How far is Decatur, TX from Laredo, TX?

The driving distance from Decatur, TX to Laredo, TX is about 479.3 miles (771.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 412 miles (663 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 47m 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
479.28 mi
06h 53m
Flight
411.97 mi
663 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Decatur.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
411.97 mi
Kilometers
663 km
Flight Time
00h 49m

Driving Distance

Road route
479.28 mi
Kilometers
771.32 km
Drive Time
06h 53m

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 06h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Laredo
Thu, Apr 23, 4:27 AM CDT
Return by in Decatur
Thu, Apr 23, 11:21 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Decatur
2026-04-22T21:33
Arrive Laredo
Thu, Apr 23, 4:27 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:54 PM to 2:24 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
10:12 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Decatur
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
Austin
TX

The eleventh most populous city in the United States and the center of the Austin metropolitan area.

From Decatur
231.6 mi
03h 26m
To Laredo
247.7 mi
03h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Wednesday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
89°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Market Street

    21 m · 5 sec · North Market Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    50 m · 15 sec · East Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Trinity Street

    2143 ft · 1 min · South Trinity Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Hale Avenue

    1929 ft · 43 sec · West Hale Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on South FM 51

    112 m · 10 sec · South FM 51

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left toward South Highway 287

    755 ft · 21 sec · South Highway 287

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto South US Highway 287

    30.2 mi · 34 min · South US Highway 287

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto North Freeway

    4.5 mi · 5 min · North Freeway

  9. 9

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

    2952 ft · 33 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto I 35W TEXpress

    4 mi · 4 min · I 35W TEXpress

  11. 11

    Merge slight right onto North South Freeway

    84.6 mi · 1 hr 28 min · North South Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

  13. 13

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    55.8 mi · 59 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail

    49.8 mi · 55 min · Purple Heart Trail

  16. 16

    Continue on Interstate Highway 35

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

  17. 17

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Purple Heart Trail

  18. 18

    Continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    10 mi · 12 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on South Pan Am Expressway

    10.4 mi · 12 min · South Pan Am Expressway

  22. 22

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    144.5 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Purple Heart Trail

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Houston Street

    1607 ft · 42 sec · Houston Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Salinas Avenue

    83 m · 12 sec · Salinas Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Matamoros Street

    93 m · 5 sec · Matamoros Street

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Matamoros Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Decatur 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
26 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
4 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
300 mi · 63%
North South Freeway
84.6 mi · 18%
South US Highway 287
30.2 mi · 6%
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
06h 53m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+67.3 mi
412 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Austin
03h 26m from Decatur
Leave By
10:12 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Decatur and Partly Sunny near Laredo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 479.3 miles (771.3 km) and usually takes 06h 53m 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?

Austin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 231.6 miles from Decatur and 247.7 miles from Laredo.

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

The direct path is about 412 miles (663 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.3 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 $63.90 one way or $127.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 150.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Decatur and Partly Sunny near Laredo.

Stop Ideas Near Austin

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Austin, 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 Austin.

RAIL

Austin

1 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.
RAIL

Taylor

46 mi away
118 East First St.
RAIL

San Marcos Station

47 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
BUS

Killeen, Texas

95 mi away
200 East Avenue C

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Decatur and Laredo. Straight-line distance: 411.97 mi (663 km).

Decatur

#1 Decatur

City in Texas, USA

Population7,572
Coordinates33.2342800, -97.5861400
Altitude336
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 Market Street (-97.585994, 33.234278)
End: Matamoros Street (-99.507507, 27.506385)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 771 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 58m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.91 gal
64.02 L · about $63.90
Round trip
$127.81
33.82 gal · 128.04 L
Estimated CO2
150.3 kg one way
Round trip: 300.6 kg / 663 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $63.90 $127.81
Mid-grade $4.25 $71.90 $143.80
Premium $4.59 $77.63 $155.27
Diesel $3.99 $67.52 $135.04

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Decatur and Laredo. The current time is 21:33:36.

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.