Origin
Laredo, TX
Night in Laredo on Friday
Local time
11:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laredo, TX to Rio Bravo, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
12.9 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Rio Bravo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Laredo, TX to Rio Bravo, TX covers 12.9 miles and takes about 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Zapata Highway, US Highway 83 South, North Meadow Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.4 miles on South Zapata Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.95 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 12.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (19%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 22m drive with frequent turns across 12.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Zapata Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.4 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 11.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 22m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 miles (Paseo de Danubio): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 12.5 miles (Centeno Lane): 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
11.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward Rio Bravo, El Cenizo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Rio Bravo, El Cenizo
5
11.7 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
Paseo de Danubio
Turn sharp right onto Paseo de Danubio
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
12.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Centeno Lane
Turn right onto Centeno Lane
Navigation decision point
5
12.6 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Peña Drive
Turn left onto Peña Drive
Navigation decision point
5
12.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Orquidia Lane
Turn right onto Orquidia Lane
Navigation decision point
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 Laredo, TX to Rio Bravo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward El Cenizo along the way.
El Cenizo
11.4 mi in
|
~18m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Zapata Highway | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| US Highway 83 South | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| North Meadow Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
| Chihuahua Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Paseo de Danubio | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Matamoros Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Orquidia Lane | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 83 Frontage Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
South Zapata Highway
— 5.4 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and Rio Bravo, 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
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
US Highway 83 South
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward Rio Bravo, El Cenizo
7
Continue on US 83 Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
US 83 Frontage Road
8
Turn sharp right onto Paseo de Danubio
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Paseo de Danubio
9
Continue on Martha Drive
375 ft
·
14 sec
·
Martha Drive
10
Turn right onto Centeno Lane
344 ft
·
17 sec
·
Centeno Lane
11
Turn left onto Peña Drive
363 ft
·
14 sec
·
Peña Drive
12
Turn right onto Orquidia Lane
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Orquidia Lane
13
Arrive at destination
Orquidia Lane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.95 one way
$3.90 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $2.13 | $4.27 |
| premium | $4.54 | $2.30 | $4.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.85 | $5.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.35 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Rio Bravo, TX
Night in Rio Bravo on Friday
Local time
11:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
22m 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 Rio Bravo, TX covers 12.9 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Zapata Highway, US Highway 83 South, North Meadow Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.4 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 $1.95 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.
This is a straightforward 22m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.7 miles (Paseo de Danubio): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 12.5 miles (Centeno Lane): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Laredo, TX to Rio Bravo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward El Cenizo along the way.
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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