Origin
Medina, TX
Morning in Medina on Saturday
Local time
8:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Medina, TX to Laredo, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
184.8 mi
297 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 20m
★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 55m
8 PM
3h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Medina, TX
Mark Direen
Laredo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 184.8-mile drive from Medina to Laredo, Texas, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including parts of the Purple Heart Trail and State Highway 173 South. With about 30% of the journey on highways, it offers a varied driving experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $28. Since both Medina and Laredo are located within the Great Plains region, you can expect a consistent landscape throughout your travels. This route is a straightforward option for a day trip across Texas.
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
92.4 miles from Medina, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving 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 32m. Total distance: 184.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Medina to Laredo presents a mixed driving profile. Approximately 30% of the route utilizes highways, interspersed with other road types. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 122 miles along the Purple Heart Trail, offering a significant period of consistent travel. The route incorporates State Highway 173 South and FM 3240, suggesting a blend of faster-paced sections and more local road experiences. This variety means you won't be stuck on a single type of road for the entire 3-hour journey.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 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 122 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 early in the drive near TX 16 / State Highway 16 North.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Medina, TX to Laredo, TX is easy. At 3h 32m with 30% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 16 / State Highway 16 North): Navigation decision point; at 62 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.4 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
TX 16 / State Highway 16 North
Turn left onto TX 16 / State Highway 16 North
Navigation decision point
5
62 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Take the ramp toward Texas 173: Devine, Jourdanton
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Texas 173: Devine, Jourdanton
5
62.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge onto I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
184.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
|
I 35 Bus / Salinas Avenue
Turn left onto I 35 Bus / Salinas Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
184.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
|
Matamoros Street
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Medina, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward Texas 173: Devine and Jourdanton.
Texas 173: Devine
62 mi in
|
~1h 27m
Jourdanton
62 mi in
|
~1h 27m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 122 mi | 2h 3m |
| State Highway 173 South | 46.3 mi | 1h 6m |
| FM 3240 | 7.2 mi | 7m |
| Ranch Road 2828 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| State Highway 16 North | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| West Hondo Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 173 North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 122 mi, about 2h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Medina, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on Newcomer Lane
65 ft
·
9 sec
·
Newcomer Lane
2
Turn left onto TX 16
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 16 North
3
Turn left onto RM 2828
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Ranch Road 2828
4
Turn right onto FM 3240
7.2 mi
·
7 min
·
FM 3240
5
Turn right onto TX 173
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 173 North
6
Turn left onto TX 16; TX 173
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
7
Continue on TX 173
46 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
State Highway 173 South
8
Continue on TX 173
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Hondo Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Texas 173: Devine, Jourdanton
10
Merge onto I 35
122 mi
·
2 hr 3 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Houston Street
12
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft
·
12 sec
·
Salinas Avenue
13
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft
·
5 sec
·
Matamoros Street
14
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
For this 184.8-mile trip, you can comfortably complete it in one day. Departing Medina in the morning will allow ample time to reach Laredo without feeling rushed. With a duration of just over 3.5 hours, you’ll only need one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 122-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $28 is a good budget to keep in mind for this 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 92.4 miles from Medina, TX, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122 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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.4 miles or 1h 58m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laredo, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Medina, 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 Medina, TX
This is one driving day of about 184.8 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Medina, 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 122 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92.4 mi from Medina, TX · 1h 58m 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92.4 miles from Medina, 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 122 miles.
Arriving in Laredo, TX
The final approach into Laredo, 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 Laredo, 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
$27.92 one way
$55.85 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $30.56 | $61.13 |
| premium | $4.54 | $32.99 | $65.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.80 | $81.60 |
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: 64.7 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 | 55.4 | 0 | $19.40 | $8.87 |
| Efficient EV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.17 | $7.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.9 | 0 | $25.87 | $11.83 |
Gas CO2
65 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
Laredo, TX
Morning in Laredo on Saturday
Local time
8:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 32m 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 Medina, TX to Laredo, TX covers 184.8 miles and takes about 3h 32m 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 South, FM 3240. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92.4 miles from Medina, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.92 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 Medina, TX to Laredo, TX is easy. At 3h 32m with 30% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TX 16 / State Highway 16 North): Navigation decision point; at 62 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.4 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Medina, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward Texas 173: Devine and Jourdanton.
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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