Coleman, TX to Laredo, TX is 344.3 miles and takes about 6h 17m via Purple Heart Trail and US Highway 87, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward drive with minimal fuss. Given its duration and the fact that it's a single-day trip, it's a solid option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground within the state. You'll spend most of your time on well-established highways, making it a predictable journey for planning.
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
172.2 miles from Coleman, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Coleman, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on TX 153; TX 206
0.2 mi·19 sec·West Walnut Street
2
Continue on TX 153
0.9 mi·1 min·East Walnut Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; US 283
7.5 mi·8 min·US 84; US 283
4
Turn right onto US 283
41 mi·46 min·8th Street
5
Turn left onto US 87
3.4 mi·3 min·United States Highway 87
6
Continue on US 87
0.3 mi·23 sec·Commerce Street
7
Turn right onto US 87; US 190; US 377
15 mi·16 min·Bridge Street
8
Continue on US 87; US 377
13 mi·15 min·North US Highway 87
9
Continue on US 87; TX 29
0.8 mi·56 sec·Fort McKavitt Street
10
Take the exit onto US 87
166 ft·4 sec·US 87
11
Merge onto US 87
1.1 mi·1 min·San Antonio Street
12
Continue on US 87
40 mi·44 min·South US Highway 87
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 290; US 87
1.5 mi·4 min·West Main Street
14
Turn right onto US 87
1.1 mi·2 min·South Washington Street
15
Continue on US 87
20 mi·23 min·South US Highway 87
16
Take the ramp onto US 87
27 mi·27 min·US 87
Toward I 10 East: San AntonioUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
5.4 mi·5 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 556BToward Frontage RoadUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
0.4 mi·41 sec·Interstate 10 West
20
Turn right onto North Loop 1604 West
0.6 mi·1 min·North Loop 1604 West
21
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Loop 1604 West
22
Merge onto Loop 1604
24 mi·29 min·Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto Interstate 35 South
0.2 mi·20 sec·Interstate 35 South
24
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 35 South
25
Merge onto I 35
140 mi·2 hr 21 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Houston Street
27
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft·12 sec·Salinas Avenue
28
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft·5 sec·Matamoros Street
29
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
Starting your journey from Coleman in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Laredo, as the drive is estimated at just over six hours. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $52, you can plan for a relatively economical and direct trip. The longest stretch is nearly 140 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. Given that this is a manageable one-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but an early start is always recommended for road trips.
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 172.2 miles from Coleman, TX, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.7 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 76 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.2 miles or 3h 15m 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 15m
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 Coleman, 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 Coleman, TX
This is one driving day of about 344.3 miles and 6h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Coleman, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 139.7 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 145.1 and 204.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
145.1 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|US 87
Take the ramp onto US 87 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
6
172.3 mi into trip|~3h 15m in|I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
177.7 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward Frontage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
5
179.5 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop
Merge onto Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
204.3 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge onto I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.02 one way
$104.05 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$56.95
$113.89
premium
$4.54
$61.47
$122.94
diesel
$5.61
$76.02
$152.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.3
1
$36.15
$16.53
Efficient EV
86.1
0
$30.13
$13.77
EV Truck/SUV
137.7
1
$48.20
$22.04
Gas CO2
120 kg
EV CO2
40 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Coleman, TX
Late night
in Coleman on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laredo, TX
Late night
in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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 17m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 201.9
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 130.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a mixed profile, with 34% of the route utilizing highways, meaning you'll experience both faster stretches and more localized road sections. The longest continuous segment you'll encounter is 139.7 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, offering a substantial period of uninterrupted driving. As you progress, the character of the road shifts, likely transitioning between higher-speed thoroughfares and potentially slower, more town-oriented segments as you approach Laredo. Expect a varied driving experience without extreme technicality.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 145.1 miles in near US 87.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 344.3 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 145.1 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 172.3 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 177.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Coleman, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 West along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 17m. Total distance: 344.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 145.1 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 172.3 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 177.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 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.
