Origin
Iowa Park, TX
Afternoon in Iowa Park on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa Park, TX to Laredo, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 25m
Distance
504.9 mi
813 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$76
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 17m
★
6 AM
9h 26m
8 AM
9h 43m
10 AM
9h 32m
12 PM
9h 30m
3 PM
9h 32m
5 PM
9h 42m
8 PM
9h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa Park, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 504.9-mile journey from Iowa Park, TX, to Laredo, TX, is a substantial drive, requiring an estimated 9 hours and 25 minutes of travel time. Given its length, it's best tackled over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace and time to make necessary stops. The route primarily utilizes South US Highway 281 and Purple Heart Trail, with 69% of the drive on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $76 for this trip. Traveling across Texas, you'll remain within the Great Plains region throughout your drive, making for a consistent regional experience.
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
252.4 miles from Iowa Park, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South US Highway 281 | 153.7 mi | 2h 57m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 144.5 mi | 2h 26m |
| US 281 | 82.8 mi | 1h 33m |
| Henry S Grace Freeway | 63.4 mi | 1h 13m |
| North US Highway 281 | 19 mi | 20m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| US 287 | 8.1 mi | 8m |
| North Water Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
South US Highway 281
— 153.7 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Park, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on West Cash Street
147 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Cash Street
2
Turn left onto North Yosemite Street
133 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Yosemite Street
3
Turn right onto US 287 Bus; FM 368
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West Highway Street
4
Turn right onto FM 368
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pacific Avenue
5
Turn right onto Southwest Access Road
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Southwest Access Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
7
Merge onto US 287
8.1 mi
·
8 min
·
US 287
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Northwest Freeway
Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls
9
Merge onto I 44; US 277; US 281; US 287
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Central Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 277; US 281; US 287
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lloyd Ruby Overpass
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 281; US 287
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Central East Freeway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Henry S Grace Freeway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
61 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Henry S Grace Freeway
14
Continue on US 281
65 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
US 281
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 281
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on US 281
18 mi
·
20 min
·
South US Highway 281
17
Continue on US 281; TX 6
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
North 2nd Street
18
Turn right onto US 281
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Walnut Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn straight onto US 281
19 mi
·
20 min
·
North US Highway 281
20
Continue on US 281
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Rice Street
21
Continue on US 281
43 mi
·
49 min
·
South US Highway 281
22
Continue on US 183; US 190; US 281
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Key Avenue
23
Turn right onto US 281 Bus
20 mi
·
21 min
·
South US Highway 281
24
Continue on US 281
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
North Water Street
25
Continue on US 281
46 mi
·
54 min
·
South US Highway 281
26
Continue on US 281
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
27
Continue on US 281
27 mi
·
31 min
·
South US Highway 281
28
Turn straight onto US 281
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 281
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281 HOV Lane
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US 281 HOV Lane
30
Merge onto US 281
15 mi
·
17 min
·
US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 35 South: Laredo
Use the slight right lane.
32
Merge onto I 35
229 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Pan Am Expressway
33
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.
34
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.
35
Continue on I 35
144 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Houston Street
37
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Salinas Avenue
38
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft
·
5 sec
·
Matamoros Street
39
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
For this 9-hour-plus drive, splitting it into two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight hours. With two planned stops along the way, you can break up the driving segments effectively. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 153.7 miles on South US Highway 281, as services might be more spread out in certain areas. Planning your overnight stay around the halfway point will make this extensive Texas road trip much more manageable.
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 252.4 miles from Iowa Park, TX, or about 4h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.7 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 111 miles or 2h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 252.4 miles or 4h 50m 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 252.4 miles or 4h 50m
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 24m
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 Iowa Park, 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 Iowa Park, TX
Aim for roughly 252 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laredo, TX
Aim for roughly 252 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 111 miles from Iowa Park, 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 South US Highway 281 for about 153.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
167 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
333 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 Fair Oaks Ranch, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
252 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Leander, TX after about 252 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 111 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 252.4 miles from Iowa Park, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South US Highway 281 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 252 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 349.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Yosemite Street
Turn left onto North Yosemite Street
Navigation decision point
6
9.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
US 287 / Northwest Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 287 / Northwest Freeway toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, US 287 South: Wichita Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 44 West, US 277 South, US 281 South, U...
6
347.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Laredo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South: Laredo
8
347.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 43m 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
349.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 46m 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
$76.29 one way
$152.58 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
177 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $83.51 | $167.01 |
| premium | $4.54 | $90.15 | $180.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $111.48 | $222.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 176.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 151.5 | 1 | $53.01 | $24.24 |
| Efficient EV | 126.2 | 1 | $44.18 | $20.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 202 | 2 | $70.69 | $32.31 |
Gas CO2
177 kg
EV CO2
59 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.
Destination
Laredo, TX
Afternoon in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live 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.
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
28 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
9h 25m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
The personality of this drive is largely defined by its highway segments, making up 69% of the total mileage. You'll encounter some longer stretches of uninterrupted driving, including a notable 153.7-mile segment on South US Highway 281. While there are moments of pure highway efficiency, the route also incorporates sections of US 281. This mix means you'll experience periods of faster travel interspersed with potentially more varied scenery and traffic as you navigate through different towns and landscapes across Texas.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 153.7 mi on South US Highway 281.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 9h 25m, 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 early in the drive near North Yosemite Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 504.9 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: near the start (North Yosemite Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 347.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Iowa Park, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 536: Houston along the way.
Spur 536: Houston
349.6 mi in
|
~6h 46m
|
via I 10; US 87
About the Cities
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 153.7 miles on South US Highway 281. 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 252 miles on day one.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Yosemite Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.7 miles (US 287 / Northwest Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 347.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.4 hours each way, a round trip means 18.9 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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