Origin
Laredo, TX
Late night in Laredo on Wednesday
Local time
3:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laredo, TX to Medina, TX
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
50.5 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
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
This straightforward 50.5-mile drive from Laredo, TX to Medina, TX takes about 1 hour and 2 minutes. Primarily using United States Highway 83, with segments of US Highway 83 South and South Zapata Highway, it's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost is around $8, making it an economical journey. You'll be traversing within the Great Plains region for both your origin and destination. This route offers a practical and efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
25.2 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this 50.5-mile route, with 79% of the drive utilizing major highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 25.7 miles along United States Highway 83. This suggests a consistent pace for a significant portion of your journey. The road character is likely to remain consistent, focusing on efficient travel rather than varied landscapes or winding paths. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained, high-speed roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
United States Highway 83 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on United States Highway 83 and US Highway 83 South. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near North Meadow Avenue.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Laredo, TX to Medina, TX is easy. At 1h 2m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (North Meadow Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 83 / South Zapata Highway): Navigation decision point; at 49 miles (TX 16 / West 13th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
North Meadow Avenue
Turn right onto North Meadow Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
3.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 83 / South Zapata Highway
Turn right onto US 83 / South Zapata Highway
Navigation decision point
4
49 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
TX 16 / West 13th Avenue
Turn left onto TX 16 / West 13th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
50.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
10th Street
Turn left onto 10th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| United States Highway 83 | 25.7 mi | 28m |
| US Highway 83 South | 14.2 mi | 15m |
| South Zapata Highway | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| North Meadow Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
| West 13th Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Chihuahua Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Matamoros Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 10th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
United States Highway 83
— 25.7 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Medina, TX.
1
Start on Matamoros Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Matamoros Street
2
Continue on US 83
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Chihuahua Street
3
Turn right onto North Meadow Avenue
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
North Meadow Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 83
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
South Zapata Highway
5
Continue on US 83
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 83 South
6
Continue on US 83
26 mi
·
28 min
·
United States Highway 83
7
Turn left onto TX 16
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
West 13th Avenue
8
Turn left onto 10th Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
10th Street
9
Arrive at destination
10th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just over an hour, this route offers considerable flexibility. There are no designated stops listed, so you can depart Laredo at your convenience. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Medina, and plan a fuel stop if needed, though the $8 estimated cost suggests it's not a major concern. The primary road, United States Highway 83, is your main artery, so stay aware of your surroundings as you navigate its stretches. This is a drive where you can easily depart, reach your destination, and still have most of your day ahead of you.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 25.2 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.7 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 50.5 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.2 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 53m
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 50.5 miles and 1h 2m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on United States Highway 83 for about 25.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.2 mi from Laredo, TX · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 50.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from Laredo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.63 one way
$15.26 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $8.35 | $16.70 |
| premium | $4.54 | $9.02 | $18.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.15 | $22.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Late night in Medina on Wednesday
Local time
3:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Rio Bravo, TX
25 mi in
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
6 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
1h 2m 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 50.5 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are United States Highway 83, US Highway 83 South, South Zapata Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.2 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 $7.63 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Laredo, TX to Medina, TX is easy. At 1h 2m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (North Meadow Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 83 / South Zapata Highway): Navigation decision point; at 49 miles (TX 16 / West 13th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Laredo, TX to Medina, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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