Origin
Hallsville, TX
Morning in Hallsville on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 15m
Distance
510.4 mi
821 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$77
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hallsville, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Hallsville, TX to Laredo, TX is 510.4 miles and takes about 9h 15m via Purple Heart Trail, I 35, with a fuel budget near $77 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-distance drive takes you across Texas, staying within the Great Plains region. While you could technically make it in one day, it's a substantial amount of time behind the wheel. Considering the 9-hour duration, splitting this trip over two days is a more comfortable approach, allowing for a more relaxed pace. This route is best suited for those looking for a straightforward journey across the state.
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
255.2 miles from Hallsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 45m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 244.1 mi | 4h 12m |
| State Highway 31 East | 59.9 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| West State Highway 31 | 18.8 mi | 21m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 18.5 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 31 | 17.2 mi | 17m |
| I 20 | 14.7 mi | 14m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 11.8 mi | 13m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hallsville, TX and Laredo, TX.
Start on FM 450
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on US 259; TX 31
Keep slight right at fork onto US 259 Business; TX 31
Turn right onto TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Take the exit
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Turn left onto TX 31
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Turn straight onto US 84
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35; US 77
Continue on I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Continue on I 35
Turn right onto Houston Street
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 9-hour driving time, plan for an overnight stop to break up this 510.4-mile journey. Departing early in the morning on your first day will allow you to cover a good portion of the distance, perhaps around 250-300 miles, before looking for accommodations. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 244 miles, so factor in at least one substantial stop for fuel and a break during that segment. Ensure your vehicle is topped off before embarking on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate.
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.
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 112 miles or 2h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 255.2 miles or 4h 45m 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 255.2 miles or 4h 45m
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 8h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laredo, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Hallsville, 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 Hallsville, TX
Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laredo, TX
Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
168 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
337 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in New Braunfels, TXNight 1
255 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Killeen, TX after about 255 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 255.2 miles from Hallsville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 244.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 255 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.4 and 355.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork toward US 259 South, SH 31 West: Kilgore, Henderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
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
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
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
Regular Gas
$77.12 one way
$154.25 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $84.42 | $168.83 |
| premium | $4.54 | $91.13 | $182.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $112.69 | $225.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$207–$317
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 178.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 153.1 | 1 | $53.59 | $24.50 |
| Efficient EV | 127.6 | 1 | $44.66 | $20.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 204.2 | 2 | $71.46 | $32.67 |
Gas CO2
179 kg
EV CO2
60 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Hallsville on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
54°F
Mesquite, TX
168 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive offers a substantial stretch of highway driving, with 43% of the route on interstates. You'll encounter a significant 244.1-mile segment on the Purple Heart Trail, which will likely involve more local road conditions before transitioning to I-35. Expect a mix of faster highway speeds and potentially slower sections as you navigate through various Texas towns and landscapes. The character of the road shifts as you progress, starting on state highways and eventually merging onto the major interstate corridor.
At 9h 15m, 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 17.4 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 510.4 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 17.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 273.2 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 346.6 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hallsville, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 536: Houston along the way.
Spur 536: Houston
“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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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