Laredo, TX to Marshall, TX is 523.2 miles and takes about 9h 31m via Purple Heart Trail and State Highway 31, with a fuel budget near $83 and likely best split over two days. This long-haul drive primarily stays within the Great Plains region, traversing Texas from south to north. Given the significant distance and duration, planning for an overnight stop is advisable to avoid fatigue. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive across a large 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
261.6 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 37m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 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 Laredo, TX and Marshall, TX.
1
Start on Matamoros Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·Matamoros Street
2
Turn left onto San Dario Avenue
0.1 mi·11 sec·San Dario Avenue
3
Continue on I 35; I 27; US 83
144 mi·2 hr 27 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 35
9.3 mi·11 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
1.7 mi·2 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
10 mi·13 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson CityUse the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway
7.4 mi·8 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35: AustinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi·2 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
48 mi·52 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi·1 hr 40 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
6.0 mi·6 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 338Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead DriveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.3 mi·30 sec·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
15
Turn right onto US 84
0.3 mi·52 sec·East Waco Drive
16
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi·4 min·Bellmead Drive
17
Continue on US 84
2.7 mi·3 min·East US Highway 84
18
Continue on TX 31
17 mi·17 min·State Highway 31
19
Continue on TX 31
5.3 mi·5 min·Hubbard Bypass
20
Continue on TX 31
19 mi·21 min·State Highway 31
21
Turn right onto TX 31
12 mi·13 min·Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto TX 31
9.3 mi·10 min·East State Highway 31
23
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi·11 min·Northeast 2nd Street
24
Continue on TX 31
5.3 mi·6 min·West Royall Boulevard
25
Continue on TX 31
4.1 mi·4 min·State Highway 31 West
26
Turn left onto TX 31
0.2 mi·34 sec·TX 31
27
Merge onto TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi·7 min·Jed Robinson Loop
28
Take the exit onto TX 31
0.3 mi·46 sec·TX 31
29
Turn left onto TX 31
21 mi·24 min·State Highway 31 East
30
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi·2 min·West Highway 31
31
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi·6 min·State Highway 31 West
32
Continue on TX 31
1.9 mi·2 min·Chandler Highway
33
Continue on TX 31
29 mi·34 min·West Front Street
34
Turn left onto US 259 Business; TX 31
1.4 mi·1 min·US Highway 259 Business North
35
Continue on US 259; TX 31
0.7 mi·44 sec·US Highway 259 North
36
Take the exit onto US 259
21 mi·22 min·US 259
Toward I 20 East: ShreveportUse the straight lane.
37
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward FM 3251
38
Turn left onto FM 3251
0.8 mi·1 min·FM 3251
39
Turn right onto FM 968
2.7 mi·3 min·FM 968 West
40
Turn right onto US 80
4.7 mi·5 min·US 80
41
Turn right onto North Wellington Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·North Wellington Street
42
Turn left onto West Houston Street
277 ft·5 sec·West Houston Street
43
Arrive at destination
West Houston Street
Trip Plan
For this 9.5-hour drive, it's best to break it up over two days. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for two planned stops along the way. The longest stretch on the Purple Heart Trail is nearly 300 miles, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment. Consider an overnight stop around the halfway point to make the drive more manageable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway driving to State Highway 31.
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 261.6 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 4h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 299.7 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 115 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 261.6 miles or 4h 37m 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 261.6 miles or 4h 37m
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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marshall, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laredo, 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 Laredo, TX
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Marshall, TX
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 115 miles from Laredo, 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 299.7 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 154.2 and 336.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
154.2 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
155.9 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christ...
7
166.4 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Austin
6
235.3 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
336.9 mi into trip|~5h 57m in
Take the exit toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
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 338
Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$83.65 one way
$167.30 round trip
$4.06/gal25.4 MPG avg183 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$91.97
$183.94
premium
$4.79
$98.63
$197.25
diesel
$5.52
$113.77
$227.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$84
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$214–$324
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 183.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-25.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
157
1
$54.94
$25.11
Efficient EV
130.8
1
$45.78
$20.93
EV Truck/SUV
209.3
2
$73.25
$33.48
Gas CO2
183 kg
EV CO2
61 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.
Forecast as of May 26, 2026
Origin
Laredo, TX
Evening
in Laredo on Wednesday
Local time
8:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
ESE 7 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Marshall, TX
Evening
in Marshall on Wednesday
Local time
8:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
0 mph17% chanceLive 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
6 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
9h 31m 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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 342.8
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
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 162.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 29% of your time on highways, with the remaining 71% on state and local roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 299.7 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. After this, you'll transition to State Highway 31 and eventually West Front Street, indicating a shift towards more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you approach your destination.
29% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 299.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
At 9h 31m, 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 154.2 miles in near I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 523.2 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 154.2 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.9 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.4 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
773 ft309 ft
Total Climb
581 ft
Total Descent
582 ft
Highest Point
773 ft
~261.6 mi in
Elevation Range
465 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 Marshall, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi and Johnson City.
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 299.7 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 262 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 42 rest areas or service plazas 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 Marshall, 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 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 154.2 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.9 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.4 miles (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 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Marshall, TX before the return drive.
