Origin
Amarillo, TX
Morning in Amarillo on Tuesday
Local time
6:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Amarillo, TX to San Antonio, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 52m
Distance
506.8 mi
816 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$77
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 45m
★
6 AM
8h 53m
8 AM
9h 9m
10 AM
8h 58m
12 PM
8h 57m
3 PM
8h 59m
5 PM
9h 8m
8 PM
8h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Amarillo, TX
Wikimedia Commons
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Amarillo to San Antonio is 506.8 miles and takes about 8h 52m via Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and I 10, with a fuel budget near $77 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive will take you across the vast expanse of Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Given the distance and time, it's best planned as a two-day trip to avoid fatigue. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward but lengthy transit across the state.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
253.4 miles from Amarillo, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall Formby Memorial Highway | 103.7 mi | 1h 43m |
| US Highway 84 | 73.9 mi | 1h 14m |
| I 10 | 71.7 mi | 1h 14m |
| Grassmeyer Street | 41.9 mi | 44m |
| US 83 | 40 mi | 38m |
| State Highway 153 | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| Ellis Street | 29.4 mi | 31m |
| East Highway 84 | 26.9 mi | 26m |
Longest stretch:
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
— 103.7 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Amarillo, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60
286 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Amarillo Boulevard
2
Turn right onto US 60; US 87; US 66 Access
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
North Pierce Street
3
Continue on US 60; US 87; US 66 Access
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Pierce Street
4
Continue on US 60; US 87
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Canyon Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 27
104 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 536B
Toward Loop 289
7
Turn straight onto North Interstate 27
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Interstate 27
8
Turn left onto North Loop 289
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Loop 289
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
10
Merge onto Loop 289
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Loop 289
11
Take the exit
421 ft
·
10 sec
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
12
Keep slight right at fork
233 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
13
Turn straight onto Southeast Loop 289
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Southeast Loop 289
14
Turn right onto Spur 331
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Drive
15
Merge onto US 84
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Slaton Road
16
Continue on US 84
6.9 mi
·
6 min
·
East Highway 84
17
Continue on US 84
4.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
18
Continue on US 84
20 mi
·
20 min
·
East Highway 84
19
Continue on US 84
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North US Highway 84
20
Turn left onto Spur 575
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East 15th Street
21
Turn right onto TX 207
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Ralls Road
22
Turn straight onto TX 207
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Avenue F
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
74 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US Highway 84
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
6.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 84
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 244
Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
26
Turn slight left onto Southwest Georgia Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Southwest Georgia Avenue
27
Turn right onto TX 70
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lamar Street
28
Continue on TX 70
10 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 70
29
Turn left onto TX 153
29 mi
·
33 min
·
State Highway 153
30
Turn right onto FM 2111
12 mi
·
13 min
·
FM 2111
31
Turn left onto TX 158
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
TX 158
32
At end of road, turn right onto US 67; US 83
387 ft
·
18 sec
·
Hutchings Avenue
33
Turn left onto US 83
17 mi
·
18 min
·
South 7th Street
Use the left lane.
34
Continue on US 83
42 mi
·
44 min
·
Grassmeyer Street
35
Continue on US 83
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Ellis Street
36
Take the exit onto US 83
40 mi
·
38 min
·
US 83
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Use the left lane.
37
Continue on I 10
54 mi
·
54 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
17 mi
·
19 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
McDermott Freeway
40
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 569C
Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
41
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Pecos-La Trinidad
42
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pecos-La Trinidad
Use the straight lane.
43
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
44
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
For this 506.8-mile drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended to ensure a safe and comfortable experience. Aim to start early on your first day to maximize daylight hours. With two recommended stops, plan to cover roughly half the distance each day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 103.7-mile stretch on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. The $77 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always factor in potential price variations.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 253.4 miles from Amarillo, TX, or about 4h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 111 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 253.4 miles or 4h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 253.4 miles or 4h 24m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 48m
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 Amarillo, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Amarillo, TX
Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Antonio, TX
Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 111 miles from Amarillo, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 103.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
167 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
334 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Live Oak, TXOvernight Options
Night 1
253 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Roscoe, TX after about 253 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 111 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 253.4 miles from Amarillo, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Marshall Formby Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 253 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 275 decision points cluster between mile 127.8 and 505.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
127.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Spur 331: Southeast Drive
6
238 mi into trip
|
~4h 8m in
|
US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84 toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20 East, US 84 East: Abilene
6
244.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 14m in
Take the exit toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater, San Angelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 244
Toward SH 70 South, SH 70 Business: Sweetwater,...
8
391.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 54m in
|
US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
8
505.1 mi into trip
|
~8h 49m in
Take the exit toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
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 569C
Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$76.58 one way
$153.16 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
177 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $83.82 | $167.64 |
| premium | $4.54 | $90.49 | $180.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $111.90 | $223.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$207–$317
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 177.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 152 | 1 | $53.21 | $24.33 |
| Efficient EV | 126.7 | 1 | $44.35 | $20.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 202.7 | 2 | $70.95 | $32.44 |
Gas CO2
177 kg
EV CO2
59 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.
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Morning in San Antonio on Tuesday
Local time
6:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
6 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
8h 52m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on major highways, with 58% of the route utilizing them. You'll encounter a long stretch of 103.7 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, suggesting extended periods of rural cruising. The transition from highway to other roads will be gradual, not sudden, with I 10 likely providing the most consistent speeds for significant portions of the trip. Expect a steady pace with fewer frequent exits for much of the 506.8 miles.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.7 mi on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 8h 52m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 127.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 27 significant decision points across 506.8 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 127.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 238 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 244.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Amarillo, TX and San Antonio, TX, road signs point toward Loop 289, Sh 70 South, Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater and San Angelo.
Loop 289
119.1 mi in
|
~2h 3m
Sh 70 South
244.5 mi in
|
~4h 14m
Sh 70 Business: Sweetwater
244.5 mi in
|
~4h 14m
San Angelo
244.5 mi in
|
~4h 14m
About the Cities
Starting in Amarillo, TX
Full guide →Amarillo, which means "yellow" in Spanish, is the center of the Texas Panhandle at the edge of the Great Plains.
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.7 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 253 miles on day one.
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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at San Antonio, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 127.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 238 miles (US 84): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 244.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Antonio, TX before the return drive.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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