Origin
Laredo, TX
Late night in Laredo on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laredo, TX to Tyler, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 24m
Distance
464.3 mi
747 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$70
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 17m
★
6 AM
8h 25m
8 AM
8h 40m
10 AM
8h 30m
12 PM
8h 29m
3 PM
8h 31m
5 PM
8h 39m
8 PM
8h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Tyler, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Laredo to Tyler is 464.3 miles and takes about 8h 24m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $70 and recommended 2 days. This drive spans the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward path through the state. With over 8 hours of driving time, it's best split over two days to avoid a marathon session. Consider this route if you're looking for a practical, no-frills way to get from South Texas up towards East Texas.
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
232.2 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 299.7 mi | 5h 12m |
| State Highway 31 | 35.8 mi | 38m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 21.5 mi | 26m |
| State Highway 31 East | 21.1 mi | 24m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| Northeast 2nd Street | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| State Highway 31 West | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| East State Highway 31 | 9.3 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 299.7 mi, about 5h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Tyler, 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
144 mi
·
2 hr 27 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 35
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
10 mi
·
13 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35: Austin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi
·
1 hr 40 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 338
Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
15
Turn right onto US 84
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
East Waco Drive
16
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
17
Continue on US 84
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East US Highway 84
18
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
19
Continue on TX 31
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
20
Continue on TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 31
21
Turn right onto TX 31
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto TX 31
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
East State Highway 31
23
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Northeast 2nd Street
24
Continue on TX 31
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West Royall Boulevard
25
Continue on TX 31
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 31 West
26
Turn left onto TX 31
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
TX 31
27
Merge onto TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Jed Robinson Loop
28
Take the exit onto TX 31
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
TX 31
29
Turn left onto TX 31
21 mi
·
24 min
·
State Highway 31 East
30
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Highway 31
31
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 31 West
32
Continue on TX 31
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Chandler Highway
33
Continue on TX 31
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Front Street
34
Turn left onto South Broadway Avenue
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Broadway Avenue
35
Arrive at destination
North Broadway Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 24m estimated drive time, planning for two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early on your first day to cover a significant portion, perhaps around 200-250 miles, and find a place to rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you're on the Purple Heart Trail, as services can be spread out on these longer stretches. Your estimated fuel cost is around $70, so budget accordingly and top off your tank when convenient before heading into more rural segments.
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 232.2 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 4h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 299.7 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 102 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 232.2 miles or 4h 6m 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 232.2 miles or 4h 6m
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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tyler, 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 232 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tyler, TX
Aim for roughly 232 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 299.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
232 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 Round Rock, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
232 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Round Rock, TX after about 232 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 102 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 232.2 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 299.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 232 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.
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 145 decision points cluster between mile 154.2 and 336.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
154.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
|
I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
155.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
|
I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christ...
7
166.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
|
North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Austin
6
235.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 10m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
336.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 57m in
Take the exit toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 338
Toward US 84: Waco Drive, Bellmead Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.16 one way
$140.31 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
163 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $76.79 | $153.58 |
| premium | $4.54 | $82.90 | $165.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $102.51 | $205.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$200–$310
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 162.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 139.3 | 1 | $48.75 | $22.29 |
| Efficient EV | 116.1 | 1 | $40.63 | $18.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 185.7 | 2 | $65.00 | $29.72 |
Gas CO2
162 kg
EV CO2
54 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.
Destination
Tyler, TX
Late night in Tyler on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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
8h 24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is primarily on surface roads, with only 25% of the 464.3 miles on highways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, covering 299.7 miles. Expect a more rural cruising experience for the majority of your drive, as the highway sections will likely be interspersed with town passages and traffic signals rather than continuous high-speed travel.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 299.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 154.2 miles in near I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 464.3 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 154.2 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.9 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.4 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Tyler, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi and Johnson City.
Corpus Christi
155.9 mi in
|
~2h 41m
|
via I 35
Johnson City
155.9 mi in
|
~2h 41m
|
via I 35
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
Arriving in Tyler, TX
Full guide →Tyler is the county seat of Smith County, in eastern Texas. It boasts the nation's largest municipal rose garden and hosts the Texas Rose Festival each October.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
8h 24m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 299.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 232 miles on day one.
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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Tyler, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 154.2 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.9 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.4 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tyler, TX before the return drive.
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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