Richland Hills, TX to Laredo, TX is 429.9 miles and takes about 7h 37m via Purple Heart Trail, North South Freeway, and I-35, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the Great Plains, staying within the same state throughout. It's a straightforward, single-day journey that's quite manageable for most drivers. You'll be covering a significant distance, so plan for a full day on the road to reach your destination comfortably.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
215 miles from Richland Hills, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 50m into the drive
.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 37m. Total distance: 429.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 37m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This trip offers a mixed drive experience, with 43% of the route on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Purple Heart Trail, North South Freeway, and I-35. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll navigate is 244.1 miles, primarily on the Purple Heart Trail, meaning you'll have a substantial period of continuous driving. Expect a blend of faster highway travel and potentially some local road sections as you traverse the Texas landscape.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 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 244.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 429.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 192.7 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 266.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
6.8 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South: Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South:...
8
192.7 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
7
266.1 mi into trip|~4h 46m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South
8
272.5 mi into trip|~4h 54m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
8
274.6 mi into trip|~4h 57m in|I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87 / South Pan Am Expressway toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Housto...
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 Richland Hills, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 536: Houston along the way.
Step-by-step road directions between Richland Hills, TX and Laredo, TX.
1
Start on Dover Lane
117 ft·11 sec·Dover Lane
2
Turn left onto Vance Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Vance Road
3
Continue on Ash Park Drive
0.7 mi·2 min·Ash Park Drive
4
At end of road, turn right onto Airport Freeway
0.2 mi·25 sec·Airport Freeway
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward TX 121 South
6
Merge onto TX 121
5.3 mi·6 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Toward I 35W South, US 287 South, US 377 South: WacoUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 35W; US 287; US 377
85 mi·1 hr 28 min·North South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi·54 min·Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton StreetUse the slight left lane.
13
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi·11 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·8 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
2.1 mi·2 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, LaredoUse the slight left lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
10 mi·12 min·South Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 10 East, US 87 South, Spur 536: Houston, South Alamo StreetUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on I 35
144 mi·2 hr 26 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Houston Street
21
Turn left onto I 35 Bus
272 ft·12 sec·Salinas Avenue
22
Turn left onto Matamoros Street
306 ft·5 sec·Matamoros Street
23
Arrive at destination
Matamoros Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 37m estimated duration, an early morning departure from Richland Hills is recommended to maximize daylight. With two planned stops, you can break up the 429.9-mile journey effectively. The longest stretch is over 244 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as gas stations might be more spread out on certain parts of the Purple Heart Trail. This is a feasible one-day drive, allowing for flexibility in your pacing.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 215 miles from Richland Hills, TX, or about 3h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244.1 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 95 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 215 miles or 3h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 35m
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 Richland Hills, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Richland Hills, TX
This is one driving day of about 429.9 miles and 7h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Richland Hills, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 244.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 215 mi from Richland Hills, TX
· 3h 50m into the drive
The midpoint is around 215 miles from Richland Hills, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 244.1 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 88.9
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 281.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.96 one way
$129.92 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg150 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$71.10
$142.21
premium
$4.54
$76.76
$153.51
diesel
$5.61
$94.92
$189.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 150.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
129
1
$45.14
$20.64
Efficient EV
107.5
1
$37.62
$17.20
EV Truck/SUV
172
2
$60.19
$27.51
Gas CO2
150 kg
EV CO2
50 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Richland Hills, TX
Morning
in Richland Hills on Saturday
Local time
7:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 10 to 15 mph64% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 12:44AM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 12:34AM CDT until April 18 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Destination
Laredo, TX
Morning
in Laredo on Saturday
Local time
7:34 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
29 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
7h 37m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Richland Hills, TX to Laredo, TX covers 429.9 miles and takes about 7h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, North South Freeway, I 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 215 miles from Richland Hills, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $64.96 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 429.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 192.7 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 266.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Richland Hills, TX to Laredo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Spur 536: Houston 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
