Origin
Center, TX
Night in Center on Thursday
Local time
9:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Center, TX to Laredo, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
9h 12m
Distance
491.1 mi
790 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$74
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 4m
★
6 AM
9h 12m
8 AM
9h 29m
10 AM
9h 18m
12 PM
9h 16m
3 PM
9h 19m
5 PM
9h 28m
8 PM
9h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Center, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embark on a 491.1-mile journey from Center, Texas, to Laredo, Texas, a drive that will likely take around 9 hours and 12 minutes to complete. Given the duration, this route is best split over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace and time to appreciate the scenery. You'll be spending about 62% of your time on highways, with the main roads including TX 21, Purple Heart Trail, and West State Highway 7. With an estimated fuel cost of $74 and a recommended two stops, this highway-focused drive offers a straightforward way to traverse the Great Plains region of Texas. Consider this a practical, no-fuss trip for getting from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
245.5 miles from Center, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 62% of the total mileage on faster roads. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch at 148.3 miles on TX 21, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While much of the route utilizes main highways, the inclusion of TX 21, Purple Heart Trail, and West State Highway 7 suggests a mix that could offer varied driving experiences beyond a typical interstate. Expect a steady pace for much of the journey, making it an efficient way to cover ground across the Texas landscape.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
TX 21 is the longest continuous segment at about 148.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 21 and Purple Heart Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near TX 7; TX 87 / Nacogdoches Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 491.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (TX 7; TX 87 / Nacogdoches Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 260.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 295.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 31 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
TX 7; TX 87 / Nacogdoches Street
Turn sharp left onto TX 7; TX 87 / Nacogdoches Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
260.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 16m in
Turn left toward US 183, Toll 130 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 183, Toll 130 South
7
295.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
337.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 33m in
|
I 10; US 87
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87 toward I 35, I 10 West, US 87 North: Laredo, El Paso, Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 572
Toward I 35, I 10 West, US 87 North: Laredo, El...
7
337.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35 South: Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Laredo
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Center, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward Toll 130 South, El Paso and Austin.
Toll 130 South
260.1 mi in
|
~5h 16m
El Paso
337.2 mi in
|
~6h 33m
|
via I 10; US 87
Austin
337.2 mi in
|
~6h 33m
|
via I 10; US 87
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| TX 21 | 148.3 mi | 2h 48m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 144.5 mi | 2h 26m |
| West State Highway 7 | 51.7 mi | 1h 4m |
| Pickle Parkway | 34 mi | 29m |
| I 10 | 32.7 mi | 33m |
| Nacogdoches Street | 30.2 mi | 44m |
| West State Highway 21 | 17.8 mi | 20m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
TX 21
— 148.3 mi, about 2h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Center, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on Porter Street
50 ft
·
7 sec
·
Porter Street
2
Turn left onto Jackson
238 ft
·
12 sec
·
Jackson
3
Turn right onto TX 87
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Shelbyville Street
4
Turn sharp left onto TX 7; TX 87
459 ft
·
13 sec
·
Nacogdoches Street
5
Turn left onto TX 7; TX 87
464 ft
·
8 sec
·
Austin Street
6
Turn right onto TX 7
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
San Augustine Street
7
Turn slight right onto TX 7
30 mi
·
44 min
·
Nacogdoches Street
8
Continue on TX 7
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Center Road
9
Turn left onto Loop 224
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Northeast Stallings Drive
10
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
11
Turn left onto TX 7
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
South Fredonia Street
12
Continue on TX 7
52 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
West State Highway 7
13
Turn right onto US 287; TX 7
129 ft
·
2 sec
·
5th Street
14
Turn left onto US 287; TX 7; TX 19; TX 21
196 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Houston Avenue
15
Turn left onto US 287; TX 7; TX 19; TX 21
289 ft
·
8 sec
·
South 4th Street
16
Turn right onto TX 7; TX 21
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Goliad Avenue
17
Turn left onto TX 21
145 mi
·
2 hr 44 min
·
TX 21
Use the left lane.
18
Turn left onto TX 95
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
State Highway 95
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn right onto TX 21
409 ft
·
10 sec
·
State Highway 71 East
Use the right lane.
20
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward TX 21 West, TX 71 West
21
Merge onto TX 21; TX 71
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 71 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on TX 71; TX 21
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
TX 71; TX 21
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on TX 21; TX 71
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
TX 21; TX 71
24
Take the exit onto TX 21
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
TX 21
Toward TX 21 West: San Marcos
25
Turn left onto TX 21
18 mi
·
20 min
·
West State Highway 21
26
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 183, Toll 130 South
Use the left lane.
27
Turn straight onto US 183
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 183
28
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward TX 130 Toll South
29
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
34 mi
·
29 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
31
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
9.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 10; US 90
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Take the exit onto I 10; US 87
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 10; US 87
Exit 572
Toward I 35, I 10 West, US 87 North: Laredo, El Paso, Austin
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Laredo
Use the slight left lane.
38
Merge onto I 35
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on I 35
144 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Houston Street
41
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Salinas Avenue
42
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft
·
5 sec
·
Matamoros Street
43
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
For this 9-hour and 12-minute drive, splitting the 491.1 miles over two days is highly recommended. Aim to start your first day early to maximize daylight hours, especially since the longest stretch without a break is 148.3 miles on TX 21. Plan for your two recommended stops strategically, perhaps midway through your driving day or at a point where you can easily find amenities. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as highway driving can consume it steadily, and the estimated fuel cost is $74. A key tip for this route: be aware of potential changes in speed limits when transitioning between the main highways and other designated roads like Purple Heart Trail.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 245.5 miles from Center, TX, or about 4h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.3 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 108 miles or 2h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 245.5 miles or 4h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 245.5 miles or 4h 59m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 10m
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 Center, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Center, TX
Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laredo, TX
Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from Center, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on TX 21 for about 148.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 245.5 mi from Center, TX · 4h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
246 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Austin, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
246 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 246 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 245.5 miles from Center, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before TX 21 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 148.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 246 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Laredo, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$74.21 one way
$148.41 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
172 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $81.22 | $162.45 |
| premium | $4.54 | $87.68 | $175.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $108.43 | $216.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 171.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 147.3 | 1 | $51.57 | $23.57 |
| Efficient EV | 122.8 | 1 | $42.97 | $19.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 196.4 | 2 | $68.75 | $31.43 |
Gas CO2
172 kg
EV CO2
57 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
Night in Laredo on Thursday
Local time
9:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
SE 10 to 14 mph
0% chance
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
40 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
9h 12m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Center, TX to Laredo, TX covers 491.1 miles and takes about 9h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are TX 21, Purple Heart Trail, West State Highway 7. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 246 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 245.5 miles from Center, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $74.21 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 491.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (TX 7; TX 87 / Nacogdoches Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 260.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 295.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Center, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward Toll 130 South, El Paso and Austin.
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