Laredo to Progreso is 167 miles and takes about 3 hours 19 minutes via United States Highway 83, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region. It offers a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day trip without requiring an overnight stop. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface streets as you make your way south.
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
83.5 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
United States Highway 83
62 mi
1h 9m
La Joya Bypass
37.8 mi
42m
North Grant Street
17.4 mi
20m
East US Highway 83
15.1 mi
17m
US Highway 83 South
14.2 mi
15m
South Zapata Highway
5.4 mi
7m
International Boulevard
4.8 mi
8m
West Expressway 83
3.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
United States Highway 83
— 62 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Progreso, TX.
1
Start on Matamoros Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Matamoros Street
2
Continue on US 83
1.0 mi·2 min·Chihuahua Street
3
Turn right onto North Meadow Avenue
2.0 mi·4 min·North Meadow Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 83
5.4 mi·7 min·South Zapata Highway
5
Continue on US 83
14 mi·15 min·US Highway 83 South
6
Continue on US 83
54 mi·1 hr 1 min·United States Highway 83
7
Continue on US 83
17 mi·20 min·North Grant Street
8
Continue on US 83
7.7 mi·8 min·United States Highway 83
9
Continue on US 83
0.4 mi·32 sec·West Main Street
10
Continue on US 83
1.9 mi·2 min·East Main Street
11
Continue on US 83
15 mi·17 min·East US Highway 83
12
Continue on US 83
3.1 mi·3 min·West Expressway 83
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 83
38 mi·42 min·La Joya Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 160Toward FM 1015: International BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto East Expressway 83
0.8 mi·1 min·East Expressway 83
16
Turn right onto FM 1015
3.4 mi·5 min·International Boulevard
17
Continue on FM 1015 Spur
1.4 mi·3 min·International Boulevard
18
Turn left onto East Palm Avenue
430 ft·18 sec·East Palm Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
East Palm Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 19-minute drive time, departing in the morning allows ample time to reach Progreso before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your trip; consider a brief break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $24, and plan to refuel before leaving Laredo or in a larger town along US-83 if needed. The transition to surface streets near Progreso means paying closer attention to speed limits and local traffic.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83.5 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 37 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.5 miles or 1h 39m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Progreso, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Laredo, TX
This is one driving day of about 167 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Laredo, 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 United States Highway 83 for about 62 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 166.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|North Meadow Avenue
Turn right onto North Meadow Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
3.7 mi into trip|~8m in|US 83 / South Zapata Highway
Turn right onto US 83 / South Zapata Highway
Navigation decision point
6
123.2 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|US 83 / La Joya Bypass
Keep slight left at fork onto US 83 / La Joya Bypass
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
161 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward FM 1015: International Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 160
Toward FM 1015: International Boulevard
4
166.9 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|East Palm Avenue
Turn left onto East Palm Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.23 one way
$48.47 round trip
$3.69/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.08
$26.79
$53.58
premium
$4.42
$29.09
$58.17
diesel
$5.65
$37.16
$74.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-24.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.61
$6.68
EV Truck/SUV
66.8
0
$23.38
$10.69
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Aug 23, 2026
Origin
Laredo, TX
Late night
in Laredo on Wednesday
Local time
12:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 7 to 13 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued August 22 at 11:02PM CDT until August 23 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 22 at 10:48PM CDT until August 23 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Progreso, TX
Late night
in Progreso on Wednesday
Local time
12:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 5 to 9 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued August 22 at 11:02PM CDT until August 23 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 22 at 10:48PM CDT until August 23 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
103°F
Roma, TX
84 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.
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
4 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
3h 19m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 57% highway, featuring a longest stretch of 62 miles on United States Highway 83. You'll transition from highway to surface roads, with the La Joya Bypass and North Grant Street making up the latter part of the route. Be prepared for a shift from more open highway speeds to navigating local streets as you approach your destination.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62 mi on United States Highway 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near North Meadow Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Laredo, TX to Progreso, TX is easy. At 3h 19m with 57% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (North Meadow Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 83 / South Zapata Highway): Navigation decision point; at 123.2 miles (US 83 / La Joya Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62 miles on United States Highway 83. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (North Meadow Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 83 / South Zapata Highway): Navigation decision point; at 123.2 miles (US 83 / La Joya Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Progreso, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
