How far is Bowie, TX from Laredo, TX?

The driving distance from Bowie, TX to Laredo, TX is about 506.9 miles (815.7 km), with a travel time of about 07h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 429.7 miles (691.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
506.88 mi
07h 16m
Flight
429.67 mi
691.48 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bowie.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
429.67 mi
Kilometers
691.48 km
Flight Time
00h 51m

Driving Distance

Road route
506.88 mi
Kilometers
815.74 km
Drive Time
07h 16m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 07h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Laredo
Wed, May 13, 8:02 PM CDT
Return by in Bowie
Thu, May 14, 3:18 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bowie
2026-05-13T12:46
Arrive Laredo
Wed, May 13, 8:02 PM CDT
Route Timing
07h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:16 PM to 2:46 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bowie
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Wells Branch
TX

Census designated place

From Bowie
245.2 mi
03h 38m
To Laredo
261.7 mi
03h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Wed, May 13 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SSE
Destination
94°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bowie and Laredo.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bowie and Laredo.

  1. 1

    Start on North Mason Street

    6 m · 6 sec · North Mason Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Wise Street

    58.2 mi · 1 hr 4 min · East Wise Street

  3. 3

    Merge slight left onto North Freeway

    4.5 mi · 5 min · North Freeway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight left toward I 35W Express Toll South

    2952 ft · 33 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto I 35W TEXpress

    4 mi · 4 min · I 35W TEXpress

  6. 6

    Merge slight right onto North South Freeway

    84.6 mi · 1 hr 28 min · North South Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

  8. 8

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    55.8 mi · 59 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail

    49.8 mi · 55 min · Purple Heart Trail

  11. 11

    Continue on Interstate Highway 35

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

  12. 12

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Purple Heart Trail

  13. 13

    Continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    10 mi · 12 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on South Pan Am Expressway

    10.4 mi · 12 min · South Pan Am Expressway

  17. 17

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    144.5 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Purple Heart Trail

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Houston Street

    1607 ft · 42 sec · Houston Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Salinas Avenue

    83 m · 12 sec · Salinas Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Matamoros Street

    93 m · 5 sec · Matamoros Street

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Matamoros Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bowie and Laredo.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
21 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
3 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
300 mi · 59%
North South Freeway
84.6 mi · 17%
East Wise Street
58.2 mi · 11%
North Pan Am Expressway
18.5 mi · 4%
South Pan Am Expressway
10.4 mi · 2%
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.63 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Purple Heart Trail

Continue on Purple Heart Trail

144 mi · 02h 26m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
07h 16m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+77.2 mi
429.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Wells Branch
03h 38m from Bowie
Leave By
9:28 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Clear leaving Bowie and Sunny near Laredo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bowie to Laredo?

The road trip is about 506.9 miles (815.7 km) and usually takes 07h 16m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Wells Branch is a useful midpoint, sitting about 245.2 miles from Bowie and 261.7 miles from Laredo.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 429.7 miles (691.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 77.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $67.61 one way or $135.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 159 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Clear around Bowie and Sunny near Laredo.

Stop Ideas Near Wells Branch

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Wells Branch, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Wells Branch.

RAIL

Austin

21 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.
RAIL

Taylor

29 mi away
118 East First St.
RAIL

San Marcos Station

68 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
BUS

Killeen, Texas

75 mi away
200 East Avenue C

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bowie and Laredo. Straight-line distance: 429.67 mi (691.48 km).

Bowie

#1 Bowie

Human settlement in Montague County, Texas, United States of America

Population5,140
Coordinates33.5590000, -97.8486500
Altitude344
CountryUnited States
Laredo

#2 Laredo

The third most populous city in Texas and the center of the Laredo metropolitan area.

Population263,640
Coordinates27.5064100, -99.5075400
Altitude126
CountryUnited States
Start: North Mason Street (-97.848652, 33.559001)
End: Matamoros Street (-99.507507, 27.506385)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 816 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.89 gal
67.71 L · about $67.61
Round trip
$135.21
35.78 gal · 135.42 L
Estimated CO2
159 kg one way
Round trip: 318 kg / 701 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $67.61 $135.21
Mid-grade $4.25 $76.07 $152.14
Premium $4.59 $82.13 $164.27
Diesel $3.99 $71.43 $142.87

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Bowie and Laredo. The current time is 12:46:28.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.