Origin
The Woodlands, TX
Night in The Woodlands on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from The Woodlands, 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
6h 23m
Distance
365.4 mi
588 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 11m
★
6 AM
6h 24m
8 AM
6h 49m
10 AM
6h 32m
12 PM
6h 30m
3 PM
6h 34m
5 PM
6h 47m
8 PM
6h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
The Woodlands, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 365.4-mile drive from The Woodlands, TX to Laredo, TX will take approximately 6 hours and 23 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate on the Katy Freeway, Purple Heart Trail, and North Grand Parkway West, with 58% of the journey on highways. Budget around $55 for fuel, and plan for one main stop along the way. This route offers a mixed driving experience as you travel within the Great Plains region of Texas. It's a straightforward path for those looking to cover ground 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
182.7 miles from The Woodlands, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Katy Freeway | 149.1 mi | 2h 30m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 144.5 mi | 2h 26m |
| North Grand Parkway West | 33.5 mi | 36m |
| I 10 | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Jose Lopez Freeway | 8 mi | 9m |
| Gosling Road | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| Woodlands Parkway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Katy Freeway
— 149.1 mi, about 2h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between The Woodlands, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on Pebble Cove Drive
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pebble Cove Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto East Panther Creek Drive
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Panther Creek Drive
3
Turn right onto Woodlands Parkway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodlands Parkway
4
Turn left onto South Panther Creek Drive
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Panther Creek Drive
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto Flintridge Drive
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Flintridge Drive
6
Turn left onto Gosling Road
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Gosling Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward TX 99 Toll
8
Merge onto TX 99 Toll
34 mi
·
36 min
·
North Grand Parkway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Houston, San Antonio
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 10; US 90
149 mi
·
2 hr 30 min
·
Katy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
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.
14
Continue on I 10; US 90
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 10; US 87
Exit 572
Toward I 35, I 10 West, US 87 North: Laredo, El Paso, Austin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Laredo
Use the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 35
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35
144 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Houston Street
20
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Salinas Avenue
21
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft
·
5 sec
·
Matamoros Street
22
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
For this 365.4-mile journey, an early morning departure from The Woodlands is recommended to maximize daylight and avoid potential traffic. With a duration of 6 hours and 23 minutes, plan for one substantial stop to refuel and stretch your legs, rather than multiple short breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 149.1 miles on the Katy Freeway, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is $55, so ensure you have a payment method ready for your one planned stop.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 182.7 miles from The Woodlands, TX, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 149.1 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182.7 miles or 3h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 22m
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 The Woodlands, 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 The Woodlands, TX
This is one driving day of about 365.4 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from The Woodlands, 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 Katy Freeway for about 149.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 182.7 miles from The Woodlands, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Katy Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 149.1 miles.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 40.3 and 211.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
40.3 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Houston, San Antonio
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.
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Houston, San Anton...
7
40.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
6
190.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 22m in
|
I 10; US 90; TX 130
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
211.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m 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
211.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m 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
$55.21 one way
$110.43 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
128 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $60.43 | $120.87 |
| premium | $4.54 | $65.24 | $130.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $80.68 | $161.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 109.6 | 1 | $38.37 | $17.54 |
| Efficient EV | 91.4 | 1 | $31.97 | $14.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.2 | 1 | $51.16 | $23.39 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 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
Night in Laredo on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°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.
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
6h 23m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 214.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this approximately 365-mile route. While 58% of your journey will be on highways, you'll also encounter other road types. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is a significant 149.1 miles on the Katy Freeway. This means there are substantial periods of consistent driving before transitions occur. The road's character shifts throughout the 6-hour and 23-minute trip, offering a blend of faster highway speeds and potentially more varied local road conditions.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 149.1 mi on Katy Freeway.
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 around 40.3 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 365.4 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: at 40.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 190.7 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): 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 The Woodlands, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward San Antonio, El Paso and Austin.
San Antonio
40.3 mi in
|
~49m
El Paso
211.5 mi in
|
~3h 45m
|
via I 10; US 87
Austin
211.5 mi in
|
~3h 45m
|
via I 10; US 87
About the Cities
Starting in The Woodlands, TX
Full guide →The Woodlands is a suburban city in the Deep East Texas region of Texas 28 miles north of downtown Houston along Interstate 45. Although it began as a suburban development and a bedroom community, it also has attracted corporations and unique shopping to the area. In addition to residential and corporate housing, The Woodlands features a shopping mall, seven golf courses, and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Regional Concert Venue, and a 4-star rated The Woodlands Resort.
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?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 365.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 149.1 miles on Katy Freeway. 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 40.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 190.7 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 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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