Schertz, TX to Laredo, TX is 175.5 miles and takes about 3h 6m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will keep you within the Great Plains region as you travel south through Texas. Expect a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent adjustments. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is easily manageable for a single day. The fuel cost estimate of $27 makes it an economical choice for a quick trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.8 miles from Schertz, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Schertz, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on 1st Street
57 ft·10 sec·1st Street
2
Turn left onto FM 78; FM 1518
0.3 mi·33 sec·John E Peterson Boulevard
3
Continue on FM 78
2.0 mi·3 min·Gordon A Blake Highway
4
Turn straight onto FM 78
423 ft·13 sec·John E Peterson Boulevard
5
Turn left
0.1 mi·14 sec
6
Take the ramp
433 ft·10 sec
7
Merge onto Loop 1604
4.7 mi·6 min·Anderson Loop
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Interstate 10 East
0.9 mi·1 min·Interstate 10 East
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I 10 West, US 90 West, TX 130 South
10
Merge onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
4.2 mi·4 min·90th Infantry Division Highway
11
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.
12
Continue on I 10; US 90
8.0 mi·9 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: LaredoUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 35
8.3 mi·9 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35
144 mi·2 hr 26 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Houston Street
18
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft·12 sec·Salinas Avenue
19
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft·5 sec·Matamoros Street
20
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, departing Schertz, TX in the morning will allow you to reach Laredo, TX with plenty of daylight remaining. Since it's a single-day drive with one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to pause. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer 144.5-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. The total fuel cost is estimated at $27, so budget accordingly. Pay close attention to your GPS, as the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests frequent navigation changes are essential for staying on course.
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 87.8 miles from Schertz, TX, or about 1h 37m 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.8 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
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 Schertz, 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 Schertz, TX
This is one driving day of about 175.5 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Schertz, 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 2.6 and 22.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in|Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop
Merge onto Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
12.9 mi into trip|~18m in|I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
21.7 mi into trip|~28m 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
21.8 mi into trip|~28m 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
5
22.3 mi into trip|~29m in|I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Merge onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.52 one way
$53.04 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$29.03
$58.05
premium
$4.54
$31.33
$62.67
diesel
$5.61
$38.75
$77.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.7
0
$18.43
$8.42
Efficient EV
43.9
0
$15.36
$7.02
EV Truck/SUV
70.2
0
$24.57
$11.23
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Schertz, TX
Late night
in Schertz on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Laredo, TX
Late night
in Laredo on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 4:01AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:47AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
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
4 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
3h 6m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 18.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' with only 10% of the journey on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating local roads, so anticipate frequent turns and potentially lower average speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 144.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail, offering a significant period of consistent driving before local segments. This means the drive will likely feel more like a series of connected local trips rather than a continuous highway journey. Be ready for a more engaged driving experience with constant attention to navigation.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 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?
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 2.6 miles in near Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop.
Driving Effort7/10
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 175.5 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 2.6 miles (Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.9 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles (I 10; US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Schertz, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward El Paso and Austin.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 175.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.9 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles (I 10; US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Laredo, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
