Laredo, TX to Seminole, TX is 489.4 miles and takes about 9 hours 3 minutes via US 385, I 10, and US Highway 83 North, with a fuel budget near $71 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive spans across Texas, starting in the Great Plains region and ending in the same region. It's a predominantly highway route, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. Given the duration, it's best suited for an overnight stop if you prefer a more relaxed pace, or a long day of driving if you're aiming to reach your destination quickly.
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
244.7 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 385
101.6 mi
1h 53m
I 10
92.1 mi
1h 26m
US Highway 83 North
62.2 mi
1h 4m
North US Highway 83
46.8 mi
53m
East Antonio Street
36.6 mi
41m
North Texas Highway 55
32.7 mi
37m
South Texas Highway 55
25.4 mi
28m
US 277
21.6 mi
24m
Longest stretch:
US 385
— 101.6 mi, about 1h 53m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,105 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,387
Quietest
2 AM
~161 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 89 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Seminole, 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
1.7 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
8
Continue on US 83
47 mi·53 min·North US Highway 83
9
Continue on US 83
1.2 mi·1 min·Crystal City Highway
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 83
1.9 mi·2 min·South Getty Street
11
Continue on US 83
0.6 mi·48 sec·Milam Street
12
Turn left onto TX 55
37 mi·41 min·East Antonio Street
13
Continue on TX 55
1.0 mi·2 min·South Nueces Street
14
Continue on TX 55
3.6 mi·4 min·North State Highway 55
15
Continue on TX 55
25 mi·28 min·South Texas Highway 55
16
Turn left onto US 377; TX 55
0.5 mi·33 sec·East Main Street
17
Continue on TX 55
33 mi·37 min·North Texas Highway 55
18
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 55
0.1 mi·9 sec·TX 55
19
Merge onto US 277
22 mi·24 min·US 277
20
Turn left onto US 277; Loop 467
1.4 mi·2 min·South Crockett Avenue
21
Continue on Loop 467
0.2 mi·22 sec·North Crockett Avenue
22
Turn left onto North Service Road
291 ft·6 sec·North Service Road
23
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 10 West: Fort Stockton
24
Merge onto I 10
92 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 10
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 307Toward US 190, FM 305: Iraan, McCamey
26
Continue on I 10 Service Road
0.1 mi·18 sec·I 10 Service Road
27
Turn right onto US 190
4.0 mi·5 min·US 190
28
Turn left onto FM 305
18 mi·26 min·Farm to Market Road 305
29
Continue on FM 305
2.3 mi·3 min·South Burleson Avenue
30
Continue on US 385
47 mi·53 min·US 385
31
Turn left onto Loop 338
14 mi·16 min·Southwest Loop 338
32
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward US 385: Odessa, Andrews
33
Turn left onto US 385
54 mi·1 hr·US 385
34
Turn right onto US 180
46 ft·0 sec·East Avenue A
35
Arrive at destination
US 180
Trip Plan
For this 9-hour drive, consider leaving early to maximize daylight, especially if you plan to complete it in one go. If you prefer to break it up, Seminole, TX is a logical overnight destination, allowing for about 4.5 hours of driving each day. Plan for roughly 2 stops along the way, which should be sufficient for fuel and a meal. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, particularly during the 101.6-mile stretch on US 385, as services might be more spread out in that section.
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 244.7 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 4h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.6 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 108 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 244.7 miles or 4h 33m 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 244.7 miles or 4h 33m
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 7h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seminole, 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 245 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Seminole, TX
Aim for roughly 245 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 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 385 for about 101.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 434.6 — 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
6
348.2 mi into trip|~6h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 190, FM 305: Iraan, McCamey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 307
Toward US 190, FM 305: Iraan, McCamey
5
434.6 mi into trip|~8h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 385: Odessa, Andrews
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 385: Odessa, Andrews
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.93 one way
$149.86 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg171 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.29
$82.70
$165.39
premium
$4.64
$89.36
$178.73
diesel
$6.18
$119.06
$238.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$205–$315
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 171.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
146.8
1
$51.39
$23.49
Efficient EV
122.4
1
$42.82
$19.58
EV Truck/SUV
195.8
2
$68.52
$31.32
Gas CO2
171 kg
EV CO2
57 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Laredo, TX
Afternoon
in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
12:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 18 at 2:18AM CDT until October 20 at 7:32PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:12AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
Destination
Seminole, TX
Afternoon
in Seminole on Sunday
Local time
12:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 18 at 2:18AM CDT until October 20 at 7:32PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 2:12AM CDT until October 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX
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
16 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
9h 3m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 80% of the 489.4 miles on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 101.6 miles on US 385, offering a good opportunity for steady cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur at some point, but the majority of your time will be spent on the interstate and US highways, suggesting fewer interruptions and more consistent speeds.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.6 mi on US 385.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 385 and I 10. You will hit about 19 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 489.4 miles you will encounter 19 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,297 ft413 ft
Total Climb
3,630 ft
Total Descent
746 ft
Highest Point
3,297 ft
~489.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,884 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Laredo, TX and Seminole, TX, road signs point toward Fm 305: Iraan, Mccamey and Andrews.
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.6 miles on US 385. 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 245 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 21 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Seminole, 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. There are 21 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 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Seminole, TX before the return drive.
