Main Event Laredo
Near the start, short detour
Laredo, Texas
Hours: 11 am–12 pm
+19567222695
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 5m
Distance
452.2 mi
728 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Mauriceville, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Laredo, TX to Mauriceville, TX is 452.2 miles and takes about 8h 5m via I 10, Purple Heart Trail, and East Freeway, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Given the distance and duration, it's best suited for an overnight trip, especially if you want to avoid driving too late. You'll mostly be on highways, making for a straightforward drive across 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
226.1 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 54m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 151.1 mi | 2h 34m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 144.4 mi | 2h 27m |
| East Freeway | 92.4 mi | 1h 44m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 22.2 mi | 23m |
| Katy Freeway | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Jose Lopez Freeway | 8 mi | 9m |
| TX 12 | 8 mi | 12m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 112 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,333 veh/hr typical · worst 4,130
Quietest
2 AM
~412 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Mauriceville, TX.
Start on Matamoros Street
Turn left onto San Dario Avenue
Continue on I 35; I 27; US 83
Continue on I 35
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 10; US 87; US 90
Continue on I 10; US 90
Continue on I 10; TX 130
Take the exit
Merge onto I 10 Toll
Take the exit
Merge onto I 10; US 90
Continue on I 10; US 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
Take the exit onto TX 12
Turn right onto TX 12
Turn right onto FM 1136
Turn left onto FM 1130
Arrive at destination
With an 8-hour drive, splitting this trip into two days is highly recommended. Aim to leave Laredo in the morning to give yourself ample time for a stop. Consider breaking up the drive around the halfway point to ensure you're not fatigued. Keep an eye on fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a major town could be over 150 miles. Planning for two stops along the route will help break up the driving and provide opportunities for breaks.
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.
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 99 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 226.1 miles or 3h 54m 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 226.1 miles or 3h 54m
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 6h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mauriceville, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 226 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Mauriceville, TX
Aim for roughly 226 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
226 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 San Antonio, TXNight 1
226 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near San Antonio, TX after about 226 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 99 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 226.1 miles from Laredo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 226 miles or 4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Near the start, short detour
Laredo, Texas
Hours: 11 am–12 pm
+19567222695
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~11 min detour
Pearsall, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18303348222
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Beaumont, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+14097949453
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Laredo, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19567280404
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Wallisville, Texas
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+14093892252
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Laredo, Texas
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+19567952350
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Katy, Texas
Hours: 6 am–9 pm
+12813914840
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Katy, Texas
Hours: 11 am–11 pm
+18329742201
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, short detour
Pearsall, Texas
+12104194442
Visit websiteLater in the drive, ~9 min detour
Katy, Texas
Hours: 8:30 am–6 pm
+12816664217
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 153.2 and 368.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 10 East, US 90 West, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston, Del Rio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 10 Toll: Katy Tollway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / East Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / East Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$61.94 one way
$123.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $69.18 | $138.37 |
| premium | $4.23 | $75.22 | $150.44 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $85.38 | $170.77 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Tolls
$0
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$192–$302
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 158.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 135.7 | 1 | $47.48 | $21.71 |
| Efficient EV | 113.1 | 1 | $39.57 | $18.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 180.9 | 2 | $63.31 | $28.94 |
Gas CO2
158 kg
EV CO2
53 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Laredo on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Cloudy
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 15 at 6:01PM CDT until July 15 at 6:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Dust Advisory
Dust Advisory issued July 15 at 4:59PM MDT until July 15 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Destination
Late night in Mauriceville on Tuesday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 15 at 6:01PM CDT until July 15 at 6:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Dust Advisory
Dust Advisory issued July 15 at 4:59PM MDT until July 15 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
This route is mostly highway, with 62% of the drive on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 151.1 miles on I 10 before transitioning to other highways. Expect the highway portion to end as you approach your destination, transitioning to surface roads. The frequent exits on the interstate suggest a well-traveled corridor.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 153.2 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 452.2 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 153.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 153.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 335 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
472 ft
Total Descent
863 ft
Highest Point
797 ft
~129.2 mi in
Elevation Range
783 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Laredo, TX and Mauriceville, TX, road signs point toward Del Rio, Austin and Waco.
Del Rio
Austin
Waco
“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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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