How far is Laredo, TX from Houston, TX?

The driving distance from Laredo, TX to Houston, TX is about 316 miles (508.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 295.7 miles (475.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 16m 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
316.02 mi
05h 08m
Flight
295.73 mi
475.93 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
295.73 mi
Kilometers
475.93 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
316.02 mi
Kilometers
508.59 km
Drive Time
05h 08m

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 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Houston
Wed, Apr 22, 8:37 PM CDT
Return by in Laredo
Thu, Apr 23, 1:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Laredo
2026-04-22T15:28
Arrive Houston
Wed, Apr 22, 8:37 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 08m
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 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
Santa Clara
TX

City in Texas, USA

From Laredo
175 mi
02h 34m
To Houston
141 mi
02h 34m

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
78°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    8.4 mi · 10 min · South Pan Am Expressway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 10 East, US 90 West, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston, Del Rio

    616 ft · 15 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston

    2146 ft · 52 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Jose Lopez Freeway

    8 mi · 9 min · Jose Lopez Freeway

  8. 8

    Continue on 90th Infantry Division Highway

    22.2 mi · 23 min · 90th Infantry Division Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco

    165.5 mi · 2 hr 52 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown, Theatre District

    2064 ft · 52 sec

  11. 11

    Continue on Smith Street

    704 ft · 29 sec · Smith Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Preston Street

    101 m · 17 sec · Preston Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Louisiana Street

    55 m · 5 sec · Louisiana Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Louisiana Street

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 10 East
166 mi · 53%
Purple Heart Trail
144 mi · 46%
90th Infantry Division Highway
22.2 mi · 7%
South Pan Am Expressway
8.4 mi · 3%
Jose Lopez Freeway
7.98 mi · 3%
Downtown
0.39 mi
Longest Stretch

I 10 East

Continue on I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco

166 mi · 02h 52m

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 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.3 mi
295.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Santa Clara
02h 34m from Laredo
Leave By
6:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Laredo and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms near Houston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 316 miles (508.6 km) and usually takes 05h 08m 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?

Santa Clara is a useful midpoint, sitting about 175 miles from Laredo and 141 miles from Houston.

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

The direct path is about 295.7 miles (475.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.3 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 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 $42.14 one way or $84.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Santa Clara

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 Santa Clara and the surrounding midpoint area.
New Braunfels Parks and Recreation
Scenic stop 14.8 mi away

New Braunfels Parks and Recreation

New Braunfels , TX
110 Golf Course Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Rating 4.1/5 29 reviews City government office,Park,Skateboard park
Schertz EMS
Practical stop 6.6 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
Converse City Hall
Meeting point 7.5 mi away

Converse City Hall

Converse , TX
406 S Seguin Rd, Converse, TX 78109
Rating 3.7/5 15 reviews City government office,Local government office,City Hall
New Braunfels Municipal Court
Nearby stop 14.3 mi away

New Braunfels Municipal Court

New Braunfels , TX
550 Landa St, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Rating 3.6/5 10 reviews City courthouse

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Santa Clara.

RAIL

San Antonio Station

36 mi away
350 Hoefgen Street
RAIL

San Marcos Station

45 mi away
338 South Guadalupe St.
RAIL

Austin

91 mi away
250 North Lamar Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Laredo and Houston. Straight-line distance: 295.73 mi (475.93 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
Houston

#2 Houston

The fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Houston metropolitan area.

Population2,316,120
Coordinates29.7632800, -95.3632700
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Start: Matamoros Street (-99.507507, 27.506385)
End: Louisiana Street (-95.363596, 29.76347)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 509 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 30m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.15 gal
42.21 L · about $42.14
Round trip
$84.27
22.3 gal · 84.42 L
Estimated CO2
99.1 kg one way
Round trip: 198.2 kg / 437 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $42.14 $84.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.41 $94.82
Premium $4.59 $51.19 $102.38
Diesel $3.99 $44.52 $89.04

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Laredo and Houston. The current time is 15:28:56.

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.