north end of I-69E / US 77 overlap; east end of I-2 overlap
overlap; see I-2
Hidalgo	Penitas	74.5	119.9	Bus. US 83 east – Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, McAllen	west end of I-2 overlap
		75.0	120.7	FM 1427 south – Abram
	La Joya	77.4	124.6	FM 2521 south (Leo Avenue)
	​	77.9	125.4	FM 2221 north – Citrus City
	Sullivan City	82.6	132.9	FM 886 south (El Faro Road) – Los Ebanos, International Ferry, Tamaulipas
Starr	Alto Bonito	87.9	141.5	FM 2360 – La Grulla, La Victoria	Interchange
	​	92.1	148.2	FM 1430 west – Garciasville
	La Puerta	95.4	153.5	FM 1430 east – Garciasville
	Rio Grande City	99.5	160.1	FM 755 south (Pete Diaz Jr. Avenue) – International Bridge, Tamaulipas	south end of FM 755 overlap
		100.5	161.7	FM 755 north (North Flores Street) – La Gloria, Rachal	north end of FM 755 overlap
		103.6	166.7	FM 3167 north to FM 649 north – Starr County Airport, Guerra
	Garceno	109.1	175.6	FM 649 north – El Sauz, Guerra
	Roma	114.0	183.5	Spur 200 (Bravo Avenue) – International Bridge, Tamaulipas
		115.4	185.7	FM 650 west – Fronton
	Falcon Heights	124.3	200.0	FM 2098 north – Falcon Dam, International Bridge, Falcon State Park, Tamaulipas
		128.1	206.2	FM 2098 south – Falcon Dam, International Bridge, Falcon State Park, Tamaulipas
Zapata	Chihuahua	141.8	228.2	FM 2687 east / Las Alejandrenas Road
	Zapata	155.1	249.6	SH 16 east / FM 496 west (13th Avenue) – Falcon Lake, Hebbronville, Freer
	San Ygnacio	169.4	272.6	FM 3169 east
		169.6	272.9	Bus. US 83 north (Washington Avenue) – Laredo
		169.9	273.4	Bus. US 83 south (Santa Maria Avenue) – Zapata
Webb	Rio Bravo	190.6	306.7	Rio Bravo, El Cenizo (Espejo Molina Road)	Interchange
	Laredo	194.2	312.5	To Loop 20 north (Cuatro Vientos Road) / Mangana Hein Road – Hebbronville, Victoria
		200.4	322.5	Spur 260 north (Jamie Zapata Memorial Highway) to SH 359 – Hebbronville, Freer, Victoria, Laredo Entertainment Center, Texas A&M International University, Lake Casa Blanca International State Park, Airport
		201.1	323.6	SH 359 east to Loop 20 – Hebbronville, San Diego	Interchange; south end of SH 359 overlap
		201.3	324.0	Arkansas Avenue	interchange; no northbound exit
		203.6	327.7	I-35 BL south (Houston Street) / Santa Ursula Avenue – International Bridge No. 1, International Bridge No. 2, Monterrey	North end of SH 359 overlap; south end of I-35 overlap
	see I-35
	​	221.4	356.3	I-35 north – San Antonio, Cotulla, Pearsall	North end of I-35 overlap; US 83 north follows exit 18
	​	226.5	364.5	SH 255 – Cotulla, Laredo–Colombia Solidarity International Bridge	interchange
	​	241.7	389.0	SH 44 east – Encinal, Freer
Dimmit	Catarina	264.0	424.9	FM 133 east – Artesia Wells
	​	267.1	429.9	FM 2688 south
	Asherton	273.6	440.3	FM 2522 north to FM 190 – Brundage
		274.8	442.2	FM 1557 west
		276.0	444.2	FM 190 – Brundage
		277.5	446.6	FM 190 north – Brundage
	​	280.0	450.6	FM 1557 – Asherton
	​	281.1	452.4	FM 1556 north – Carrizo Springs
	​	283.4	456.1	FM 1917 south	South end of FM 1917 overlap
	​	283.5	456.2	FM 1917 west	North end of FM 1917 overlap
	Carrizo Springs	284.0	457.1	Loop 225 west
		284.4	457.7	US 277 north (Peña Street) – Eagle Pass, Del Rio
		284.5	457.9	SH 85 east / Loop 225 east (Nopal Street) – Brundage, Dilley
		285.7	459.8	FM 790 south (9th Street)
		286.0	460.3	Loop 517 west to US 277 north – Del Rio, Eagle Pass
		286.1	460.4	FM 1407 south to SH 85 east	South end of FM 1407 overlap
	​	286.6	461.2	FM 1407 north – Winter Haven	North end of FM 1407 overlap
	​	288.5	464.3	FM 1433 north – Crystal City
	​	292.2	470.3	FM 1407 south – Winter Haven
Zavala	​	293.5	472.3	FM 191 west to FM 1918 south to US 277 north – Eagle Pass
	Crystal City	295.4	475.4	Loop 155 east
		296.8	477.7	FM 65 south / FM 393 west – Cometa, Brundage
		297.3	478.5	FM 1433 south (North 7th Avenue)
		299.5	482.0	FM 3292 south
	​	302.6	487.0	FM 1025 east
	La Pryor	314.3	505.8	US 57 / Loop 305 north – Eagle Pass, Piedras Negras, Batesville, San Antonio
		314.8	506.6	FM 1436 (Dean Street)
		315.5	507.7	Loop 305 south
		315.9	508.4	FM 1986 west
	​	319.1	513.5	FM 1436 – La Pryor
Uvalde	Uvalde	333.1	536.1	FM 1435 north (South Evans Street) to US 90
		333.9	537.4	FM 117 south – Batesville
		334.4	538.2	US 90 (Main Street) – Brackettville, Del Rio, Hondo, San Antonio	south end of SH 55 overlap
		335.4	539.8	FM 862 east (Studer Street) – Knippa, Sabinal
		335.9	540.6	FM 1052 west (Oppenheimer Street)
		335.8	540.4	Spur 144 north (North Getty Street) to FM 2369
		336.4	541.4	SH 55 north – Camp Wood, Rocksprings, Sonora	north end of SH 55 overlap
	​	343.1	552.2	FM 2690 north
	​	354.1	569.9	FM 1051 north – Reagan Wells
	Concan	357.3	575.0	SH 127 south – Sabinal
	​	365.7	588.5	RM 1050 east to PR 29 – Utopia, Garner State Park
Real	Rio Frio	367.6	591.6	FM 1120 north to FM 2748 south
	Leakey	373.5	601.1	FM 1120 south – Rio Frio
		374.1	602.1	RM 337 – Camp Wood, Vanderpool
		375.1	603.7	RM 336 north
	​	393.0	632.5	SH 39 east – Ingram
	​	401.6	646.3	SH 41 to US 377 – Rocksprings, Mountain Home, Divide
Kerr	No major junctions
Edwards	No major junctions
Kerr	No major junctions
Kimble	​	430.3	692.5	I-10 east – San Antonio, Kerrville	South end of I-10 overlap; US 83 south follows exit 462
	Junction	432.1	695.4	Loop 481	Northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-10 exit 460
		434.6	699.4	FM 2169 (Martinez Street)	I-10 exit 457
		436.5	702.5	I-10 west / US 377 south to Loop 481 – Fort Stockton, El Paso, Rocksprings, Del Rio	North end of I-10 overlap; south end of US 377 overlap; US 83 north follows exit 456
		437.7	704.4	US 377 north – London, Mason	North end of US 377 overlap
Menard	​	456.3	734.3	RM 1773 east to RM 1221
	​	462.9	745.0	SH 29 east – Hext, Mason	Interchange
	Menard	465.4	749.0	RM 2291 south – Cleo
		466.2	750.3	FM 2092 (San Saba Street)
		466.6	750.9	US 190 west – Eldorado, Presidio San Saba, Fort McKavett State Historical Site, Iraan	South end of US 190 overlap
		467.7	752.7	US 190 east – Brady, San Saba	North end of US 190 overlap
	​	473.0	761.2	FM 3463 west
Concho	Eden	487.7	784.9	US 87 – San Angelo, Brady
		488.0	785.4	FM 2402 north – Eola
	​	499.7	804.2	FM 765 – Eola, San Angelo, Millersview, Fife
	Paint Rock	508.5	818.4	FM 380 west – San Angelo
	​	512.0	824.0	FM 1929 – Lowake, O.H. Ivie Reservoir, Voss
Runnels	​	517.4	832.7	FM 2133 west – Rowena
	​	518.4	834.3	FM 2406 east – Bethel
	Ballinger	524.7	844.4	US 67 south (West Hutchings Avenue) – San Angelo, Fort Stockton	South end of US 67 overlap
		524.8	844.6	SH 158 west – Bronte
		525.7	846.0	US 67 north – Coleman, Brownwood, Stephenville	Interchange; north end of US 67 overlap
		526.2	846.8	FM 382 north – Crews
	Hatchel	533.0	857.8	FM 2887 south – Ballinger
	Winters	540.0	869.0	SH 153 – Winters Airport, Wingate, Coleman, Crews
		540.4	869.7	Loop 438 east (Wood Street) – Crews, Coleman	South end of Loop 438 overlap
		540.5	869.9	Loop 438 west (Dale Street) – Wingate	north end of Loop 438 overlap
		541.3	871.1	FM 1770 east – Novice
		542.5	873.1	FM 2405 north – Drasco
Taylor	Bradshaw	551.3	887.2	FM 1086 west – Happy Valley
	​	554.2	891.9	FM 604 north – Lawn
	Ovalo	558.7	899.1	FM 382 south / FM 614 east – Rogers, Crews
	Tuscola	561.4	903.5	FM 613 (Graham Street) – Buffalo Gap
	​	564.1	907.8	US 84 east – Lawn, Coleman, Santa Anna	South end of US 84 overlap
	​	570.7	918.5	FM 204 east (Clark Road)
	Abilene	572.4	921.2	FM 707 – Tye, Caps	interchange; south end of freeway
		573.9	923.6	Antilley Road
		574.3	924.2	Clack Street	southbound exit only
		574.9	925.2	Bus. US 83 north (Treadaway Boulevard) / Loop 322 east – Airport, Cross Plains, Cisco
		576.2	927.3	Arrowhead Drive	southbound access only
		576.0	927.0	FM 89 (Buffalo Gap Road) – Buffalo Gap, Nolan
		576.9	928.4	Southwest Drive
		578.1	930.4	US 277 south / South 14th Street – San Angelo, Bronte	South end of US 277 overlap
		579.4	932.5	South 7th Street
		580.7	934.5	US 84 west / I-20 BL (South 1st Street) – Odessa, Lubbock, Sweetwater	north end of US 84 overlap
		581.1	935.2	North 1st Street
		581.4	935.7	North 10th Street
		582.4	937.3	Ambler Avenue
		582.9– 583.4	938.1– 938.9	I-20 – El Paso, Odessa, Fort Worth, Cisco	I-20 exit 283
		584.6	940.8	(no name)	southbound exit only
		584.5	940.7	FM 2404 (Old Anson Road) – Impact
		585.4	942.1	(no name)	northbound exit only
		585.7	942.6	Bus. US 83 south – Impact	interchange; north end of freeway; no southbound entrance
Jones	​	586.3	943.6	FM 3034 east to FM 600 – Lake Fort Phantom Hill
	Hawley	591.9	952.6	FM 605 west – Hodges
		593.1	954.5	FM 1082 – Lake Fort Phantom Hill	interchange
	​	599.0	964.0	FM 3326 south – Hawley
	Anson	602.2	969.1	FM 2746 west to FM 707 south – Tye
		603.3	970.9	FM 707 south to FM 2746 west – Tye
		604.4	972.7	US 180 – Roby, Snyder, Albany, Mineral Wells
		606.1	975.4	US 277 north – Stamford, Wichita Falls	North end of US 277 overlap
	​	610.0	981.7	FM 1661 north – Tuxedo
	​	616.4	992.0	FM 1636 east – Avoca, Corinth
	Hamlin	620.3	998.3	FM 126 south – Hamlin Lake, Neinda, Merkel
		621.5	1,000.2	FM 57 south – McCaulley, Sylvester
		622.1	1,001.2	SH 92 – Rotan, Stamford
	​	625.0	1,005.8	FM 540 west – Rotan
Fisher	No major junctions
Stonewall	Aspermont	640.5	1,030.8	US 380 east / FM 610 west – Rotan, Haskell, Graham	South end of US 380 overlap
		641.5	1,032.4	FM 1263 north (East North Second Street) to FM 3457
	​	643.9	1,036.3	US 380 west – Jayton, Post	North end of US 380 overlap
	​	656.2	1,056.1	FM 1263 south – Aspermont
King	Guthrie	674.2	1,085.0	US 82 / SH 114 – Lubbock, Dickens, Wichita Falls, Benjamin	interchange
		675.5	1,087.1	Spur 729 – Lubbock
	​	686.9	1,105.5	FM 193 west – Dumont, East Afton
	​	689.0	1,108.8	FM 1168 north – Grow
Cottle	​	693.6	1,116.2	FM 452 west – Delwin
	​	698.5	1,124.1	FM 2278 west – Delwin
	Paducah	703.1	1,131.5	FM 1038 east (East Clare Street) – Chalk, Hackberry
		703.5	1,132.2	US 62 west / US 70 – Plainview, Lubbock, Matador, Vernon, Crowell	South end of US 62 overlap
		703.7	1,132.5	FM 1037 north (Backus Street) to FM 2876 to FM 104 – Quanah	south end of FM 1037 overlap
		703.8	1,132.7	FM 1037 south (McAdams Street)	north end of FM 1037 overlap
		704.1	1,133.1	FM 2876 east (Brant Street) to FM 104 – Quanah
	​	709.8	1,142.3	FM 2998 north
	​	710.9	1,144.1	FM 3256 west – Matador Wildlife Management Area
	Dunlap	712.4	1,146.5	FM 2998 south
	​	718.6	1,156.5	FM 1440 west – Cee Vee
Childress	​	727.4	1,170.6	FM 2103 west
	​	729.9	1,174.7	FM 94 south – Tell, Matador
	Childress	732.4	1,178.7	FM 2042
		733.5	1,180.5	FM 164 (Road 12) – Airport
		734.3	1,181.7	US 287 – Amarillo, Memphis, Wichita Falls, Quanah
		735.1	1,183.0	FM 3181 east to FM 401 south to FM 2530
	​	741.8	1,193.8	FM 2465
	​	750.8	1,208.3	US 62 east – Hollis, Altus, Lawton	North end of US 62 overlap
	​	752.3	1,210.7	SH 256 west – Memphis, Silverton
	​	754.3	1,213.9	FM 1034 east
Collingsworth	Wellington	763.5	1,228.7	FM 338 (15th Street) – Dodson, Airport
		764.0	1,229.5	Loop 204 south (8th Street) – Wellington
		764.5	1,230.3	SH 203 east / FM 3197 west – Mangum	South end of SH 203 overlap
		766.6	1,233.7	SH 203 west – Quail, Hedley	North end of SH 203 overlap
	​	770.7	1,240.3	FM 1981 west
	​	772.2	1,242.7	FM 3446 east
	Lutie	775.7	1,248.4	FM 1439 east
	​	777.9	1,251.9	FM 1036 west – Samnorwood
Wheeler	Shamrock	789.5	1,270.6	FM 2033 east (Railroad Avenue)
		790.3	1,271.9	I-40 BL / Historic US 66 (12th Street) – Amarillo, McLean, Oklahoma City, Sayre
		790.6	1,272.3	I-40 – Amarillo, McLean, Oklahoma City, Sayre	I-40 exit 163
	Twitty	796.5	1,281.8	FM 592 – Kelton
	​	800.5	1,288.3	FM 1906 east – Kelton
	Wheeler	805.6	1,296.5	FM 2473
		806.4	1,297.8	SH 152 – Pampa, Sayre, Airport
	Briscoe	815.8	1,312.9	FM 1046 – Mobeetie, Allison
Hemphill	​	820.5	1,320.5	FM 1268 west
	​	824.7	1,327.2	FM 277 east – Buffalo Wallow Battleground, Allison
	​	830.1	1,335.9	FM 3044 east – Lyman Battleground
	​	832.7	1,340.1	US 60 west / SH 33 east – Miami, Pampa, Amarillo, Watonga	Interchange; south end of US 60 overlap
	Canadian	839.8	1,351.5	FM 2388 east (Main Street) – Court House
		842.4	1,355.7	FM 2266 east – Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area, Black Kettle National Grassland, Camp Kiowa, Lake Marvin
		842.7	1,356.2	US 60 east – Glazier, Higgins, Arnett	North end of US 60 overlap
Lipscomb	​	857.6	1,380.2	SH 23 north – Booker, Beaver
Ochiltree	​	859.7	1,383.6	FM 281 west – Cactus, Sunray
	​	878.8	1,414.3	FM 2711 east
	​	879.9	1,416.1	SH 70 south – Pampa, Clarendon
	Perryton	885.0	1,424.3	Loop 143 – Frank Phillips College Allen Campus, Spearman, Booker
		886.0	1,425.9	FM 377 east (9th Avenue)
		886.6	1,426.8	SH 15 (Brillhart Avenue) – Spearman, Booker
	​	888.0	1,429.1	Loop 143 south – Booker, Canadian, Pampa
	​	888.5	1,429.9	FM 1267 west – Waka, Spearman
	​	893.5	1,437.9	US 83 north – Liberal, Garden City	Oklahoma state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access

Gallery

• 
  Scenic section of the Texas Hill Country north of Leakey
• 
  An abandoned hotel and restaurant (built 1926) at Catarina on US 83 near Carrizo Springs
• 
  Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway designation in Perryton; click to read
• 
  U.S. Highway 83, co-signed with I-2, in a major retail district of McAllen

See also

•  Texas portal
•  U.S. Roads portal
• Business routes of U.S. Route 83 in Texas

Notes

References

1. Google (June 17, 2015). "U.S. Route 83 in Texas" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
2. Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (May 4, 2013). "Special Committee on US Route Numbering Report to SCOH on May 3, 2013 Meeting" (PDF) (Report). Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
3. Essex, Allen (May 30, 2013). "I-69 Comes to the Valley: 111 Miles Added to Interstate System". Valley Morning Star. Harlingen, TX. Retrieved June 3, 2013.

External links

• Media related to U.S. Route 83 in Texas at Wikimedia Commons