Hideaway, TX to Laredo, TX is 469.9 miles and takes about 8h 33m via Purple Heart Trail, I 35, and State Highway 31 East, with a fuel budget near $68 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route spans the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving. With 2 recommended days, you can comfortably break up the drive and explore along the way. It's a straightforward trip for those looking to traverse a significant portion of 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
234.9 miles from Hideaway, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 25m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 128 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~2,906 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,347
Quietest
2 AM
~493 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Hideaway, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on Hide-A-Way Lane Central
0.2 mi·39 sec·Hide-A-Way Lane Central
2
Keep slight right at fork onto Hide-A-Way Lane Central
1.5 mi·5 min·Hide-A-Way Lane Central
3
Turn left onto Interstate 20 West
0.3 mi·1 min·Interstate 20 West
4
Turn right onto FM 849
0.2 mi·29 sec·FM 849
5
Turn left onto Interstate 20 West
0.3 mi·40 sec·Interstate 20 West
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
7
Merge onto I 20
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 20
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Loop 49 Toll
9
Turn right
0.4 mi·28 sec
10
Merge onto Loop 49 Toll
9.1 mi·9 min·Toll 49
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward TX 31: Chandler, Tyler
12
Keep slight right at fork
194 ft·5 sec
13
Merge onto TX 31
2.4 mi·2 min·State Highway 31 West
14
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi·2 min·East Highway 31
15
Continue on TX 31
21 mi·23 min·State Highway 31 East
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
17
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi·7 min·Jed Robinson Loop
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
19
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft·14 sec
20
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 31 West
21
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi·6 min·East Royall Boulevard
22
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi·11 min·State Highway 31 East
23
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi·10 min·Northwest 2nd Street
24
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi·13 min·Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
25
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi·21 min·West State Highway 31
26
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi·5 min·Hubbard Bypass
27
Continue on TX 31
17 mi·17 min·State Highway 31
28
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi·2 min·East US Highway 84
29
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi·4 min·Bellmead Drive
30
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi·1 min·East Waco Drive
31
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft·12 sec·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
32
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
33
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi·6 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
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.
37
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi·11 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
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.
41
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.
42
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.
43
Continue on I 35
144 mi·2 hr 26 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Houston Street
45
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft·12 sec·Salinas Avenue
46
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft·5 sec·Matamoros Street
47
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8.5-hour estimated drive time, planning for 2 days is wise. Consider departing Hideaway in the morning to make good progress on your first day. With 2 stops planned, you’ll have opportunities to refuel and rest. The longest stretch is over 244 miles, so be sure to top off your tank before starting that segment. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads, as speed limits and traffic patterns will change.
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 234.9 miles from Hideaway, TX, or about 4h 25m 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 103 miles or 2h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 234.9 miles or 4h 25m 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 234.9 miles or 4h 25m
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 32m
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 Hideaway, 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 Hideaway, TX
Aim for roughly 235 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laredo, TX
Aim for roughly 235 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Hideaway, 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 73.8 and 314.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
73.8 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
232.6 mi into trip|~4h 22m 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
306.1 mi into trip|~5h 43m 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
312.5 mi into trip|~5h 51m 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
314.6 mi into trip|~5h 54m 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
$64.36 one way
$128.72 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg164 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$71.89
$143.78
premium
$4.23
$78.16
$156.33
diesel
$4.80
$88.73
$177.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$194–$304
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 164.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
141
1
$49.34
$22.56
Efficient EV
117.5
1
$41.12
$18.80
EV Truck/SUV
188
2
$65.79
$30.07
Gas CO2
164 kg
EV CO2
55 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
Hideaway, TX
Late night
in Hideaway on Tuesday
Local time
3:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:40PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:31PM CDT until July 18 at 11:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Destination
Laredo, TX
Late night
in Laredo on Tuesday
Local time
3:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 12 to 16 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:40PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:31PM CDT until July 18 at 11:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa 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
4 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 33m 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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 129.6
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 307.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive has 36% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 244.1 miles on Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mix of driving experiences, from cruising on I-35 to navigating State Highway 31 East. You’ll notice the transition from more developed areas to more rural cruising.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
47 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?
10/10
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 73.8 miles in near TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass.
Driving Effort10/10
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 30 significant decision points across 469.9 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 73.8 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 232.6 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 306.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
775 ft352 ft
Total Climb
966 ft
Total Descent
1,011 ft
Highest Point
775 ft
~201.4 mi in
Elevation Range
423 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 Hideaway, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 536: Houston along the way.
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 — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 235 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 73.8 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 232.6 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 306.1 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 8.6 hours each way, a round trip means 17.1 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.
