Origin
Childress, TX
Late night in Childress on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Childress, TX to Laredo, TX
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
10h 28m
Distance
564.6 mi
909 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$85
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 19m
★
6 AM
10h 29m
8 AM
10h 48m
10 AM
10h 35m
12 PM
10h 33m
3 PM
10h 36m
5 PM
10h 47m
8 PM
10h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Childress, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Childress, TX to Laredo, TX covers 564.6 miles and takes about 10h 28m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, US 83, US Highway 83 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 139.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $85.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
282.3 miles from Childress, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 37m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
At 564.6 miles and 10h 28m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Purple Heart Trail and US 83.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 139.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 10h 28m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 210.6 miles in near US 83 / South 7th Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 564.6 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 210.6 miles (US 83 / South 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 298.3 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 392.6 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
210.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m in
|
US 83 / South 7th Street
Turn left onto US 83 / South 7th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
298.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 54m in
|
US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
6
392.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 27m in
|
I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
397.9 mi into trip
|
~7h 33m in
Take the exit toward Frontage Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
5
399.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 36m in
|
Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop
Merge onto Loop 1604 / Anderson Loop
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Childress, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 West along the way.
Loop 1604 West
399.5 mi in
|
~7h 36m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 139.7 mi | 2h 21m |
| US 83 | 126.4 mi | 2h 29m |
| US Highway 83 North | 90.1 mi | 1h 52m |
| I 10 | 59.6 mi | 1h |
| Grassmeyer Street | 41.9 mi | 44m |
| Commercial Avenue | 32.5 mi | 35m |
| Ellis Street | 29.4 mi | 31m |
| Anderson Loop | 24.4 mi | 29m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 139.7 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Childress, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on US 287
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue F Northeast
2
Turn left onto US 62; US 83
90 mi
·
1 hr 52 min
·
US Highway 83 North
3
Turn right onto US 83
98 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 83
4
Turn left onto US 83; US 380
39 mi
·
57 min
·
US 83; US 380
5
Continue on US 83; US 277
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
West Court Plaza
6
Turn slight right onto US 83; US 277
32 mi
·
35 min
·
Commercial Avenue
7
Continue on US 83; US 84
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
US 83; US 84
8
Continue on US 83
39 mi
·
44 min
·
US 83
9
Turn left onto US 83
17 mi
·
18 min
·
South 7th Street
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on US 83
42 mi
·
44 min
·
Grassmeyer Street
11
Continue on US 83
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Ellis Street
12
Take the exit onto US 83
40 mi
·
38 min
·
US 83
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on I 10
54 mi
·
54 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 556B
Toward Frontage Road
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 West
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
17
Turn right onto North Loop 1604 West
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Loop 1604 West
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Loop 1604 West
19
Merge onto Loop 1604
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Anderson Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto Interstate 35 South
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Interstate 35 South
21
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 35 South
22
Merge onto I 35
140 mi
·
2 hr 21 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Houston Street
24
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Salinas Avenue
25
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft
·
5 sec
·
Matamoros Street
26
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
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.
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 282.3 miles from Childress, TX, or about 5h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.7 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 124 miles or 2h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 282.3 miles or 5h 37m 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 282.3 miles or 5h 37m
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 9h 27m
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 Childress, 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 Childress, TX
Aim for roughly 282 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Laredo, TX
Aim for roughly 282 miles and 5.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 124 miles from Childress, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 139.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 282.3 mi from Childress, TX · 5h 37m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
186 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
373 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 San Antonio, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
282 mi · about 5.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Kerrville, TX after about 282 miles or 5.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 124 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 282.3 miles from Childress, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 139.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 282 miles or 5.2 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
$85.31 one way
$170.62 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
198 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $93.38 | $186.76 |
| premium | $4.54 | $100.81 | $201.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $124.66 | $249.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$85
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$215–$325
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 197.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $59 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 169.4 | 2 | $59.28 | $27.10 |
| Efficient EV | 141.2 | 1 | $49.40 | $22.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 225.8 | 2 | $79.04 | $36.13 |
Gas CO2
198 kg
EV CO2
66 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Laredo on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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.
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
4 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
10h 28m 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 Childress, TX to Laredo, TX covers 564.6 miles and takes about 10h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, US 83, US Highway 83 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
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 282 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 282.3 miles from Childress, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $85.31 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 564.6 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 210.6 miles (US 83 / South 7th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 298.3 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 392.6 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Childress, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Loop 1604 West along the way.
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