Trip from Glenn Heights, TX to Laredo, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 17m

Distance

413.9 mi

666 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$57

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

7h 7m ★

6 AM

7h 17m

8 AM

7h 39m

10 AM

7h 25m

12 PM

7h 23m

3 PM

7h 26m

5 PM

7h 38m

8 PM

7h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Glenn Heights, TX

Alfo Medeiros

city in and county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States

Laredo, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embarking from Glenn Heights, Texas, to Laredo, Texas, this 413.9-mile journey will take approximately 7 hours and 17 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing the Purple Heart Trail and I-35E/I-35, this route is manageable as a single-day trip, with a projected fuel cost of around $63. The drive offers a mixed experience, traversing the familiar landscape of the Great Plains within Texas. With two planned stops, you'll have opportunities to break up the drive, making it a practical option for a direct trip between these two Texas locales.

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

206.9 miles from Glenn Heights, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	244.1 mi	4h 12m
I 35E	72.7 mi	1h 13m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
North Pan Am Expressway	18.5 mi	22m
South Pan Am Expressway	10.4 mi	12m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
Ovilla Road	1.9 mi	3m
Interstate Highway 35	1.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 244.1 mi, about 4h 12m

Traffic on I-35

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

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Glenn Heights, TX and Laredo, TX.

Start on South Hampton Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Hampton Road

At end of road, turn left onto FM 664

1.9 mi · 3 min · Ovilla Road

Turn right onto Plaza Drive

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Plaza Drive

Use the right lane.

At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35E

0.1 mi · 12 sec · North Interstate 35E

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 17 sec

Toward I 35E South Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 35E

73 mi · 1 hr 13 min · I 35E

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290

50 mi · 54 min · Purple Heart Trail

Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street Use the slight left lane.

Continue on I 35

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

10.0 mi · 11 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 35 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

2.1 mi · 2 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo Use the slight left lane.

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 Street Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 35

144 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto Houston Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Houston Street

Turn left onto I 35 Bus

272 ft · 12 sec · Salinas Avenue

Turn left onto Matamoros Street

306 ft · 5 sec · Matamoros Street

Arrive at destination

Matamoros Street

Trip Plan

For this 7-hour, 413.9-mile drive, consider an early morning departure from Glenn Heights to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. With two stops recommended, plan them strategically to break up the longest stretch of 244.1 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer, less populated segments, and budget approximately $63 for fuel. The flexibility of a single-day drive means you can adjust your pace as needed, but being prepared with snacks and water is always a good idea for any extended road trip.

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 206.9 miles from Glenn Heights, TX, or about 3h 39m 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 91 miles or 1h 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 206.9 miles or 3h 39m 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 16m

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 Glenn Heights, 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 Glenn Heights, TX

This is one driving day of about 413.9 miles and 7h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Glenn Heights, 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.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Austin, TX

207 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to Laredo, TX

234.9 mi · 4h 9m

Pacing Suggestions

Waxahachie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 206.9 miles from Glenn Heights, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.4 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 258.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3.2 mi into trip | ~6m in | North Interstate 35E

At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35E

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

176.7 mi into trip | ~3h 6m 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

250.1 mi into trip | ~4h 27m 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

256.5 mi into trip | ~4h 35m 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

258.6 mi into trip | ~4h 37m 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

$56.69 one way

$113.38 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 145 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$63.32	$126.65
premium	$4.23	$68.85	$137.70
diesel	$4.80	$78.15	$156.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$57

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$82–$107

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 144.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	124.2	1	$43.46	$19.87
Efficient EV	103.5	1	$36.22	$16.56
EV Truck/SUV	165.6	2	$57.95	$26.49

Gas CO2

145 kg

EV CO2

48 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

Glenn Heights, TX

Late night in Glenn Heights on Monday

Local time

2:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 5 mph 33% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT until July 17 at 4:46PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Laredo, TX

Late night in Laredo on Monday

Local time

2:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

79°F

Mostly Cloudy

SE 15 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 16 at 9:03PM CDT until July 17 at 4:46PM 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

6 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 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.

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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 71.4

View on nps.gov

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...

9 mi from route ~24 min detour Free near mile 256.9

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route presents a mixed drive, with 40% of it being on highways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 244.1 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a substantial period of consistent travel. Expect the road conditions to vary, transitioning between interstate cruising and potentially more local road segments as you progress south. The blend of major roadways and other routes creates a dynamic driving experience throughout the 7-hour trek.

40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

21 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 3.2 miles in near North Interstate 35E.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 413.9 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 3.2 miles (North Interstate 35E): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 176.7 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 250.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

819 ft 413 ft

Total Climb

542 ft

Total Descent

800 ft

Highest Point

819 ft

~236.5 mi in

Elevation Range

406 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 Glenn Heights, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 536: Houston along the way.

Spur 536: Houston

258.6 mi in | ~4h 37m | via I 10; US 87

About the Cities

Starting in Glenn Heights, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1969

Arriving in Laredo, TX

Full guide →

“The Gateway City” · Founded 1755

Laredo is a city with 262,000 (2019) inhabitants on the South Texas Plains. Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, is just across the Rio Grande.

Top landmarks

• Cathedral of San Agustin — historic place in Laredo, Webb County, Texas
• Fort McIntosh — historic district in Laredo, Webb County, Texas
• San Agustin de Laredo Historic District — historic district in Laredo, Webb County, Texas

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 17m. Total distance: 413.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 17m 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 50 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 50 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 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.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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