Origin
Longview, TX
Late night in Longview on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Longview, TX to Laredo, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 5m
Distance
500.3 mi
805 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$76
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 57m
★
6 AM
9h 5m
8 AM
9h 21m
10 AM
9h 11m
12 PM
9h 9m
3 PM
9h 12m
5 PM
9h 21m
8 PM
9h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Longview, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on this 500.3-mile journey from Longview, TX, to Laredo, TX, will take approximately 9 hours and 5 minutes of driving time. With a recommended 2-day split, this long-distance drive offers a practical way to traverse the state. You'll primarily navigate on the Purple Heart Trail and I-35, with State Highway 31 East also playing a role. This route, entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, has an estimated fuel cost of $76. Considering the duration and distance, it's best approached as an overnight trip rather than a single-day endeavor, allowing for a more relaxed pace.
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
250.1 miles from Longview, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 40m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 244.1 mi | 4h 12m |
| State Highway 31 East | 59.9 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| West State Highway 31 | 18.8 mi | 21m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 18.5 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 31 | 17.2 mi | 17m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 10.4 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 244.1 mi, about 4h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Longview, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on US 80
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Marshall Avenue
2
Turn left onto TX 31; Spur 63
6.8 mi
·
8 min
·
North Spur 63
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 259; TX 31
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
US Highway 259 North
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 259 Business; TX 31
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 259 Business North
5
Turn right onto TX 31
29 mi
·
34 min
·
State Highway 31 East
6
Continue on TX 31
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Chandler Highway
7
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 31 West
8
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Highway 31
9
Continue on TX 31
21 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 31 East
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
11
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Jed Robinson Loop
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft
·
14 sec
14
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 31 West
15
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Royall Boulevard
16
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 31 East
17
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
18
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
19
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
West State Highway 31
20
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
21
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
22
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East US Highway 84
23
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
24
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Waco Drive
25
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
27
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
31
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Use the slight left lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
10 mi
·
12 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street
Use the slight right lane.
37
Continue on I 35
144 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Houston Street
39
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Salinas Avenue
40
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft
·
5 sec
·
Matamoros Street
41
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 9-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning, especially if you plan to split it over two days. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 500.3 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest uninterrupted stretch is 244.1 miles, and plan your refueling accordingly. The estimated fuel cost of $76 is a good budget to keep in mind as you plan your stops for gas and rest.
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 250.1 miles from Longview, TX, or about 4h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244.1 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 110 miles or 2h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 250.1 miles or 4h 40m 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 250.1 miles or 4h 40m
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 8h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laredo, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Longview, 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 Longview, TX
Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laredo, TX
Aim for roughly 250 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from Longview, 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 244.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
165 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
330 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 New Braunfels, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
250 mi · about 4.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Killeen, TX after about 250 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 250.1 miles from Longview, 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 244.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 250 miles or 4.5 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 215 decision points cluster between mile 104.2 and 345 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
104.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
263.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 53m in
|
I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
7
336.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 14m in
|
I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South
8
342.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 22m in
|
I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
8
345 mi into trip
|
~6h 25m in
|
I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Housto...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$75.60 one way
$151.19 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
175 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $82.75 | $165.49 |
| premium | $4.54 | $89.33 | $178.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $110.46 | $220.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 175 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 150.1 | 1 | $52.53 | $24.01 |
| Efficient EV | 125.1 | 1 | $43.78 | $20.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 200.1 | 2 | $70.04 | $32.02 |
Gas CO2
175 kg
EV CO2
59 kg (66% 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
Laredo, TX
Late night in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Mesquite, TX
165 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
10 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
9h 5m 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 drive offers a varied driving experience, with 41% of the route being highway driving. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 244.1 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which may offer a more local feel compared to interstate travel. The transition to I-35 will likely provide a faster-paced segment as you cover the remaining distance. Expect a mix of road types as you progress south, shifting from potentially more rural or state highway sections to a more consistent interstate environment.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 244.1 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
At 9h 5m, 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 104.2 miles in near TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 500.3 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 104.2 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 263.1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 336.5 miles (I 35 / 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.
On the drive from Longview, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 536: Houston along the way.
Spur 536: Houston
345 mi in
|
~6h 25m
|
via I 10; US 87
About the Cities
Starting in Longview, TX
Full guide →Longview is a city in the Piney Woods region of Texas. At one time a major headquarters of the vast East Texas Oil Field, petroleum remains a large part of the city's economy. Founded in 1871, the city earned its name when surveyors for the Southern Pacific Railroad noted what a "long view" they could see from a hill near the center of the new town. Longview is now home to more than 75,000 residents and has grown to be an important center of commerce and industry for the Piney Woods region of Texas.
Arriving 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).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 244.1 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 250 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 Laredo, 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 104.2 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 263.1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 336.5 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.1 hours each way, a round trip means 18.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laredo, 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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