Origin
Laredo, TX
Late night in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laredo, TX to Scissors, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 10m
Distance
159.9 mi
257 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 59m
★
6 AM
3h 11m
8 AM
3h 34m
10 AM
3h 19m
12 PM
3h 17m
3 PM
3h 20m
5 PM
3h 33m
8 PM
3h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Scissors, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 159.9-mile journey from Laredo, TX to Scissors, TX is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take around 3 hours and 10 minutes. The drive primarily utilizes United States Highway 83, with portions on the La Joya Bypass and North Grant Street, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, this route is budget-friendly for a single day's adventure. Both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, suggesting a consistent landscape throughout your travel. This is a straightforward drive that doesn't necessarily require an overnight stop.
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
79.9 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| United States Highway 83 | 62 mi | 1h 9m |
| La Joya Bypass | 32.8 mi | 37m |
| 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 |
| West Expressway 83 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| North Salinas Boulevard | 2.8 mi | 4m |
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 Scissors, 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
33 mi
·
37 min
·
La Joya Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 155A
Toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto Expressway 83
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Expressway 83
16
Turn right onto FM 493
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
North Salinas Boulevard
17
Turn right onto Lott Road
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Lott Road
18
Turn left onto Grande Street
362 ft
·
17 sec
·
Grande Street
19
Turn right onto Cortez Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Cortez Street
20
Arrive at destination
Cortez Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single day's travel, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 62-mile stretch on US-83, as it's the longest continuous segment. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to make it a quick break or a more leisurely pause. The $24 fuel cost is a good estimate to factor into your budget for this trip.
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 79.9 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 1h 35m 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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.9 miles or 1h 35m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scissors, 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 159.9 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.9 miles from Laredo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before United States Highway 83 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 159.7 — 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
156.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 2m in
Take the exit toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 155A
Toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard
5
159.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
Cortez Street
Turn right onto Cortez Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.16 one way
$48.32 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $26.45 | $52.89 |
| premium | $4.54 | $28.55 | $57.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.30 | $70.61 |
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: 55.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48 | 0 | $16.79 | $7.68 |
| Efficient EV | 40 | 0 | $13.99 | $6.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64 | 0 | $22.39 | $10.23 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Scissors, TX
Late night in Scissors on Sunday
Local time
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
94°F
Roma, TX
80 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
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 10m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 59% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 62 miles along United States Highway 83, providing a good opportunity to settle in. While not a pure highway grind, the road does offer moments of faster travel interspersed with more local road sections. The character of the drive is likely to be practical, focusing on efficient travel between the two Texas points, rather than overtly scenic.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 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?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near North Meadow Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 10m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
About the Cities
Starting in Laredo, TX
Full guide →“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
- • Cathedral of San Agustin — historic place in Laredo, Webb County, Texas
- • Fort McIntosh — historic district in Laredo, Webb County, Texas
- • San Agustin de Laredo Historic District — historic district in Laredo, Webb County, Texas
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 159.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Straightforward navigation.
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 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Scissors, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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