The drive from Laredo, TX to Dimmitt, TX covers 616.6 miles and takes about 10h 47m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, I 10, US 84 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-haul drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 139.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $89.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
308.3 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 19m into the drive
.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 32
5 decision points cluster between mile 140 and 266.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
140 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward Loop 1604: Somerset
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 140
Toward Loop 1604: Somerset
6
148.4 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop
Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
164.6 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward Valero Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Valero Way
6
167.5 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
266.2 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 456
Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$89.46 one way
$178.91 round trip
$3.69/gal25.4 MPG avg216 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.08
$99.12
$198.23
premium
$4.43
$107.59
$215.18
diesel
$5.60
$135.92
$271.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$89
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$219–$329
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 215.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $65 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
185
2
$64.74
$29.60
Efficient EV
154.2
1
$53.95
$24.66
EV Truck/SUV
246.6
3
$86.32
$39.46
Gas CO2
216 kg
EV CO2
72 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Laredo, TX
Late night
in Laredo on Wednesday
Local time
1:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
106°F
Sunny
ESE 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 1 at 5:38PM CDT until September 1 at 7:30PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 4:56PM CDT until September 2 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Destination
Dimmitt, TX
Late night
in Dimmitt on Wednesday
Local time
1:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
SSE 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 1 at 5:38PM CDT until September 1 at 7:30PM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 4:56PM CDT until September 2 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Lake Charles LA
100°F
Sweetwater, TX
407 mi in
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
11 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
10h 47m 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.
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 148.8
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 191.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
616.6 mi / 10h 47m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: Purple Heart Trail.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
50 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.6 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 10h 47m, 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 around 140 miles in.
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 32 significant decision points across 616.6 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 140 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.4 miles (Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,874 ft413 ft
Total Climb
4,223 ft
Total Descent
762 ft
Highest Point
3,874 ft
~616.6 mi in
Elevation Range
3,460 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Laredo, TX and Dimmitt, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604: Somerset, Menard and Lubbock.
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.6 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 308 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 Dimmitt, 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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 140 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.4 miles (Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.8 hours each way, a round trip means 21.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dimmitt, TX before the return drive.
