Origin
Kirby, TX
Late night in Kirby on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kirby, 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
2h 53m
Distance
164.2 mi
264 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kirby, TX
Thomas balabaud
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Kirby, TX to Laredo, TX is 164.2 miles and takes about 2h 53m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily traverses the Great Plains region, moving from one part of Texas to another. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and a more local feel rather than a straightforward interstate journey. With a drive time under three hours, this is a very manageable same-day trip, perfect for a quick transit or a leisurely start to the day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.1 miles from Kirby, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 144.5 mi | 2h 26m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 6.1 mi | 7m |
| Seguin Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Old Seguin Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Vinecrest Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Interstate 35 North | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Houston Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 144.5 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kirby, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on Redding Drive
22 ft
·
3 sec
·
Redding Drive
2
Turn right onto Vinecrest Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vinecrest Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Old Seguin Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Seguin Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto FM 78
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Seguin Road
5
Continue on FM 78
133 ft
·
6 sec
·
Old Seguin Road
Use the right lane.
6
Turn right onto Northeast Loop 410
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Northeast Loop 410
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left onto Binz-Engleman Road
515 ft
·
21 sec
·
Binz-Engleman Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto Interstate 35 North
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Interstate 35 North
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 35 South
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto I 35
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
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.
13
Continue on I 35
144 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Houston Street
15
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Salinas Avenue
16
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft
·
5 sec
·
Matamoros Street
17
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under 3 hours, you can depart Kirby, TX at your convenience. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any early rush hour and to allow for a relaxed pace. The longest stretch is 144.5 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, so plan your fuel stop before you begin this segment, as it’s the most substantial part of the drive. With only one recommended stop and a low fuel cost of about $25, this trip offers a lot of flexibility.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 82.1 miles from Kirby, TX, or about 1h 30m 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 36 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.1 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 23m
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 Kirby, 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 Kirby, TX
This is one driving day of about 164.2 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Kirby, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 82.1 miles from Kirby, 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 144.5 miles.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 8.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Old Seguin Road
At end of road, turn left onto Old Seguin Road
Navigation decision point
7
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Northeast Loop 410
Turn right onto Northeast Loop 410
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35 South
8
6.8 mi into trip
|
~11m 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
8.9 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
$24.81 one way
$49.62 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $27.16 | $54.32 |
| premium | $4.54 | $29.32 | $58.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.25 | $72.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.3 | 0 | $17.24 | $7.88 |
| Efficient EV | 41.1 | 0 | $14.37 | $6.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.7 | 0 | $22.99 | $10.51 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Late night in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
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.
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
7 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
2h 53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 11.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting you'll navigate a series of local roads and expressways rather than a continuous interstate. The highway share is only 10%, meaning much of your journey will be on less direct roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 144.5 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which will likely be the most uninterrupted part of your drive. Be prepared for a dynamic experience with frequent changes in direction and road type as you make your way south.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Old Seguin Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 164.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Old Seguin Road): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Northeast Loop 410): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: 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 Kirby, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 536: Houston along the way.
Spur 536: Houston
8.9 mi in
|
~14m
|
via I 10; US 87
About the Cities
Starting in Kirby, TX
Full guide →Founded 1955
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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 164.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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.
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 0.4 miles (Old Seguin Road): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Northeast Loop 410): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Laredo, TX before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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