How far is Joshua, TX from Laredo, TX?

The driving distance from Joshua, TX to Laredo, TX is about 426.4 miles (686.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 365.1 miles (587.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 20m 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
426.42 mi
06h 10m
Flight
365.08 mi
587.54 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Joshua.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
365.08 mi
Kilometers
587.54 km
Flight Time
00h 44m

Driving Distance

Road route
426.42 mi
Kilometers
686.25 km
Drive Time
06h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Laredo
Sun, May 3, 12:08 PM CDT
Return by in Joshua
Sun, May 3, 6:18 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Joshua
2026-05-03T05:58
Arrive Laredo
Sun, May 3, 12:08 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:10 PM to 1:40 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
11:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Joshua
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
San Marcos
TX

The most populous city in Hays County, Texas.

From Joshua
205 mi
03h 05m
To Laredo
221.5 mi
03h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Sun, May 3 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SW
Destination
84°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 3 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    15 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 12th Street

    1063 ft · 30 sec · East 12th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Conveyor Drive

    5.4 mi · 8 min · Conveyor Drive

  4. 4

    Continue on Conveyor Drive

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Conveyor Drive

  5. 5

    Turn right onto South Burleson Boulevard

    1077 ft · 30 sec · South Burleson Boulevard

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 35W South

    757 ft · 19 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto I 35W South: Waco

    63.5 mi · 1 hr 5 min

  8. 8

    Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

  9. 9

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    55.8 mi · 59 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail

    49.8 mi · 55 min · Purple Heart Trail

  12. 12

    Continue on Interstate Highway 35

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

  13. 13

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Purple Heart Trail

  14. 14

    Continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    10 mi · 12 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on South Pan Am Expressway

    10.4 mi · 12 min · South Pan Am Expressway

  18. 18

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    144.5 mi · 2 hr 26 min · Purple Heart Trail

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Houston Street

    1607 ft · 42 sec · Houston Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Salinas Avenue

    83 m · 12 sec · Salinas Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Matamoros Street

    93 m · 5 sec · Matamoros Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Matamoros Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Joshua 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
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
300 mi · 70%
I 35W South
63.6 mi · 15%
North Pan Am Expressway
18.5 mi · 4%
South Pan Am Expressway
10.4 mi · 2%
Conveyor Drive
7.58 mi · 2%
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.63 mi · 2%
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 10m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+61.3 mi
365.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
San Marcos
03h 05m from Joshua
Leave By
11:40 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Joshua and Sunny near Laredo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 426.4 miles (686.3 km) and usually takes 06h 10m 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?

San Marcos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 205 miles from Joshua and 221.5 miles from Laredo.

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

The direct path is about 365.1 miles (587.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 61.3 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 $56.87 one way or $113.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 133.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near San Marcos

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

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

RAIL

San Marcos Station

1 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
RAIL

Austin

46 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.
RAIL

San Antonio Station

73 mi away
350 Hoefgen Street
RAIL

Taylor

92 mi away
118 East First St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Joshua and Laredo. Straight-line distance: 365.08 mi (587.54 km).

Joshua

#1 Joshua

City in Texas, USA

Population8,202
Coordinates32.4615300, -97.3880700
Altitude283
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: East 12th Street (-97.388064, 32.461397)
End: Matamoros Street (-99.507507, 27.506385)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 686 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.05 gal
56.96 L · about $56.87
Round trip
$113.75
30.1 gal · 113.92 L
Estimated CO2
133.7 kg one way
Round trip: 267.5 kg / 590 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $56.87 $113.75
Mid-grade $4.25 $63.99 $127.99
Premium $4.59 $69.09 $138.19
Diesel $3.99 $60.09 $120.19

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 03, 2026

There is no time difference between Joshua and Laredo. The current time is 05:58:49.

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.