Origin
Alvarado, TX
Afternoon in Alvarado on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alvarado, TX to Laredo, TX
Drive Time
6h 15m
Distance
413.8 mi
666 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$63
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 3m
★
6 AM
6h 15m
8 AM
6h 41m
10 AM
6h 24m
12 PM
6h 22m
3 PM
6h 25m
5 PM
6h 39m
8 PM
6h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alvarado, TX
Al d'Vilas
Laredo, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Trip Overview
The drive from Alvarado, TX to Laredo, TX covers 413.8 miles and takes about 6h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Friou Street, East College Street, South Sparks Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $63.21 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
206.9 miles from Alvarado, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 15m drive with frequent turns across 413.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Friou Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 15m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alvarado, TX to Laredo, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Friou Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East College Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Sparks Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Parkway Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35W South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 35 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South Friou Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alvarado, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on the route
79 ft
·
8 sec
·
the route
2
Turn slight right onto South Friou Street
112 ft
·
15 sec
·
South Friou Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto East College Street
413 ft
·
10 sec
·
East College Street
4
Turn right onto South Sparks Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Sparks Street
5
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Parkway Drive
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South Parkway Drive
6
Continue straight
486 ft
·
23 sec
7
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
8
Take the ramp slight left toward I 35W South
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 35W South
9
Merge slight left
58 mi
·
58 min
10
Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
11
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
12
Keep slight left
56 mi
·
58 min
13
Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
14
Continue on Interstate Highway 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
15
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
16
Continue on North Pan Am Expressway
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
17
Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
18
Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
19
Keep slight right to continue on South Pan Am Expressway
10 mi
·
12 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
20
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
144 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
21
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Houston Street
22
Turn left onto Salinas Avenue
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Salinas Avenue
23
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
305 ft
·
5 sec
·
Matamoros Street
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 206.9 miles from Alvarado, TX, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 91 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 206.9 miles or 3h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laredo, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alvarado, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alvarado, TX
This is one driving day of about 413.8 miles and 6h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Alvarado, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 206.9 mi from Alvarado, TX · 3h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
207 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 206.9 miles from Alvarado, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Laredo, TX
The final approach into Laredo, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Laredo, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.21 one way
$126.42 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
145 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $69.27 | $138.54 |
| premium | $4.59 | $74.79 | $149.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $91.93 | $183.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 144.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 124.1 | 1 | $43.45 | $19.86 |
| Efficient EV | 103.5 | 1 | $36.21 | $16.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 165.5 | 2 | $57.93 | $26.48 |
Gas CO2
145 kg
EV CO2
48 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Laredo, TX
Afternoon in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
12 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 15m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alvarado, TX to Laredo, TX covers 413.8 miles and takes about 6h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Friou Street, East College Street, South Sparks Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 206.9 miles from Alvarado, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $63.21 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 15m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Alvarado, TX to Laredo, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Alvarado, TX to Laredo, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Laredo, TX
More from Alvarado, TX
More trips to Laredo, TX
Explore more options from Alvarado, TX or browse trips ending in Laredo, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
Explore maps for Alvarado, TX or Laredo, TX on MapSof.net.