Origin
Laredo, TX
Evening in Laredo on Friday
Local time
7:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laredo, TX to San Carlos, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 9m
Distance
159.8 mi
257 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 58m
★
6 AM
3h 9m
8 AM
3h 33m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 15m
3 PM
3h 19m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
San Carlos, TX
Fer Strange
Trip Overview
Laredo to San Carlos is 160 miles and takes about 3 hours via US-83 and La Joya Bypass, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region, primarily on US Highway 83. Given its relatively short distance and straightforward path, it's a very manageable one-day drive. You'll spend most of your time on main highways, making it an efficient way to cover ground between these two Texas locations. Consider this route if you're looking for a no-fuss journey with predictable travel times.
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
79.9 miles from Laredo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m 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 9m. Total distance: 159.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 64% of the route utilizing major roads like US Highway 83 and the La Joya Bypass. You'll encounter a 62-mile stretch on US Highway 83, which offers a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. The landscape is likely to be relatively consistent, given its highway-centric nature. Expect a straightforward driving experience with minimal complex turns or city traffic impacting your progress for the bulk of the 3-hour trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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 62 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on United States Highway 83 and La Joya Bypass. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near North Meadow Avenue.
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 3h 9m 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 1.7 miles (North Meadow Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 83 / South Zapata Highway): Navigation decision point; at 123.2 miles (US 83 / La Joya Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 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
6
123.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
|
US 83 / La Joya Bypass
Keep slight left at fork onto US 83 / La Joya Bypass
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
146.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 416B
Toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
8
154.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward FM 2128: Schunior Road, Richardson Road, Chapin Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward FM 2128: Schunior Road, Richardson Road,...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| United States Highway 83 | 62 mi | 1h 9m |
| La Joya Bypass | 23.7 mi | 26m |
| North Grant Street | 17.4 mi | 20m |
| East US Highway 83 | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| US Highway 83 South | 14.2 mi | 15m |
| I 69C | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| South Zapata Highway | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| West Expressway 83 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
United States Highway 83
— 62 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laredo, TX and San Carlos, 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
54 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
United States Highway 83
7
Continue on US 83
17 mi
·
20 min
·
North Grant Street
8
Continue on US 83
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
United States Highway 83
9
Continue on US 83
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Main Street
10
Continue on US 83
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
11
Continue on US 83
15 mi
·
17 min
·
East US Highway 83
12
Continue on US 83
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Expressway 83
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 83
24 mi
·
26 min
·
La Joya Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 416B
Toward I 69C North, US 281: Edinburg
15
Continue on I 69C
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
I 69C
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 7
Toward FM 2128: Schunior Road, Richardson Road, Chapin Road
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto North Expressway 281
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Expressway 281
18
Turn right onto FM 2128
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
East Richardson Road
19
Continue on FM 2128
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Richardson Street
20
Continue on FM 2128
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
East Schunior Street
21
Continue on FM 2128
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Richardson Road
22
At end of road, turn left onto TX 107
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
TX 107
23
Continue on TX 107
467 ft
·
15 sec
·
TX 107
24
Arrive at destination
TX 107
Trip Plan
Since this drive is only about 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning allows you to avoid early rush hour and still have ample daylight to reach San Carlos comfortably. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $24, you won't need to plan extensive breaks or frequent refueling. Keep an eye on US Highway 83 for any potential construction, as it's the primary artery for this leg of 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 79.9 miles from Laredo, TX, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.9 miles or 1h 35m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Carlos, 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 159.8 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 United States Highway 83 for about 62 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.9 mi from Laredo, TX · 1h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.9 miles from Laredo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before United States Highway 83 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62 miles.
Arriving in San Carlos, TX
The final approach into San Carlos, 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 San Carlos, 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
$24.15 one way
$48.29 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $26.43 | $52.86 |
| premium | $4.54 | $28.53 | $57.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.28 | $70.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.78 | $7.67 |
| Efficient EV | 40 | 0 | $13.98 | $6.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.9 | 0 | $22.37 | $10.23 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
San Carlos, TX
Evening in San Carlos on Friday
Local time
7:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Roma, TX
80 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
14 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 9m 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 San Carlos, TX covers 159.8 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are United States Highway 83, La Joya Bypass, North Grant Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.9 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 $24.15 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 9m 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 1.7 miles (North Meadow Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 83 / South Zapata Highway): Navigation decision point; at 123.2 miles (US 83 / La Joya Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Laredo, TX to San Carlos, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from Laredo, TX or browse trips ending in San Carlos, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.