Origin
Laredo, TX
Morning in Laredo on Saturday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laredo, TX to Medina, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
183.8 mi
296 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 44m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Medina, TX
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
Laredo, TX to Medina, TX is 183.8 miles and takes about 3h 33m via Purple Heart Trail, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Great Plains region of South Texas to another part of the same region. Expect a mixed driving experience with a significant portion on local roads. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is a straightforward option for getting from Laredo to Medina without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.9 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Laredo, TX
Full guide →Laredo is a city with 262,000 (2019) inhabitants on the South Texas Plains. Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, is just across the Rio Grande.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 183.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed drive, with 31% of your journey on highways. You'll experience one long stretch of 119.9 miles primarily on Purple Heart Trail, which means you'll have a substantial segment without major intersections. The drive progresses through State Highway 173 North and FM 3240, suggesting a transition from potentially faster routes to more rural or county-level roads as you approach Medina. Be prepared for varied road conditions and speeds throughout the 3-hour-plus trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 16 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 119.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near San Dario Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Laredo, TX to Medina, TX is easy. At 3h 33m with 31% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (San Dario Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 120.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 170.7 miles (TX 173 / State Highway 173 North): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
San Dario Avenue
Turn left onto San Dario Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
120.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward TX 132 North: Devine
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 121
Toward TX 132 North: Devine
4
170.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
|
TX 173 / State Highway 173 North
Turn right onto TX 173 / State Highway 173 North
Navigation decision point
4
178.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 27m in
|
RM 2828 / Ranch Road 2828
At end of road, turn left onto RM 2828 / Ranch Road 2828
Navigation decision point
4
183.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 33m in
|
Newcomer Lane
Turn right onto Newcomer Lane
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 119.9 mi | 2h 2m |
| State Highway 173 North | 46.8 mi | 1h 7m |
| FM 3240 | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Ranch Road 2828 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| State Highway 16 North | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| State Highway 132 South | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Hondo Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 119.9 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Medina, 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 I 35; I 27; US 83
120 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 121
Toward TX 132 North: Devine
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on Interstate 35 South
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Interstate 35 South
6
Turn straight onto TX 132
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 132 South
7
Continue on TX 132
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Teel Drive
8
Turn left onto TX 173
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Hondo Avenue
9
Continue on TX 173
46 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
State Highway 173 North
10
Continue on TX 173
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
11
Turn right onto TX 173
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 173 North
12
Turn left onto FM 3240
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
FM 3240
13
At end of road, turn left onto RM 2828
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Ranch Road 2828
14
Turn right onto TX 16
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 16 North
15
Turn right onto Newcomer Lane
65 ft
·
2 sec
·
Newcomer Lane
16
Arrive at destination
Newcomer Lane
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 33m duration, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Medina comfortably within daylight hours. You'll only have one stop planned, so be sure to fuel up before departing Laredo, as the $28 fuel estimate covers the entire 183.8 miles. The longest stretch without significant breaks is nearly 120 miles, so plan accordingly for restroom or refreshment needs before you embark on that segment. This one-day trip offers flexibility; consider departing mid-morning to enjoy a relaxed start to your journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 91.9 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.9 miles.
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 40 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.9 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Medina, 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 183.8 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 119.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 91.9 mi from Laredo, TX · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 91.9 miles from Laredo, 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 119.9 miles.
Arriving in Medina, TX
The final approach into Medina, 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 Medina, TX.
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
$27.77 one way
$55.55 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $30.40 | $60.80 |
| premium | $4.54 | $32.82 | $65.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.58 | $81.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.1 | 0 | $19.30 | $8.82 |
| Efficient EV | 46 | 0 | $16.08 | $7.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.5 | 0 | $25.73 | $11.76 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Medina, TX
Morning in Medina on Saturday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
25 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
3h 33m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Medina, TX covers 183.8 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, State Highway 173 North, FM 3240. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 91.9 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 $27.77 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Laredo, TX to Medina, TX is easy. At 3h 33m with 31% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (San Dario Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 120.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 170.7 miles (TX 173 / State Highway 173 North): Navigation decision point.
The route from Laredo, TX to Medina, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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