How far is Gatesville, TX from Laredo, TX?

The driving distance from Gatesville, TX to Laredo, TX is about 350.1 miles (563.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 291.4 miles (469 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
350.09 mi
05h 07m
Flight
291.43 mi
469.01 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gatesville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
291.43 mi
Kilometers
469.01 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
350.09 mi
Kilometers
563.41 km
Drive Time
05h 07m

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 05h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Laredo
Thu, Apr 23, 1:27 AM CDT
Return by in Gatesville
Thu, Apr 23, 6:35 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gatesville
2026-04-22T20:20
Arrive Laredo
Thu, Apr 23, 1:27 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:08 AM to 1:08 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:44 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gatesville
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Olmos Park
TX

City in Bexar County, Texas, United States

From Gatesville
159.3 mi
02h 33m
To Laredo
190.8 mi
02h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

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 Gatesville and Laredo.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    46 m · 13 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    23 m · 8 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Main Street

    2.4 mi · 3 min · East Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto FM 116

    13.9 mi · 17 min · FM 116

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Farm-to-Market Road 580

    7.2 mi · 9 min · Farm-to-Market Road 580

  6. 6

    Continue on East FM 580

    9.4 mi · 12 min · East FM 580

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East FM 580

    6.9 mi · 8 min · East FM 580

  8. 8

    Continue on East Avenue J

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Avenue J

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Key Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Key Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn right onto South US Highway 281

    20 mi · 22 min · South US Highway 281

  11. 11

    Continue on North Water Street

    3.6 mi · 6 min · North Water Street

  12. 12

    Continue on South US Highway 281

    46 mi · 54 min · South US Highway 281

  13. 13

    Continue on Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  14. 14

    Continue on South US Highway 281

    26.6 mi · 32 min · South US Highway 281

  15. 15

    Turn straight

    3.1 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 281 HOV Lane

    2.9 mi · 3 min · US 281 HOV Lane

  17. 17

    Merge slight right

    14.5 mi · 17 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: Laredo

    1988 ft · 49 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto North Pan Am Expressway

    70 m · 3 sec · 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 Gatesville 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
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
144 mi · 41%
South US Highway 281
92.7 mi · 26%
US 281 HOV Lane
17.4 mi · 5%
East FM 580
16.4 mi · 5%
FM 116
13.9 mi · 4%
South Pan Am Expressway
10.4 mi · 3%
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

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 07m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58.7 mi
291.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Olmos Park
02h 33m from Gatesville
Leave By
6:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Gatesville 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 Gatesville to Laredo?

The road trip is about 350.1 miles (563.4 km) and usually takes 05h 07m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Olmos Park is a useful midpoint, sitting about 159.3 miles from Gatesville and 190.8 miles from Laredo.

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

The direct path is about 291.4 miles (469 km), while the road route adds roughly 58.7 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.67 one way or $93.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Gatesville and Partly Sunny near Laredo.

Stop Ideas Near Olmos Park

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Olmos Park and the surrounding midpoint area.
Piazza Italia Park
Scenic stop 2.1 mi away

Piazza Italia Park

San Antonio , TX
500 Columbus St, San Antonio, TX 78207
Rating 4.0/5 70 reviews Tourist attraction,Park
Schertz EMS
Practical stop 14.8 mi away

Schertz EMS

Schertz , TX
City Hall, 1400 Schertz Pkwy #7, Schertz, TX 78154
Rating 4.4/5 9 reviews City government office,Ambulance service
Helotes City Hall
Meeting point 14.3 mi away

Helotes City Hall

Helotes , TX
12951 Bandera Rd, Helotes, TX 78023
Rating 4.7/5 3 reviews City Hall
Municipal Plaza
Nearby stop 2.3 mi away

Municipal Plaza

San Antonio , TX
114 W Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Rating 4.4/5 34 reviews Plaza

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Olmos Park.

RAIL

San Antonio Station

7 mi away
350 Hoefgen Street
RAIL

San Marcos Station

69 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
RAIL

Austin

113 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gatesville and Laredo. Straight-line distance: 291.43 mi (469.01 km).

Gatesville

#1 Gatesville

City in Texas, United States

Population12,550
Coordinates31.4351600, -97.7439100
Altitude246
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: (-97.743903, 31.435406)
End: Matamoros Street (-99.507507, 27.506385)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 563 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 00m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.35 gal
46.76 L · about $46.67
Round trip
$93.34
24.7 gal · 93.52 L
Estimated CO2
109.8 kg one way
Round trip: 219.5 kg / 484 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $46.67 $93.34
Mid-grade $4.25 $52.51 $105.02
Premium $4.59 $56.70 $113.40
Diesel $3.99 $49.31 $98.63

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 Gatesville and Laredo. The current time is 20:20:03.

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.