Origin
Zapata, TX
Late night in Zapata on Sunday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Zapata, 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
1h
Distance
49.2 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Zapata, TX
Fernando Capetillo
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward journey through the Great Plains of Texas, the 52.7-mile connection between Zapata and Laredo is an ideal choice. You can easily complete this drive in about 59 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a quick day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting around $8 for fuel covers your costs comfortably for the trek. Since you remain within the same region, the transition is seamless and lacks the complex logistics of a multi-day expedition. This route is best suited for travelers who appreciate a direct, no-fuss path between two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| United States Highway 83 | 25.7 mi | 28m |
| North US Highway 83 | 14.2 mi | 15m |
| South Zapata Highway | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| South Meadow Avenue | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Guadalupe Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Houston Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Matamoros Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Salinas Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
United States Highway 83
— 25.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Zapata, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on US 83
26 mi
·
28 min
·
United States Highway 83
2
Continue on US 83
14 mi
·
15 min
·
North US Highway 83
3
Continue on US 83
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
South Zapata Highway
4
Turn left onto South Meadow Avenue
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
South Meadow Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 83
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Guadalupe Street
6
Continue on US 83
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Houston Street
7
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Salinas Avenue
8
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft
·
5 sec
·
Matamoros Street
9
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Zapata, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 45.3 and 49.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
45.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
South Meadow Avenue
Turn left onto South Meadow Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
47.4 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
US 83 / Guadalupe Street
Turn left onto US 83 / Guadalupe Street
Navigation decision point
4
49.1 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
I 35 Bus / Salinas Avenue
Turn left onto I 35 Bus / Salinas Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
49.2 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
Matamoros Street
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.43 one way
$14.87 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.14 | $16.27 |
| premium | $4.54 | $8.78 | $17.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.86 | $21.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Laredo, TX
Late night in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local-style drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul. Because the highway share is 0%, your journey relies on a combination of Highway 83, South Zapata Highway, and South Meadow Avenue. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches on Highway 83, so be prepared for a more active driving experience with constant navigation. As you move toward Laredo, the road maintains its local character, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. It is a practical, functional road that prioritizes local connectivity over highway cruising.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.7 mi on United States Highway 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on United States Highway 83 and North US Highway 83. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 45.3 miles in near South Meadow Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Zapata, TX to Laredo, TX is easy. At 1h with 81% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 45.3 miles (South Meadow Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 47.4 miles (US 83 / Guadalupe Street): Navigation decision point; at 49.1 miles (I 35 Bus / Salinas Avenue): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
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 1h. Total distance: 49.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.7 miles on United States Highway 83. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 45.3 miles (South Meadow Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 47.4 miles (US 83 / Guadalupe Street): Navigation decision point; at 49.1 miles (I 35 Bus / Salinas Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Laredo, TX before heading back.
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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