This 414.7-mile journey from Laredo, TX to Monahans, TX is estimated to take about 8 hours and 4 minutes of driving time. Given the duration and the nature of the route, it's best planned as a two-day trip to allow for a comfortable pace. You'll be navigating local roads primarily, with San Dario Avenue and Purple Heart Trail leading you to US 83 North for much of the way. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $63. Both your origin and destination are situated within the Great Plains region, so expect a consistent landscape throughout. This trip is designed for those who prefer a more connected-to-the-ground experience over highway speed.
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
207.4 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 90 West
112.9 mi
2h 7m
US Highway 285
63.4 mi
1h 12m
US Highway 83 North
62.2 mi
1h 4m
Del Río Boulevard
47.5 mi
54m
Peña Street
42.1 mi
48m
North Front Street
32.6 mi
48m
Purple Heart Trail
17.7 mi
19m
South Stockton Avenue
16.8 mi
25m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 90 West
— 112.9 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Monahans, 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
18 mi·19 min·Purple Heart Trail
4
Take the exit onto US 83
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 83
Exit 18Toward US 83 North: Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
5
Turn left onto US 83
484 ft·7 sec·US Highway 83 North
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 83
62 mi·1 hr 4 min·US Highway 83 North
7
Continue on US 83
0.3 mi·30 sec·South 1st Street
8
Turn left onto US 277
42 mi·48 min·Peña Street
9
Take the exit
230 ft·6 sec
10
Merge onto US 277
2.7 mi·4 min·North Veterans Boulevard
11
Turn right onto US 277
48 mi·54 min·Del Río Boulevard
12
Turn right onto Loop 79
12 mi·12 min·Judge Mike L Fernandez Loop
13
Take the exit onto Loop 79
0.1 mi·17 sec·Loop 79
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·21 sec
15
Merge onto US 90
6.8 mi·7 min·US Highway 90 West
16
Continue on US 90
0.1 mi·7 sec·United States Highway 90
17
Merge onto US 90
106 mi·2 hr·US Highway 90 West
18
Continue on US 90
2.0 mi·2 min·East Oak Street
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
20
Merge onto US 285
63 mi·1 hr 12 min·US Highway 285
21
Continue on US 285
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Alamo Street
22
Turn left onto I 10 Bus; US 285; US 385
0.7 mi·56 sec·East Dickinson Boulevard
23
Turn right onto TX 18
33 mi·48 min·North Front Street
24
Continue on TX 18
17 mi·25 min·South Stockton Avenue
25
Continue on TX 18
0.4 mi·42 sec·South Main Avenue
26
Turn right
104 ft·7 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 8-hour drive, consider splitting it into two days with one overnight stop. This allows for ample time to manage the numerous turns and local road segments. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours for navigation. With two recommended stops along the way, plan to break up the journey into manageable segments, perhaps around the 4-hour driving mark each day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as local roads can sometimes have fewer services than major highways. A good tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with US 83 North beforehand, as it will be your primary artery for a significant portion of the trip.
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 207.4 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 3h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.9 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 91 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 207.4 miles or 3h 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 207.4 miles or 3h 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 6h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monahans, 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 207 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Monahans, TX
Aim for roughly 207 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 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 US Highway 90 West for about 112.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 185.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|San Dario Avenue
Turn left onto San Dario Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
18.1 mi into trip|~19m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North: Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward US 83 North: Carrizo Springs, Uvalde
4
18.6 mi into trip|~20m in|US 83 / US Highway 83 North
At end of road, turn right onto US 83 / US Highway 83 North
Navigation decision point
4
81 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|US 277 / Peña Street
Turn left onto US 277 / Peña Street
Navigation decision point
5
185.3 mi into trip|~3h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.66 one way
$125.32 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg145 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$68.59
$137.18
premium
$4.54
$74.04
$148.08
diesel
$5.61
$91.56
$183.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$193–$303
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 145.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
124.4
1
$43.54
$19.91
Efficient EV
103.7
1
$36.29
$16.59
EV Truck/SUV
165.9
2
$58.06
$26.54
Gas CO2
145 kg
EV CO2
49 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Laredo, TX
Night
in Laredo on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Monahans, TX
Night
in Monahans on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
27 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
8h 4m 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.
Amistad National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
An oasis in the desert, Amistad National Recreation Area consists of the US portion of the International Amistad Reservoir. Amistad, a Spanish word meaning "friendship," is known for excellent water-b...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 200.2
Park Closure: Diablo East Marina Cove, Scuba Cove, and Walkway Access Are Closed
Caution: Help Prevent Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Infestation
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a highway share of 0%. This means you'll be experiencing the road at a more intimate pace, likely with frequent turns and changes in scenery as you navigate through towns and local thoroughfares. The absence of long highway stretches means you'll be engaged with the driving consistently. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the overall profile suggests a drive that keeps you actively involved rather than on a monotonous interstate cruise. This is a route where you'll be seeing the local flavor up close.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.9 mi on US Highway 90 West.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near San Dario Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 414.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.3 miles (San Dario Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 18.1 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.6 miles (US 83 / US Highway 83 North): Navigation decision point.
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 112.9 miles on US Highway 90 West. 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 207 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 Monahans, 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: at 0.3 miles (San Dario Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 18.1 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.6 miles (US 83 / US Highway 83 North): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Amistad National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Monahans, TX before the return drive.
