This 420.5-mile drive from Ferris, TX to Laredo, TX is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 7 hours and 29 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Purple Heart Trail and I-35E/I-35, so expect a mix of highway speeds and potentially some urban traffic depending on your timing. With a fuel cost estimated at $64 and two recommended stops, this journey across the Great Plains region of Texas is manageable for a single day. Consider an early start to make the most of your driving time and arrive in Laredo with daylight to spare.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
210.2 miles from Ferris, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 47m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 136 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~2,881 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,353
Quietest
2 AM
~491 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Ferris, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on this road
48 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto FM 983
0.3 mi·41 sec·West 6th Street
3
Continue on FM 664
1.2 mi·2 min·FM 664
4
Continue on FM 664
2.7 mi·4 min·East Farm To Market 664
5
Continue on FM 664
5.4 mi·9 min·East Ovilla Road
6
Continue on FM 664
0.1 mi·17 sec·Ovilla Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto Plaza Drive
0.1 mi·18 sec·Plaza Drive
Use the right lane.
8
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35E
0.1 mi·12 sec·North Interstate 35E
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·17 sec
Toward I 35E SouthUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35E
73 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi·11 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
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.
19
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.
20
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.
21
Continue on I 35
144 mi·2 hr 26 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Houston Street
23
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft·12 sec·Salinas Avenue
24
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft·5 sec·Matamoros Street
25
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour, 29-minute drive, an early morning departure from Ferris is your best bet to avoid significant traffic and maximize your daylight hours. With two planned stops, you can break up the 420.5 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 244.1-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent. The estimated $64 fuel cost is a good benchmark for your budget, and factoring in time for these two stops will make the drive more comfortable.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 210.2 miles from Ferris, TX, or about 3h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244.1 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 93 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 210.2 miles or 3h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 27m
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 Ferris, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ferris, TX
This is one driving day of about 420.5 miles and 7h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Ferris, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.7 and 265.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.7 mi into trip|~17m in|Plaza Drive
Turn right onto Plaza Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
183.2 mi into trip|~3h 17m 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
7
256.7 mi into trip|~4h 39m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South
8
263.1 mi into trip|~4h 47m 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
265.2 mi into trip|~4h 49m 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
$57.60 one way
$115.19 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg147 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$64.33
$128.67
premium
$4.23
$69.95
$139.89
diesel
$4.80
$79.40
$158.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
126.2
1
$44.15
$20.18
Efficient EV
105.1
1
$36.79
$16.82
EV Truck/SUV
168.2
2
$58.87
$26.91
Gas CO2
147 kg
EV CO2
49 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 19, 2026
Origin
Ferris, TX
Morning
in Ferris on Tuesday
Local time
10:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph1% 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 Tuesday
Local time
10:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 13 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.
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
3 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
7h 29m 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.
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 40% of it being on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 244.1 miles, primarily on the Purple Heart Trail. While much of the drive will feel like a traditional interstate experience, be prepared for transitions as you move between different highway designations. The character of the road is largely about covering distance efficiently, with a consistent pace generally maintained throughout the journey.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 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
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.7 miles in near Plaza Drive.
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 14 significant decision points across 420.5 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 9.7 miles (Plaza Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 183.2 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 256.7 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
880 ft413 ft
Total Climb
697 ft
Total Descent
751 ft
Highest Point
880 ft
~150.2 mi in
Elevation Range
467 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 Ferris, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 536: Houston along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 29m. Total distance: 420.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 29m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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 — we found about 49 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 49 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.7 miles (Plaza Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 183.2 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 256.7 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.0 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.
