This 337.3-mile drive from Big Lake, TX to Laredo, TX is a feasible one-day trip, estimated to take around 6 hours and 23 minutes. You'll primarily be on South US Highway 83, South State Highway 55, and I-10, with a significant 78% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is $51. This route stays within the Great Plains region, offering a consistent driving experience. It’s a straightforward journey that can comfortably be completed in a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
168.7 miles from Big Lake, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South US Highway 83
108.9 mi
1h 58m
South State Highway 55
36.6 mi
41m
I 10
33.4 mi
31m
TX 55
33.3 mi
37m
Main Street
28.6 mi
42m
South Texas Highway 55
25.4 mi
28m
US 277
21.6 mi
24m
East 2nd Street
18 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
South US Highway 83
— 108.9 mi, about 1h 58m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,103 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,375
Quietest
2 AM
~159 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 37 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Lake, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on US 67
18 mi·18 min·East 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto TX 163
29 mi·42 min·Main Street
3
Continue on TX 163
1.0 mi·1 min·Avenue E
4
Turn left onto 15th Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·15th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
6
Merge onto I 10
33 mi·31 min·I 10
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 399Toward Loop 467: Sonora
8
Continue on South Service Road
0.1 mi·11 sec·South Service Road
9
Continue on Loop 467
1.4 mi·2 min·North Crockett Avenue
10
Turn right onto US 277
22 mi·24 min·US 277
11
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 55
33 mi·37 min·TX 55
12
Turn right onto TX 55
25 mi·28 min·South Texas Highway 55
13
Continue on TX 55
3.6 mi·4 min·North State Highway 55
14
Continue on TX 55
1.0 mi·2 min·North Nueces Street
15
Continue on TX 55
37 mi·41 min·South State Highway 55
16
Turn right onto US 83
0.6 mi·43 sec·Milam Street
17
Continue on US 83
1.9 mi·2 min·North Getty Street
18
Turn right onto US 83
1.2 mi·1 min·Crystal City Highway
19
Continue on US 83
47 mi·53 min·South US Highway 83
20
Continue on US 83
1.7 mi·1 min·North 1st Street
21
Continue on US 83
62 mi·1 hr 4 min·South US Highway 83
22
Continue on US 83
0.3 mi·26 sec·I-35 Frontage Road
23
Take the ramp onto US 83
0.1 mi·18 sec·US 83
24
Merge onto I 35; I 27; US 83
18 mi·19 min·Purple Heart Trail
25
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Houston Street
26
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft·12 sec·Salinas Avenue
27
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft·5 sec·Matamoros Street
28
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour, 23-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Big Lake to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 108.9 miles on South US Highway 83, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or when you anticipate needing fuel. The $51 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on US-83, as services can be more spread out in certain sections.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 168.7 miles from Big Lake, TX, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 74 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168.7 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laredo, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Big Lake, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Big Lake, TX
This is one driving day of about 337.3 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Big Lake, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on South US Highway 83 for about 108.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 18 and 337.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
18 mi into trip|~18m in|TX 163 / Main Street
Turn right onto TX 163 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
47.6 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|15th Street
Turn left onto 15th Street
Navigation decision point
5
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward Loop 467: Sonora
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 399
Toward Loop 467: Sonora
5
337.2 mi into trip|~6h 23m in|I 35 Bus / Salinas Avenue
Turn left onto I 35 Bus / Salinas Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
337.3 mi into trip|~6h 23m in|Matamoros Street
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.20 one way
$92.40 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$51.60
$103.21
premium
$4.23
$56.11
$112.21
diesel
$4.80
$63.69
$127.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.2
1
$35.42
$16.19
Efficient EV
84.3
0
$29.51
$13.49
EV Truck/SUV
134.9
1
$47.22
$21.59
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Big Lake, TX
Morning
in Big Lake on Sunday
Local time
9:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 to 20 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:57AM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:57AM CDT until July 18 at 8:52PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Laredo, TX
Morning
in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
9:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
100°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 14 to 18 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:57AM CDT until July 19 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:57AM CDT until July 18 at 8:52PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 23m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 78% of the mileage covered on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 108.9 miles along South US Highway 83, so be prepared for extended periods on this particular road. While primarily highway, the mix of South US Highway 83, South State Highway 55, and I-10 suggests a varied road surface and speed environment as you progress south. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather a direct path connecting two points.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108.9 mi on South US Highway 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South US Highway 83 and South State Highway 55. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 18 miles in near TX 163 / Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 14 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles (TX 163 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.6 miles (15th Street): Navigation decision point; at 81.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,690 ft413 ft
Total Climb
476 ft
Total Descent
2,753 ft
Highest Point
2,690 ft
Elevation Range
2,277 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Big Lake, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 467: Sonora along the way.
Loop 467: Sonora
81.4 mi in|~1h 35m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The longest stretch is about 108.9 miles on South US Highway 83. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Laredo, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles (TX 163 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.6 miles (15th Street): Navigation decision point; at 81.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laredo, TX before the return drive.
