Laredo, TX to Richmond, TX is 286.1 miles and takes about 5h 37m via US 59, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, traversing parts of the Great Plains region on both ends. Expect a predominantly highway experience for the majority of your trip. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey. Consider this a straightforward path connecting two points with minimal complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143.1 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 59
159.7 mi
3h 2m
Lloyd Bentsen Highway
57.6 mi
1h 1m
US Highway 59 East
47.7 mi
53m
Clark Boulevard
3 mi
5m
US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
2 mi
4m
Avenue H
1.9 mi
3m
Spur 529
1.8 mi
3m
Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 59
— 159.7 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Richmond, 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 San Dario Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·San Dario Avenue
4
Turn right onto Park Street
0.3 mi·34 sec·Park Street
5
Continue on Clark Boulevard
3.0 mi·5 min·Clark Boulevard
6
Turn left onto Bob Bullock Loop
0.8 mi·1 min·Bob Bullock Loop
7
Take the ramp
231 ft·6 sec
8
Merge onto US 59
1.1 mi·1 min·East Saunders Street
9
Continue on US 59
58 mi·1 hr 1 min·Lloyd Bentsen Highway
10
Turn left onto US 59
67 mi·1 hr 18 min·US 59
11
Continue on US 59
1.6 mi·3 min·West Houston Street
12
Continue on US 59
48 mi·53 min·US Highway 59 East
13
Take the exit onto Northwest Zac Lentz Parkway
0.5 mi·1 min·Northwest Zac Lentz Parkway
14
Merge onto US 59; US 77
93 mi·1 hr 43 min·US 59; US 77
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
16
Continue on 59 Northbound Frontage Road
1.6 mi·2 min·59 Northbound Frontage Road
17
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·58 sec·this road
18
Continue on US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
2.0 mi·4 min·US 59 Northbound Frontage Road
19
Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
1.7 mi·3 min·Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
20
Turn left
0.2 mi·39 sec
21
Continue on Kroesche Road
0.3 mi·50 sec·Kroesche Road
22
Turn right onto Spur 529
1.8 mi·3 min·Spur 529
23
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 1640
1.6 mi·2 min·Avenue I
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 Alt
1.9 mi·3 min·Avenue H
25
Continue on US 90 Alt
0.9 mi·1 min·Jackson Street
26
Arrive at destination
US 90 Alt
Trip Plan
For this 5h 37m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure ample daylight for arrival. Given the manageable distance, you only need one stop, so plan it strategically around the halfway point or where you feel ready to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 159.7-mile stretch on US 59, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $42 should be sufficient for most vehicles on this route. This drive is straightforward enough that you have flexibility in your departure time if needed.
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 143.1 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 159.7 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 63 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.1 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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 286.1 miles and 5h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 US 59 for about 159.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 281.8 — 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
4
1 mi into trip|~2m in|Park Street
Turn right onto Park Street
Navigation decision point
4
4.4 mi into trip|~8m in|Bob Bullock Loop
Turn left onto Bob Bullock Loop
Navigation decision point
5
179.7 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|Northwest Zac Lentz Parkway
Take the exit onto Northwest Zac Lentz Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
281.8 mi into trip|~5h 30m in|FM 1640 / Avenue I
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 1640 / Avenue I
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.19 one way
$78.37 round trip
$3.48/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.89
$43.77
$87.54
premium
$4.23
$47.59
$95.18
diesel
$4.80
$54.02
$108.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.8
1
$30.04
$13.73
Efficient EV
71.5
0
$25.03
$11.44
EV Truck/SUV
114.4
1
$40.05
$18.31
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Laredo, TX
Late night
in Laredo on Tuesday
Local time
5:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 16 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:53PM CDT until July 21 at 3:54AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:52PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Destination
Richmond, TX
Late night
in Richmond on Tuesday
Local time
5:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 0 to 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:53PM CDT until July 21 at 3:54AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:52PM CDT until July 20 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX
95°F
Victoria, TX
143 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
3 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
5h 37m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 route is largely a highway cruise, with 74% of the drive on major roads like US 59 and Lloyd Bentsen Highway. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 159.7 miles on US 59 without needing to exit for other roads. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur gradually as you approach your destination. Be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits along the primary corridor.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 159.7 mi on US 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 59 and Lloyd Bentsen Highway. You will hit about 11 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 Effort5/10
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 286.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 1 miles (Park Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (Bob Bullock Loop): Navigation decision point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 37m. Total distance: 286.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 159.7 miles on US 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (San Dario Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (Park Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (Bob Bullock Loop): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Richmond, TX before the return drive.
