This 255.4-mile journey from Manor, TX to Laredo, TX offers a manageable 4-hour and 19-minute drive, making it an ideal one-day road trip. You'll primarily navigate the Purple Heart Trail, Pickle Parkway, and I-10, with 42% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $39. Since both your origin and destination are within the Great Plains region, expect a consistent driving experience across Texas. With just one recommended stop, this route is perfect for a straightforward drive where you can focus on reaching your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.7 miles from Manor, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~1,436 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,716
Quietest
2 AM
~235 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Manor, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on Loop 212; FM 973
255 ft·13 sec·East Parsons Street
2
Turn left onto FM 973
0.4 mi·44 sec·South Lexington Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on FM 973
3.6 mi·4 min·FM 973 North
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward TX 45 Toll South, TX 130 Toll SouthUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto TX 45 Toll; TX 130 Toll
55 mi·49 min·Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi·11 min·I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
9.4 mi·9 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi·12 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
0.8 mi·51 sec·90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10; US 90
8.0 mi·9 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87
0.2 mi·22 sec·I 10; US 87
Exit 572Toward I 35, I 10 West, US 87 North: Laredo, El Paso, AustinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: LaredoUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 35
8.3 mi·9 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
144 mi·2 hr 26 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Houston Street
17
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft·12 sec·Salinas Avenue
18
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft·5 sec·Matamoros Street
19
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 19-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to pace yourself, but be mindful of the 144.5-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail where services might be less frequent. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on longer segments. The estimated fuel cost of $39 suggests planning your refueling stops strategically to stay within budget and ensure a smooth journey to Laredo.
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 127.7 miles from Manor, TX, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.5 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 56 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.7 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
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 Manor, 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 Manor, TX
This is one driving day of about 255.4 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Manor, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 144.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 101.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|FM 973 / South Lexington Street
Turn left onto FM 973 / South Lexington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
4.1 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward TX 45 Toll South, TX 130 Toll South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward TX 45 Toll South, TX 130 Toll South
7
59.6 mi into trip|~56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
101.5 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 10; US 87
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87 toward I 35, I 10 West, US 87 North: Laredo, El Paso, Austin
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 572
Toward I 35, I 10 West, US 87 North: Laredo, El...
7
101.7 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 South: Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Laredo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.34 one way
$76.68 round trip
$3.81/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$42.42
$84.85
premium
$4.57
$45.90
$91.80
diesel
$6.18
$62.13
$124.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.6
0
$26.82
$12.26
Efficient EV
63.9
0
$22.35
$10.22
EV Truck/SUV
102.2
1
$35.76
$16.35
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Manor, TX
Night
in Manor on Tuesday
Local time
9:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny
ENE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Laredo, TX
Night
in Laredo on Tuesday
Local time
9:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Partly Sunny
ENE 0 to 3 mph6% chanceLive 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.
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
4h 19m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 96.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is a mixed bag, offering a blend of highway speeds and more varied road types. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Purple Heart Trail, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 144.5 miles. While 42% of the route is on highways, the remaining drive offers a different pace. This variation means you won't be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind for the entire trip, providing a dynamic driving experience as you traverse Texas.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.5 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near FM 973 / South Lexington Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 255.4 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: near the start (FM 973 / South Lexington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
737 ft413 ft
Total Climb
675 ft
Total Descent
793 ft
Highest Point
737 ft
~127.7 mi in
Elevation Range
324 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manor, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward El Paso and Austin.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 255.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 144.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (FM 973 / South Lexington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Laredo, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
