Trip from Alton, TX to San Antonio, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 29m

Distance

238.7 mi

384 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

17 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 16m ★

6 AM

4h 29m

8 AM

4h 56m

10 AM

4h 39m

12 PM

4h 36m

3 PM

4h 40m

5 PM

4h 55m

8 PM

4h 21m

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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Alton, TX

Mark Direen

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Alton to San Antonio covers 239.2 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 39 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you can comfortably tackle it as a day trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $36 for fuel to complete the trek. The route stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, keeping the landscape consistent as you head north. Since the trip involves only one recommended stop, it is a straightforward transit between these two points. Use this guide to determine if this direct drive fits your travel schedule.

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

119.4 miles from Alton, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 69C	138.2 mi	2h 31m
US 281	69 mi	1h 11m
Nueces Street	14.7 mi	18m
TX 107	11.1 mi	16m
North Closner Boulevard	3.3 mi	5m
East Commerce Street	0.9 mi	1m
North Expressway 281	0.7 mi	1m
North 10th Avenue	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 69C — 138.2 mi, about 2h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Alton, TX and San Antonio, TX.

Start on FM 676

102 ft · 6 sec · Main Avenue

Turn right onto TX 107

2.0 mi · 2 min · TX 107

Continue on TX 107

9.1 mi · 13 min · TX 107

At end of road, turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107

400 ft · 12 sec · North 10th Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107

377 ft · 13 sec · West McIntyre Street

Turn left onto US 281 Business

3.3 mi · 5 min · North Closner Boulevard

Turn straight onto North Expressway 281

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Expressway 281

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward I 69C North, US 281 North

Merge onto I 69C; US 281

68 mi · 1 hr 12 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 69C; US 281

70 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

15 mi · 18 min · Nueces Street

Continue on US 281

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 281

Take the exit onto US 281

69 mi · 1 hr 11 min · US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 141 Toward Commerce Street, Downtown, The Alamo Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Interstate 37 South

380 ft · 11 sec · Interstate 37 South

Turn left onto East Commerce Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Commerce Street

Turn left onto Military Plaza

392 ft · 15 sec · Military Plaza

Turn left onto Dolorosa Street

327 ft · 8 sec · Dolorosa Street

Arrive at destination

Dolorosa Street

Trip Plan

When planning your departure, factor in the turn-heavy nature of these local roads, which may result in slower travel times than traditional highways. Since you only need one stop to complete the 3-hour and 39-minute drive, try to time it around the midpoint to stay refreshed. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as you aren't tethered to the rigid exit schedules of an interstate system. Before you head out, double-check your navigation settings to ensure you are prioritizing the specific local roads mentioned, as local routes can be sensitive to minor construction or traffic shifts. Keeping your fuel budget around $36 will help you stay on track for this direct Texas transit.

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 119.4 miles from Alton, TX, or about 2h 16m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.2 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 53 miles or 1h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 119.4 miles or 2h 16m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Antonio, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Alton, 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 Alton, TX

This is one driving day of about 238.7 miles and 4h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Alton, 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 I 69C for about 138.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alice, TX

119 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

Alice, TX to San Antonio, TX

125.5 mi · 2h 22m

Pacing Suggestions

Doolittle, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alice, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 119.4 miles from Alton, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 69C if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.2 miles.

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

+12102271373

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.1 and 237.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

11.1 mi into trip | ~16m in | US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

11.2 mi into trip | ~16m in | US 281 Business; TX 107 / West McIntyre Street

Turn right onto US 281 Business; TX 107 / West McIntyre Street

Navigation decision point

15.5 mi into trip | ~23m in | I 69C; US 281

Merge onto I 69C; US 281

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

168.6 mi into trip | ~3h 14m in | US 281

Take the exit onto US 281

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

237.4 mi into trip | ~4h 26m in

Take the exit toward Commerce Street, Downtown, The Alamo

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. Exit 141 Toward Commerce Street, Downtown, The Alamo

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.07 one way

$72.14 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 84 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$39.48	$78.96
premium	$4.54	$42.62	$85.24
diesel	$5.61	$52.70	$105.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 83.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

17 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Circle K - Tesla Supercharger

Falfurrias, TX

Tesla

19 DCFC

Make Ready Market - Tesla Supercharger

San Antonio, TX

Tesla

16 DCFC

Rodeo Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Pleasanton, TX

Tesla

12 DCFC

Circle K - Tesla Supercharger

Alice, TX

Tesla

11 DCFC

Love's Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger

Three Rivers, TX

Tesla

8 DCFC

Target San Antonio #T0771

San Antonio, TX

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

3600 N PanAm Expy

San Antonio, TX

SYNERGEV

6 DCFC

Hacienda Ford

Edinburg, TX

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Tesla: 5 FORD_CHARGE: 2 EV Connect: 2 ChargePoint Network: 2 eVgo Network: 2 CIRCLE_K: 2 Blink Network: 1 SYNERGEV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	71.6	0	$25.06	$11.46
Efficient EV	59.7	0	$20.89	$9.55
EV Truck/SUV	95.5	1	$33.42	$15.28

Gas CO2

84 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 21, 2026

Origin

Alton, TX

Late night in Alton on Tuesday

Local time

4:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

SE 6 mph 23% chance Live forecast

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 20 at 11:56PM CDT until April 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 20 at 11:56PM CDT until April 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Destination

San Antonio, TX

Late night in San Antonio on Tuesday

Local time

4:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

E 5 mph 76% chance Live forecast

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 20 at 11:56PM CDT until April 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 20 at 11:56PM CDT until April 22 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX

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

8 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

4h 29m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 230.5

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate via North 10th Avenue, West McIntyre Street, and North Closner Boulevard, which keeps your focus on local traffic patterns. Because the road consists entirely of local thoroughfares, you won't encounter the typical high-speed, long-stretch highway segments found on major corridors. This creates a more involved driving experience where you remain engaged with the environment throughout the 239.2-mile journey. Prepare for a steady pace as you transition through the various local road segments.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 138.2 mi on I 69C.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69C and US 281. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in near US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 238.7 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles (US 281 Business; TX 107 / North 10th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles (US 281 Business; TX 107 / West McIntyre Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.5 miles (I 69C; US 281): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

649 ft 75 ft

Total Climb

660 ft

Total Descent

175 ft

Highest Point

649 ft

~238.7 mi in

Elevation Range

574 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Alton, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1978

Arriving in San Antonio, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1718

San Antonio is the second largest city in the state of Texas and the 7th largest in the United States. It's the 24th largest metropolitan area in the country. Visited by more than 31 million annual visitors, San Antonio is a beautiful city at the axis of three different geological terrains: Hill Country, South Texas Plains and Prairie and Lakes. There's a lot to do in this city: fine art museums, historical missions and plenty of amusement parks in addition to great dining and lots of drinking. The culture and people are vibrant and interesting. San Antonio's downtown is one of the most lively in the nation.

Top landmarks

• Alamo Mission in San Antonio — historic place in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
• San Antonio Missions National Historical Park — historic district in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
• Fort Sam Houston — military base in San Antonio, Texas

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 4h 29m. Total distance: 238.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 138.2 miles on I 69C. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at San Antonio, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Alton, TX or browse trips ending in San Antonio, TX.

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Trip from Alton, TX to San Antonio, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

Brooks County Rest Area

Picnic Area

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Rest Area

Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area

Picnic Area

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Pilot Travel Center

Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Spanish Governor's Palace

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

San Antonio | The Saga

Hemisfair

San Antonio Fire Museum

The Amazing Mirror Maze

SEA LIFE San Antonio

San Antonio River Lock & Dam

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Alton, TX

San Antonio, TX

Same local time

8 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 29m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Alton, TX

Arriving in San Antonio, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From San Antonio, TX

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