Origin
Marshall, TX
Night in Marshall on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marshall, 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 30m
Distance
523.3 mi
842 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$79
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 22m
★
6 AM
9h 30m
8 AM
9h 47m
10 AM
9h 36m
12 PM
9h 35m
3 PM
9h 37m
5 PM
9h 47m
8 PM
9h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marshall, TX
Thomas balabaud
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 523.3-mile journey from Marshall, TX to Laredo, TX will take approximately 9 hours and 30 minutes of driving time. It's a long-distance drive that is best split over two days, making it more comfortable than attempting it as a single day trip. You'll primarily be on the Purple Heart Trail and I-35, with a portion on State Highway 31 East. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $79. Both your origin and destination fall within the Great Plains region, giving the drive a consistent feel as you travel south through Texas. With two planned stops, you'll have opportunities to break up the driving.
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
261.6 miles from Marshall, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 53m 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 |
| I 20 | 21.2 mi | 21m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 244.1 mi, about 4h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshall, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on West Houston Street
342 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Houston Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto South Bolivar Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Bolivar Street
3
Turn left onto US 80
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
East Grand Avenue
4
Turn left onto FM 968
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
FM 968
5
Turn left onto FM 3251
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
FM 3251
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
7
Merge onto I 20
21 mi
·
21 min
·
I 20
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 259 South, SH 31 West: Kilgore, Henderson
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward US 259 South, SH 31 West: Kilgore, Henderson
10
Continue on US 259; TX 31
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
US Highway 259 North
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 259 Business; TX 31
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 259 Business North
12
Turn right onto TX 31
29 mi
·
34 min
·
State Highway 31 East
13
Continue on TX 31
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Chandler Highway
14
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 31 West
15
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Highway 31
16
Continue on TX 31
21 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 31 East
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
18
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Jed Robinson Loop
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft
·
14 sec
21
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 31 West
22
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Royall Boulevard
23
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 31 East
24
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
25
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
26
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
West State Highway 31
27
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
28
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
29
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East US Highway 84
30
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
31
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Waco Drive
32
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
33
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
34
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
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.
38
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
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.
42
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.
43
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.
44
Continue on I 35
144 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Houston Street
46
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Salinas Avenue
47
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft
·
5 sec
·
Matamoros Street
48
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 9-and-a-half-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. Splitting the trip over two days is highly recommended, allowing you to enjoy the journey without feeling rushed. Plan your overnight stop strategically, perhaps around the halfway point, to break up the 523.3 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 244.1-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate. Budgeting around $79 for fuel should cover your needs for this trip.
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 261.6 miles from Marshall, TX, or about 4h 53m 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 115 miles or 2h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 261.6 miles or 4h 53m 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 261.6 miles or 4h 53m
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 29m
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 Marshall, 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 Marshall, TX
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laredo, TX
Aim for roughly 262 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 115 miles from Marshall, 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
173 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
345 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
262 mi · about 4.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Killeen, TX after about 262 miles or 4.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 115 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 261.6 miles from Marshall, 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 262 miles or 4.8 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 275 decision points cluster between mile 30.3 and 368 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
30.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 259 South, SH 31 West: Kilgore, Henderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 259 South, SH 31 West: Kilgore, Hende...
8
286.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 19m 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
359.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 40m 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
365.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 48m 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
368 mi into trip
|
~6h 50m 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
$79.07 one way
$158.14 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
183 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $86.55 | $173.10 |
| premium | $4.54 | $93.43 | $186.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $115.54 | $231.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$209–$319
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 183.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 157 | 1 | $54.95 | $25.12 |
| Efficient EV | 130.8 | 1 | $45.79 | $20.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 209.3 | 2 | $73.26 | $33.49 |
Gas CO2
183 kg
EV CO2
61 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
Laredo, TX
Night in Laredo on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Mesquite, TX
173 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 30m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 180.4
View on nps.gov
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 360.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a significant highway experience, with 44% of the drive on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 244.1 miles, primarily along the Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mix of driving conditions as you transition from state highways to the interstate. While not entirely a monotonous interstate grind, a substantial portion involves covering ground efficiently on well-maintained roads. The character of the drive is largely about making steady progress across Texas.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
48 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?
9/10
At 9h 30m, 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 30.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 27 significant decision points across 523.3 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 30.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.1 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 359.5 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.
Between Marshall, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward Sh 31 West: Kilgore, Henderson and Spur 536: Houston.
Sh 31 West: Kilgore
30 mi in
|
~34m
Henderson
30 mi in
|
~34m
Spur 536: Houston
368 mi in
|
~6h 50m
|
via I 10; US 87
About the Cities
Starting in Marshall, TX
Full guide →Marshall is a city in the Central Piney Woods of Texas. This is the third-largest city in this region.
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).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
9h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
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 262 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 30.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.1 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 359.5 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.0 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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