Hempstead to Laredo is 331.1 miles and takes about 5h 49m via Purple Heart Trail and I 10, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, offering a straightforward drive across Texas. With a recommended single day for completion, it's a practical option for moving between these two points without needing an overnight stay. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path with minimal complexity.
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
165.5 miles from Hempstead, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,525 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,254
Quietest
2 AM
~318 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Hempstead, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on US 290 Bus
0.2 mi·28 sec·Austin Street
2
Turn left onto TX 159
15 mi·22 min·13th Street
3
Continue on TX 159
0.1 mi·18 sec·East Main Street
4
Turn sharp left onto TX 36
1.4 mi·2 min·South Front Street
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on TX 36
9.9 mi·10 min·State Highway 36
6
Continue on TX 36
3.0 mi·4 min·North Meyer Street
7
Turn right
0.3 mi·49 sec
8
Continue on I-10 Frontage Road
0.3 mi·45 sec·I-10 Frontage Road
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
10
Merge onto I 10
126 mi·2 hr 5 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi·12 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
0.8 mi·51 sec·90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10; US 90
8.0 mi·9 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87
0.2 mi·22 sec·I 10; US 87
Exit 572Toward I 35, I 10 West, US 87 North: Laredo, El Paso, AustinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: LaredoUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 35
8.3 mi·9 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 35
144 mi·2 hr 26 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Houston Street
19
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft·12 sec·Salinas Avenue
20
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft·5 sec·Matamoros Street
21
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 49m drive, plan to depart Hempstead early in the morning to take advantage of the full daylight. With only one recommended stop and a single-day duration, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. The fuel cost is estimated at around $48, so ensure your tank is full before you leave, especially before the longest stretch of 144.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. Watch for the transition from highway to surface roads, as this can sometimes involve more local traffic.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165.5 miles from Hempstead, TX, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.5 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 73 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.5 miles or 2h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
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 Hempstead, 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 Hempstead, TX
This is one driving day of about 331.1 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Hempstead, 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 144.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.5 and 177.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
15.5 mi into trip|~23m in|TX 36 / South Front Street
Turn sharp left onto TX 36 / South Front Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
156.4 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|I 10; US 90; TX 130
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
168.4 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
177.2 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|I 10; US 87
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87 toward I 35, I 10 West, US 87 North: Laredo, El Paso, Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 572
Toward I 35, I 10 West, US 87 North: Laredo, El...
7
177.4 mi into trip|~3h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 South: Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Laredo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.69 one way
$101.39 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.29
$55.95
$111.90
premium
$4.64
$60.46
$120.92
diesel
$6.18
$80.55
$161.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.3
1
$34.77
$15.89
Efficient EV
82.8
0
$28.97
$13.24
EV Truck/SUV
132.4
1
$46.35
$21.19
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Hempstead, TX
Afternoon
in Hempstead on Monday
Local time
1:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Laredo, TX
Afternoon
in Laredo on Monday
Local time
1:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
0 mph18% chanceLive 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
9 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
5h 49m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 171.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is about 50% highway, meaning you'll experience a mix of faster travel and surface roads. You'll have a continuous stretch of 144.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail before transitioning. Expect a shift from potentially denser exits on I 10 to more open cruising as you move onto surface roads like 13th Street. Keep an eye out for changes in traffic patterns as you leave the interstate.
50% 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: 144.5 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 15.5 miles in near TX 36 / South Front Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 331.1 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 15.5 miles (TX 36 / South Front Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.4 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.4 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
679 ft182 ft
Total Climb
692 ft
Total Descent
520 ft
Highest Point
679 ft
~165.5 mi in
Elevation Range
497 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hempstead, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward El Paso and Austin.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 331.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 144.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 44 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 44 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.5 miles (TX 36 / South Front Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.4 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.4 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 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.
