Origin
Laredo, TX
Afternoon in Laredo on Sunday
Local time
2:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laredo, TX to Ballinger, TX
Drive Time
6h 9m
Distance
354.2 mi
570 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
Laredo, TX
Jeff Stapleton
Ballinger, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
The drive from Laredo, TX to Ballinger, TX covers 354.2 miles and takes about 6h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on San Dario Avenue, Purple Heart Trail, Loop 1604 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.11 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
177.1 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 9m drive with frequent turns across 354.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Dario Avenue 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
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 9m, 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 Laredo, TX to Ballinger, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Dario Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Purple Heart Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Loop 1604 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Interstate 35 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Anderson Loop | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Valero Way | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Loop 1604 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Interstate 10 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
San Dario Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Ballinger, TX.
1
Start on Matamoros Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Matamoros Street
2
Turn left onto San Dario Avenue
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
San Dario Avenue
3
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
140 mi
·
2 hr 22 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
4
Take the exit slight right toward Loop 1604: Somerset
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Loop 1604: Somerset
5
Continue on Interstate 35 South
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Interstate 35 South
6
Turn left onto Anderson Loop
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Anderson Loop
7
Keep slight left to continue on Anderson Loop
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Anderson Loop
8
Take the exit slight right toward Valero Way
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Valero Way
9
Turn straight onto North Loop 1604 West
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Loop 1604 West
10
Turn left onto Interstate 10 West
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Interstate 10 West
11
Take the ramp slight left toward I 10 West, US 87 North
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 10 West, US 87 North
12
Merge slight left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
13
Keep slight right
99 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
15
Turn right onto North Main Street
29 mi
·
30 min
·
North Main Street
16
Continue on Frisco Avenue
42 mi
·
44 min
·
Frisco Avenue
17
Continue on Roberts Avenue
17 mi
·
18 min
·
Roberts Avenue
18
Arrive at your destination
3 ft
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 177.1 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 3h 4m 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 80 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.1 miles or 3h 4m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ballinger, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Laredo, TX
This is one driving day of about 354.2 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Laredo, 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 177.1 mi from Laredo, TX · 3h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 177.1 miles from Laredo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ballinger, TX
The final approach into Ballinger, 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 Ballinger, 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
$54.11 one way
$108.21 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $59.29 | $118.59 |
| premium | $4.59 | $64.02 | $128.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $78.69 | $157.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.3 | 1 | $37.19 | $17.00 |
| Efficient EV | 88.6 | 1 | $30.99 | $14.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.7 | 1 | $49.59 | $22.67 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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
Ballinger, TX
Afternoon in Ballinger on Sunday
Local time
2:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°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
18 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
6h 9m 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 Laredo, TX to Ballinger, TX covers 354.2 miles and takes about 6h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Dario Avenue, Purple Heart Trail, Loop 1604. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 177.1 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 $54.11 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 9m, 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 Laredo, TX to Ballinger, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Laredo, TX to Ballinger, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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