How far is Laredo, TX from Gatesville, TX?

The driving distance from Laredo, TX to Gatesville, TX is about 318.1 miles (511.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 291.4 miles (469 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 57m 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
318.06 mi
05h 58m
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 Laredo.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
318.06 mi
Kilometers
511.87 km
Drive Time
05h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gatesville
Thu, Apr 23, 3:39 AM CDT
Return by in Laredo
Thu, Apr 23, 9:38 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Laredo
2026-04-22T21:41
Arrive Gatesville
Thu, Apr 23, 3:39 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:59 AM to 1:59 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
5:02 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Laredo
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 Laredo
159.3 mi
02h 59m
To Gatesville
158.7 mi
02h 59m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph SE
Destination
79°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Matamoros Street

    1544 ft · 46 sec · Matamoros Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto San Dario Avenue

    553 ft · 11 sec · San Dario Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    144.4 mi · 2 hr 27 min · Purple Heart Trail

  4. 4

    Continue on South Pan Am Expressway

    9.3 mi · 11 min · South Pan Am Expressway

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on South Pan Am Expressway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · South Pan Am Expressway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on South Pan Am Expressway

    1.5 km · 1 min · South Pan Am Expressway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 281 North, I 37 South, US 281 South: Johnson City, Corpus Christi, Broadway

    2518 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on US 281 North: Johnson City

    1713 ft · 46 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on US 281 North: McAllister Freeway, Johnson City

    1234 ft · 30 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right onto McAllister Freeway

    14.6 mi · 17 min · McAllister Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on US 281 HOV Lane

    2.9 mi · 3 min · US 281 HOV Lane

  12. 12

    Merge slight right

    100.6 mi · 1 hr 59 min

  13. 13

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

    1.2 mi · 3 min · South Key Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto East Avenue J

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Avenue J

  15. 15

    Continue on East FM 580

    6.9 mi · 8 min · East FM 580

  16. 16

    Continue on East FM 580

    9.4 mi · 12 min · East FM 580

  17. 17

    Continue on Farm-to-Market Road 580

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

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto FM 116

    13.9 mi · 17 min · FM 116

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Main Street

    2.3 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto North Lutterloh Avenue

    59 m · 6 sec · North Lutterloh Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right

    59 m · 16 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right

    30 m · 7 sec

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
144 mi · 45%
US 281 HOV Lane
103 mi · 33%
East FM 580
16.4 mi · 5%
McAllister Freeway
14.6 mi · 5%
FM 116
13.9 mi · 4%
South Pan Am Expressway
12 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Purple Heart Trail

Continue on Purple Heart Trail

144 mi · 02h 27m

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 58m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.7 mi
291.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Olmos Park
02h 59m from Laredo
Leave By
5:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Laredo and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Gatesville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 318.1 miles (511.9 km) and usually takes 05h 58m 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 Laredo and 158.7 miles from Gatesville.

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 26.7 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 5:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.40 one way or $84.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Laredo and Gatesville. Straight-line distance: 291.43 mi (469.01 km).

Laredo

#1 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
Gatesville

#2 Gatesville

City in Texas, United States

Population12,550
Coordinates31.4351600, -97.7439100
Altitude246
CountryUnited States
Start: Laredo (-99.50754, 27.50641)
End: Gatesville (-97.74391, 31.43516)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 512 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.22 gal
42.49 L · about $42.40
Round trip
$84.80
22.44 gal · 84.98 L
Estimated CO2
99.7 kg one way
Round trip: 199.4 kg / 440 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $42.40 $84.80
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.71 $95.41
Premium $4.59 $51.51 $103.02
Diesel $3.99 $44.80 $89.60

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 Laredo and Gatesville. The current time is 21:41:15.

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.