Huntsville, TX to Laredo, TX is 382.2 miles and takes about 6h 53m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you south across the Texas landscape, moving from the Great Plains region near Huntsville into a similar environment as you approach Laredo. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a straightforward path that mostly sticks to major roadways but includes some surface street cruising. Plan for a steady drive that covers a good amount of ground without feeling overly rushed.
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
191.1 miles from Huntsville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 36m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,436 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,709
Quietest
2 AM
~234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
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 Huntsville, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on University Avenue
90 ft·11 sec·University Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 190; TX 30
1.2 mi·2 min·11th Street
3
Continue on TX 30
47 mi·54 min·State Highway 30 West
4
Continue on FM 158
0.7 mi·1 min·Farm-to-Market Road 158
5
Continue on FM 158
3.3 mi·5 min·Boonville Road
6
Continue on FM 158
2.2 mi·3 min·East William J Bryan Parkway
7
Continue on FM 158
1.0 mi·1 min·West William J Bryan Parkway
8
Turn left onto TX 21
71 mi·1 hr 20 min·West State Highway 21
9
Turn left onto TX 95
0.3 mi·29 sec·State Highway 95
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn right onto TX 21
409 ft·10 sec·State Highway 71 East
Use the right lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward TX 21 West, TX 71 West
12
Merge onto TX 21; TX 71
2.2 mi·2 min·State Highway 71 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on TX 71; TX 21
0.7 mi·49 sec·TX 71; TX 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on TX 21; TX 71
2.8 mi·3 min·TX 21; TX 71
15
Take the exit onto TX 21
0.3 mi·51 sec·TX 21
Toward TX 21 West: San Marcos
16
Turn left onto TX 21
18 mi·20 min·West State Highway 21
17
Turn left
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward US 183, Toll 130 SouthUse the left lane.
18
Turn straight onto US 183
0.5 mi·36 sec·US 183
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll South
20
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
34 mi·29 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi·11 min·I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
9.4 mi·9 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
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.
25
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.
26
Continue on I 10; US 90
8.0 mi·9 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
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.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: LaredoUse the slight left lane.
29
Merge onto I 35
8.3 mi·9 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 35
144 mi·2 hr 26 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Houston Street
32
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft·12 sec·Salinas Avenue
33
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft·5 sec·Matamoros Street
34
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 53m estimated drive time, leaving Huntsville in the morning will allow you to reach Laredo before evening. The route has only one recommended stop, so plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically, especially during the longest stretch of 144.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Laredo, as services can become more spread out in certain sections. With a total fuel cost estimated around $56, it's an economical option for a single-day 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 191.1 miles from Huntsville, TX, or about 3h 36m 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 84 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 191.1 miles or 3h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 52m
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 Huntsville, 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 Huntsville, TX
This is one driving day of about 382.2 miles and 6h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Huntsville, 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 126.5 and 228.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
126.5 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|TX 95 / State Highway 95
Turn left onto TX 95 / State Highway 95
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
151.2 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Turn left toward US 183, Toll 130 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 183, Toll 130 South
7
186.3 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
228.3 mi into trip|~4h 15m 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
228.5 mi into trip|~4h 15m 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
$52.35 one way
$104.70 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg134 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$58.47
$116.95
premium
$4.23
$63.57
$127.15
diesel
$4.80
$72.17
$144.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114.7
1
$40.13
$18.35
Efficient EV
95.6
1
$33.44
$15.29
EV Truck/SUV
152.9
1
$53.51
$24.46
Gas CO2
134 kg
EV CO2
45 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 17, 2026
Origin
Huntsville, TX
Late night
in Huntsville on Monday
Local time
12:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 17 at 12:26AM CDT until July 17 at 12:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 11:42PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
Laredo, TX
Late night
in Laredo on Monday
Local time
12:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 15 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 17 at 12:26AM CDT until July 17 at 12:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 11:42PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM 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
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
6h 53m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 60% of this 382.2-mile route is on highways, meaning you'll have stretches of faster driving. The longest continuous highway segment is 144.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. You'll transition from highway to surface roads, so be prepared for a change in speed and exit frequency. Expect a mixed driving experience with both open highway cruising and more localized surface street navigation.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 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?
9/10
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 126.5 miles in near TX 95 / State Highway 95.
Driving Effort9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 382.2 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 126.5 miles (TX 95 / State Highway 95): Lane positioning matters here; at 151.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 186.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
705 ft338 ft
Total Climb
597 ft
Total Descent
554 ft
Highest Point
705 ft
~273 mi in
Elevation Range
367 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Huntsville, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward Toll 130 South, El Paso and Austin.
Huntsville is a small city of about 45,000 residents, located in Walker County, part of the Piney Woods region of Texas. Huntsville is famous as the home of Texas hero, General Sam Houston with an enormous statue of Sam Houston next to Interstate 45, it's famous as a prison town, and is also home to Sam Houston State University.
Top landmarks
•Woodland — building in Huntsville, Walker County, Texas
•Steamboat House — historic place in Walker County, Texas
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 53m. Total distance: 382.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 126.5 miles (TX 95 / State Highway 95): Lane positioning matters here; at 151.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 186.3 miles: 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 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 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.
