Main Event Laredo
Near the start, short detour
Laredo, Texas
Hours: 11 am–12 pm
+19567222695
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10h 38m
Distance
609.3 mi
981 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$92
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Tulia, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Embarking on a journey from Laredo, TX, to Tulia, TX, covers a substantial 609.3 miles and will take approximately 10 hours and 38 minutes of driving time. This long-distance drive, primarily utilizing the Purple Heart Trail and I-10 before transitioning to US 84, is best split over two days. With an estimated fuel cost of $92 and three planned stops, it's a significant undertaking across the Texas landscape. Given both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, you can expect a consistent, open-road feel for much of this trip.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
304.7 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 15m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 139.6 mi | 2h 22m |
| I 10 | 99.8 mi | 1h 38m |
| US 84 | 74.5 mi | 1h 14m |
| Marshall Formby Memorial Highway | 73 mi | 1h 14m |
| Frisco Avenue | 41.9 mi | 44m |
| State Highway 153 | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| North Main Street | 29.3 mi | 30m |
| Anderson Loop | 24.2 mi | 29m |
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Tulia, TX.
Start on Matamoros Street
Turn left onto San Dario Avenue
Continue on I 35; I 27; US 83
Take the exit
Continue on Interstate 35 South
Turn left onto Loop 1604
Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 1604
Take the exit
Turn straight onto North Loop 1604 West
Turn left onto Interstate 10 West
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Take the exit onto US 83
Turn right onto US 83; US 377
Continue on US 83
Continue on US 83
Turn right onto US 67; US 83
Turn left onto TX 158
Turn right onto FM 2111
Turn left onto TX 153
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
Turn right onto TX 70
Continue on TX 70
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20; US 84
Take the exit onto US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
Turn right onto Loop 46
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
Turn straight onto TX 207
Turn left onto Spur 575
Turn right onto US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto Interstate 27
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 27; US 87
Take the exit
Continue on I-27 Frontage Road
Turn right onto TX 86
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 86
Turn right onto TX 86
Continue on TX 86
Arrive at destination
To best manage this 10-hour drive, plan for an early morning departure from Laredo to maximize daylight. Splitting the journey over two days is highly recommended; aim to cover roughly half the distance on your first day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 139.6-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services may be less frequent. With three recommended stops, you'll have opportunities to rest and refuel, ensuring a comfortable pace for your travel.
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.
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 134 miles or 2h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 304.7 miles or 5h 15m 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 304.7 miles or 5h 15m
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 9h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tulia, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 305 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tulia, TX
Aim for roughly 305 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
201 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
402 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Sweetwater, TXNight 1
305 mi · about 5.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Live Oak, TX after about 305 miles or 5.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 134 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 304.7 miles from Laredo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 139.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 305 miles or 5.3 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the start, short detour
Laredo, Texas
Hours: 11 am–12 pm
+19567222695
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Laredo, Texas
Hours: Closed
+19567280404
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Laredo, Texas
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+19567952350
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Laredo, Texas
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Junction, Texas
+13254463880
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Laredo, Texas
+19567253826
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~12 min detour
Boerne, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+18307558080
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~12 min detour
Junction, Texas
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+13254463994
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 140 and 266.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward Loop 1604: Somerset
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Valero Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$92.07 one way
$184.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $100.77 | $201.55 |
| premium | $4.54 | $108.79 | $217.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $134.53 | $269.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$92
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$222–$332
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 213.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $64 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 182.8 | 2 | $63.98 | $29.25 |
| Efficient EV | 152.3 | 1 | $53.31 | $24.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 243.7 | 3 | $85.30 | $39.00 |
Gas CO2
213 kg
EV CO2
71 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Laredo on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Tulia on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
59°F
Sweetwater, TX
402 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.
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
National Historical Park
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route presents a varied driving experience, with 43% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced driving, balanced by time on the Purple Heart Trail. The longest uninterrupted segment spans 139.6 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. As you progress north, the character of the roads will shift, moving from interstate travel to more direct highway routes, keeping the drive dynamic.
At 10h 38m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 140 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 34 significant decision points across 609.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 140 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.4 miles (Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Laredo, TX and Tulia, TX, road signs point toward Loop 1604: Somerset, Menard and Lubbock.
Loop 1604: Somerset
Menard
Lubbock
“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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Solo Traveler
10h 38m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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