Trip from Laredo, TX to Aubrey, TX

Drive Time

8h 23m

Distance

472 mi

760 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$72

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Laredo, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Aubrey, TX

Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE

Trip Overview

Traveling from Laredo to Aubrey covers 472 miles, a journey that typically requires about 8 hours and 23 minutes of drive time. While you could technically push through in one long day, breaking the trip into two days is highly recommended to manage fatigue. Your route primarily utilizes the Purple Heart Trail, the South Pan Am Expressway, and I-35W. Expect to spend approximately $72 on fuel for the trek across the Texas Great Plains. Because this route involves a significant amount of local, turn-heavy driving, it is best to approach the planning process with a focus on pacing rather than just speed.

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

236 miles from Laredo, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, as this route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a simple interstate cruise. Only 27% of your travel occurs on major highways, meaning you will spend plenty of time navigating local roads. You will face your longest uninterrupted stretch early on, with 332.7 miles dedicated to the Purple Heart Trail. As you move away from the expressway portions, the road demands more attention and active steering. The transition between these different road types creates a shifting rhythm that keeps you engaged throughout the 472-mile journey.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 28 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 332.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 154.2 miles in near I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 472 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 154.2 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.9 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.4 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

154.2 mi into trip | ~2h 39m in | I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

155.9 mi into trip | ~2h 41m in | I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christ...

166.4 mi into trip | ~2h 54m in | North Pan Am Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 35: Austin

370.6 mi into trip | ~6h 31m in | I 35W

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W toward I 35W: Fort Worth

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 35W: Fort Worth

458.2 mi into trip | ~8h 3m in

Take the exit toward Loop 288

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 470 Toward Loop 288

Towns Along This Route

Between Laredo, TX and Aubrey, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi and Johnson City.

Corpus Christi

155.9 mi in | ~2h 41m | via I 35

Johnson City

155.9 mi in | ~2h 41m | via I 35

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	332.7 mi	5h 45m
I 35W	51.5 mi	54m
South Pan Am Expressway	21.5 mi	26m
North Freeway	17.8 mi	19m
I 35W TEXpress	16.3 mi	16m
East Sherman Drive	8.8 mi	13m
North Pan Am Expressway	7.4 mi	8m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 332.7 mi, about 5h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Aubrey, TX.

Start on Matamoros Street

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Matamoros Street

Turn left onto San Dario Avenue

0.1 mi · 11 sec · San Dario Avenue

Continue on I 35; I 27; US 83

144 mi · 2 hr 27 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 35

9.3 mi · 11 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

1.7 mi · 2 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35

10 mi · 13 min · South Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 37, US 281: Upper Level, Corpus Christi, Johnson City Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway

7.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 35: Austin Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

1.9 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

48 mi · 52 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290

96 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35W

52 mi · 54 min · I 35W

Toward I 35W: Fort Worth Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit onto I 35W TEXpress

16 mi · 16 min · I 35W TEXpress

Toward I 35W Express North: I 35W TEXpress North Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 35W

18 mi · 19 min · North Freeway

Use the none lane.

Merge onto I 35E; US 77

0.4 mi · 26 sec · I 35E; US 77

Continue on I 35; US 77

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 35; US 77

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec

Exit 470 Toward Loop 288 Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Interstate 35

0.7 mi · 59 sec · North Interstate 35

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 9 sec

Toward Loop 288 East

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 31 sec · this road

Merge onto Loop 288; US 380 Truck

3.3 mi · 4 min · North Loop 288

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward FM 428: Denton, Aubrey

Turn left onto FM 428

8.8 mi · 13 min · East Sherman Drive

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto FM 428

146 ft · 10 sec · South Main Street

Turn left onto East Elm Street

49 ft · 2 sec · East Elm Street

Arrive at destination

East Elm Street

Trip Plan

Given the 8-hour and 23-minute duration, plan to incorporate at least two scheduled stops to break up the monotony. If you choose to split the trip over two days, you will find the pace much more manageable, especially with the demanding nature of the local road sections. Try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours, which can complicate the turn-heavy segments of the drive. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $72 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local station prices. A smart strategy is to complete your longest 332.7-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail during the first half of your trip to ensure you aren't tackling the most technical roads while exhausted.

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 236 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 4h 10m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 332.7 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 104 miles or 1h 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 236 miles or 4h 10m 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 236 miles or 4h 10m

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 7h 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aubrey, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Laredo, 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 Laredo, TX

Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Aubrey, TX

Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 miles from Laredo, 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 332.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 236 mi from Laredo, TX · 4h 10m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Austin, TX

236 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, TX

Popular next leg

Austin, TX to Aubrey, TX

238.2 mi · 4h 16m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Austin, TX

236 mi · about 4.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near Austin, TX after about 236 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

San Antonio, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 104 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Austin, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 236 miles from Laredo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 332.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 236 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.

Arriving in Aubrey, TX

The final approach into Aubrey, 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 Aubrey, TX.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Aubrey, 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

$72.10 one way

$144.20 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 165 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$79.01	$158.03
premium	$4.59	$85.31	$170.63
diesel	$5.64	$104.86	$209.72

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$72

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$202–$312

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 165.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	141.6	1	$49.56	$22.66
Efficient EV	118	1	$41.30	$18.88
EV Truck/SUV	188.8	2	$66.08	$30.21

Gas CO2

165 kg

EV CO2

55 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Laredo, TX

Afternoon in Laredo on Sunday

Local time

2:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Aubrey, TX

Afternoon in Aubrey on Sunday

Local time

2:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

63°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

8 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

8h 23m 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 Laredo, TX to Aubrey, TX covers 472 miles and takes about 8h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, I 35W, South Pan Am Expressway. 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 236 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 236 miles from Laredo, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $72.10 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.

Between Laredo, TX and Aubrey, TX, road signs point toward Corpus Christi and Johnson City.

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Return Trip

Aubrey, TX to Laredo, TX

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472.7 mi 8h 23m

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Trip from Laredo, TX to Aubrey, TX

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Aubrey, TX

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Laredo, TX

Aubrey, TX

Same local time

8 degrees cooler at arrival

8h 23m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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