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Trip from San Leon, 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

6h 48m

Distance

347 mi

558 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
6h 37m ★
6 AM
6h 49m
8 AM
7h 12m
10 AM
6h 57m
12 PM
6h 55m
3 PM
6h 58m
5 PM
7h 11m
8 PM
6h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown San Leon, TX, TX

San Leon, TX

Mark Direen

city in and county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States

Laredo, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from San Leon, TX to Laredo, TX covers 347 miles and takes about 6h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 59, US Highway 59, US Highway 59 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.9 miles on US 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.43 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

173.5 miles from San Leon, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 59 123.9 mi 2h 18m
US Highway 59 74.7 mi 1h 22m
US Highway 59 West 65.2 mi 1h 16m
South Sam Houston Tollway East 21 mi 24m
Southwest Freeway 19.9 mi 21m
South Gulf Freeway 11.7 mi 13m
FM 517 8.7 mi 14m
US Highway 59 South 4.4 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US 59 — 123.9 mi, about 2h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Leon, TX and Laredo, TX.

1

Start on Avenue I

165 ft · 9 sec · Avenue I
2

Continue on FM 517

8.7 mi · 14 min · FM 517
3

Turn left onto FM 517

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Parke Street
4

Turn straight onto FM 517

446 ft · 9 sec · Main Street
5

Continue on FM 517

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Pine Street
6

Continue on FM 517

1.4 mi · 2 min · Pine Drive
7

Turn right onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 45 North Use the slight left lane.
9

Merge onto I 45

12 mi · 13 min · South Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 32 Toward SHT West, SHT East: Sam Houston Tollway Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

1.1 mi · 1 min
Toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway Use the slight left lane.
12

Merge onto BW 8

0.3 mi · 18 sec · South Sam Houston Parkway East
13

Continue on SHT

21 mi · 24 min · South Sam Houston Tollway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on BW 8

131 ft · 1 sec · South Sam Houston Parkway West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward I 69, US 59 South, US 59 North: Victoria, Houston Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward US 59 South, I 69: Victoria Use the slight left lane.
17

Merge onto I 69; US 59

20 mi · 21 min · Southwest Freeway
Use the straight lane.
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 94 Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road
19

Turn straight onto Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
20

Continue on Southwest Freeway Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Southwest Freeway Frontage Road
21

Continue on US 59 Southbound Frontage Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · US 59 Southbound Frontage Road
22

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
23

Merge onto US 59

9.2 mi · 10 min · US 59
24

Keep slight left at fork onto US 59

6.6 mi · 7 min · US 59
25

Take the exit

1.5 mi · 2 min
26

Continue on US 59

75 mi · 1 hr 22 min · US Highway 59
27

Keep slight right at fork onto US 59

4.4 mi · 4 min · US Highway 59 South
28

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
29

Continue on Northwest Zac Lenz Parkway Frontage Road East

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Northwest Zac Lenz Parkway Frontage Road East
30

Turn right onto US 59

49 mi · 57 min · US 59
31

Continue on US 59

1.3 mi · 2 min · West Corpus Christi Street
32

Continue on US 59

65 mi · 1 hr 16 min · US Highway 59 West
33

Continue on US 59; TX 44

59 mi · 1 hr 3 min · US 59; TX 44
34

Turn left onto Bob Bullock Loop

0.8 mi · 1 min · Bob Bullock Loop
35

Turn right onto Spur 400

3.0 mi · 5 min · Clark Boulevard
36

Continue on Park Street

0.4 mi · 49 sec · Park Street
37

Turn left onto Santa Ursula Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Santa Ursula Avenue
38

Turn right onto Houston Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Houston Street
39

Turn left onto I 35 Bus

272 ft · 12 sec · Salinas Avenue
40

Turn left onto Matamoros Street

306 ft · 5 sec · Matamoros Street
41

Arrive at destination

Matamoros Street

Trip Plan

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.5 miles from San Leon, TX, or about 3h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.9 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 76 miles or 1h 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 173.5 miles or 3h 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 39m

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 San Leon, 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 San Leon, TX

This is one driving day of about 347 miles and 6h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from San Leon, 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 US 59 for about 123.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sugar Land, TX

174 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.

Popular next leg

Sugar Land, TX to Laredo, TX

295.7 mi · 5h 43m

Pacing Suggestions

Sugar Land, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cuero, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 173.5 miles from San Leon, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.9 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Main Event Laredo

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $20 to $30 mile 347

Laredo, Texas

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+19567222695

Visit website

Imaginarium of South Texas

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 347

Laredo, Texas

Hours: Closed

+19567280404

Visit website

Slaughter Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 347

Laredo, Texas

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+19567952350

Visit website

Lone Star Flight Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 24.8

Houston, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+13467082517

Visit website

Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 49.6

Sugar Land, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18327422800

Visit website

Escape Again Rooms

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 49.6

Sugar Land, Texas

Hours: 4–10 pm

+18329994572

Visit website

El Campo Lost Lagoon

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 99.1

El Campo, Texas

+19792751600

Visit website

Independence Hills Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 347

Laredo, Texas

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Frankie Carter Randolph Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 24.8

Friendswood, Texas

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+12814826055

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 23.7 and 67.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
23.7 mi into trip | ~33m in

Take the exit toward SHT West, SHT East: Sam Houston Tollway

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 32 Toward SHT West, SHT East: Sam Houston Tollway
7
24 mi into trip | ~34m in

Keep slight left at fork toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway
7
46.4 mi into trip | ~1h in

Take the exit toward I 69, US 59 South, US 59 North: Victoria, Houston

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 69, US 59 South, US 59 North: Victoria...
8
46.8 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 59 South, I 69: Victoria

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 59 South, I 69: Victoria
6
67.5 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in

Take the exit toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartledge Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 94 Toward Spur 10: Cottonwood, Church Road, Hartle...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.43 one way

$104.87 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 121 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $57.39 $114.78
premium $4.54 $61.95 $123.91
diesel $5.61 $76.61 $153.23

Estimated Tolls: $1.68

Sam Houston Tollway (21 mi) $1.68

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$52

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 121.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 104.1 1 $36.43 $16.66
Efficient EV 86.8 0 $30.36 $13.88
EV Truck/SUV 138.8 1 $48.58 $22.21

Gas CO2

121 kg

EV CO2

41 kg (66% 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 Dec 19, 2023

Origin

San Leon, TX

Afternoon in San Leon on Saturday

Local time

3:29 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Laredo, TX

Afternoon in Laredo on Saturday

Local time

3:29 PM

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

16 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

6h 48m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a 6h 48m highway drive covering 347 miles, with most of the trip on US 59 and US Highway 59. The longest continuous stretch is about 123.9 miles on US 59.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 59 is the longest continuous segment at about 123.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 59 and US Highway 59. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 347 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 23.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between San Leon, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward Sht West, Sht East: Sam Houston Tollway, Sht West: Sam Houston Tollway, Houston and Spur 10: Cottonwood.

Sht West

23.7 mi in | ~33m

Sht East: Sam Houston Tollway

23.7 mi in | ~33m

Sht West: Sam Houston Tollway

24 mi in | ~34m

Houston

46.4 mi in | ~1h

Spur 10: Cottonwood

67.5 mi in | ~1h 24m

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 6h 48m. Total distance: 347 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from San Leon, TX to Laredo, TX covers 347 miles and takes about 6h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 59, US Highway 59, US Highway 59 West. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 173.5 miles from San Leon, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.43 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 1 meaningful break 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 20 significant decision points across 347 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 23.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Between San Leon, TX and Laredo, TX, road signs point toward Sht West, Sht East: Sam Houston Tollway, Sht West: Sam Houston Tollway, Houston and Spur 10: Cottonwood.

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.

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