Denison, TX to Laredo, TX is 503.5 miles and takes about 8h 55m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35, with a fuel budget near $73 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though an overnight stop is recommended. This route traverses the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a long-haul drive that's mostly highway. Given the distance and duration, breaking this trip into two days will make it much more comfortable. Plan for a straightforward drive that's good for getting miles under your belt.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
251.8 miles from Denison, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 28m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,149 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,641
Quietest
2 AM
~516 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Denison, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on this road
61 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 69
1.1 mi·1 min·North Austin Avenue
3
Continue on Spur 503
2.0 mi·2 min·South Eisenhower Parkway
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward TX 91: Texoma Parkway
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward TX 91 South: Sherman
6
Turn straight onto TX 91
1.6 mi·2 min·Texoma Parkway
7
Turn right onto FM 691
1.2 mi·1 min·Grayson Drive
8
Turn left onto North Sam Rayburn Freeway
0.1 mi·15 sec·North Sam Rayburn Freeway
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward US 75 South
10
Merge onto US 75
12 mi·12 min·North Sam Rayburn Freeway
11
Continue on US 75
10 mi·10 min·North Collins Freeway
12
Continue on US 75
45 mi·48 min·North Central Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
501 ft·12 sec
Exit 284CToward Downtown, Good-Latimer ExpresswayUse the slight left lane.
14
Continue on North Central Expressway
0.7 mi·1 min·North Central Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right onto Elm Street
304 ft·10 sec·Elm Street
16
Turn left onto North Pearl Expressway
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Pearl Expressway
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto Young Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·Young Street
18
Turn left onto South Harwood Street
315 ft·8 sec·South Harwood Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Canton Street
0.4 mi·47 sec·Canton Street
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 30 West
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
22
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I 35E South: WacoUse the left / right lanes.
24
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi·44 sec·South R L Thornton Freeway
25
Continue on I 35E
89 mi·1 hr 31 min·South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426Toward Dallas ZooUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi·54 min·Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton StreetUse the slight left lane.
30
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi·11 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·8 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
2.1 mi·2 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, LaredoUse the slight left lane.
35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
10 mi·12 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo StreetUse the slight right lane.
36
Continue on I 35
144 mi·2 hr 26 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Houston Street
38
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft·12 sec·Salinas Avenue
39
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft·5 sec·Matamoros Street
40
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 55m estimated drive time, it's wise to plan for at least one overnight stop. Consider departing Denison, TX early in the morning to maximize daylight driving. With two recommended days, you'll have a comfortable pace and can make your planned two stops for fuel and rest without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on fuel prices, especially as you head south, and aim to fill up in larger towns along I 35 when prices are favorable.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 251.8 miles from Denison, TX, or about 4h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 111 miles or 2h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 251.8 miles or 4h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 251.8 miles or 4h 28m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 53m
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 Denison, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Denison, TX
Aim for roughly 252 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laredo, TX
Aim for roughly 252 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 111 miles from Denison, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 244.1 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 73.6 and 348.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 284C
Toward Downtown, Good-Latimer Expressway
9
75.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
8
266.3 mi into trip|~4h 43m in|I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
8
346.1 mi into trip|~6h 13m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
8
348.3 mi into trip|~6h 15m in|I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Housto...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.96 one way
$137.93 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg176 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$77.03
$154.06
premium
$4.23
$83.75
$167.50
diesel
$4.80
$95.07
$190.14
Estimated Tolls: $3.65
Central Expressway
(45.7 mi)$3.65
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Tolls
$4
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$203–$313
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 176.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
151.1
1
$52.87
$24.17
Efficient EV
125.9
1
$44.06
$20.14
EV Truck/SUV
201.4
2
$70.49
$32.22
Gas CO2
176 kg
EV CO2
59 kg (66% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Denison, TX
Morning
in Denison on Sunday
Local time
10:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:11PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:53PM CDT until July 20 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Laredo, TX
Morning
in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
10:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:11PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:53PM CDT until July 20 at 6:00AM 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
2 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
8h 55m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 173.6
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 347.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about half the drive on highways, with 51% of the route utilizing major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 244.1 miles on Purple Heart Trail, which is a significant portion of the total trip. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface streets as you approach and depart urban areas, with frequent exits and merging traffic being common.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 244.1 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
At 8h 55m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 73.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 503.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 73.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 266.3 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
762 ft413 ft
Total Climb
446 ft
Total Descent
762 ft
Highest Point
762 ft
~323.7 mi in
Elevation Range
349 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Denison, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward Downtown, Denton, Waco, Dallas Zoo and Spur 536: Houston.
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 244.1 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 252 miles on day one.
Expect about $3.65 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 59 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 59 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 73.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 266.3 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.8 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.
