Brooks County Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Austin, TX to South Alamo, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 44m
Distance
315.3 mi
507 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 32m
★
6 AM
5h 45m
8 AM
6h 11m
10 AM
5h 54m
12 PM
5h 51m
3 PM
5h 55m
5 PM
6h 10m
8 PM
5h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Austin, TX
Wikimedia Commons
South Alamo, TX
Mark Direen
Trip Overview
Austin to South Alamo is 315.3 miles and takes about 5h 44m via I 37, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Texas, beginning in the Great Plains region and ending in the same area. You'll experience a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making for a varied trip. Given the manageable duration, it's a solid option for a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
157.7 miles from Austin, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Nueces Street | 66.2 mi | 1h 10m |
| I 37 | 60.5 mi | 1h 1m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 58.3 mi | 1h 3m |
| Falfurrias Expressway | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| I 69C | 27.9 mi | 30m |
| US 281 South | 15.2 mi | 19m |
| Connally Loop | 11 mi | 12m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 10 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
South Nueces Street
— 66.2 mi, about 1h 10m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,203 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~766 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Austin, TX and South Alamo, TX.
1
Start on East 5th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
North Interstate 35
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 35 South
4
Merge onto I 35; US 290
46 mi
·
50 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Connally Loop
Toward I 410 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 37
60 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 37
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi
·
19 min
·
US 281 South
Toward US 281 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
South Nueces Street
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
I 69C; US 281
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
56 mi
·
58 min
·
Falfurrias Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 2 East; US 83 East
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 2 East; US 83 East
18
Continue on I 2; US 83
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
I 2; US 83
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 150B
Toward Tower Road
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto East Expressway 83
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Expressway 83
21
Turn right onto North Tower Road
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Tower Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto El Gato Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
El Gato Road
23
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
2nd Street
24
Arrive at destination
2nd Street
Trip Plan
For a trip of this length, leaving Austin in the morning gives you plenty of time to arrive in South Alamo before dark. With a total drive time of under 6 hours, you can comfortably complete this in one day without feeling rushed. Consider making your one planned stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the highway portions, as services can sometimes be spaced out. The fuel cost estimate of $49 should help you budget accordingly for this drive.
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 157.7 miles from Austin, TX, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.2 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 69 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.7 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Alamo, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Austin, 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 Austin, TX
This is one driving day of about 315.3 miles and 5h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Austin, 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 South Nueces Street for about 66.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
158 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 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 157.7 miles from Austin, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before South Nueces Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Picnic Area
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.5 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.7 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.7 mi from route
TA
1.7 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.8 mi from route
QuikTrip
2 mi from route
Austin Bat Tours
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, right off the route
0.2 mi from route
~1 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
Visit websiteMorgan's Wonderland
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Early in the drive, right off the route
Early stretch
0.6 mi from route
~2 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–3 pm
+12104955888
Visit websiteTube Chute
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
+18302214000
Visit websiteThe Sophienburg Museum & Archives
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
First break
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
New Braunfels, Texas
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+18306291572
Visit websiteBotanical Gates of Paradise
4.1
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
1.7 mi from route
~4 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
Basilica Of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
Home stretch
4.2 mi from route
~10 min detour
San Juan, Texas
+19567870033
Visit websiteBarton Creek Greenbelt
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~11 min detour
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Austin, Texas
Hours: 5 am–10 pm
+15129746700
Visit websiteWonder Chamber
4.2
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, ~10 min detour
Early stretch
4.2 mi from route
~10 min detour
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 12–9 pm
+12104675504
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 311.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Interstate 35
At end of road, turn right onto North Interstate 35
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
I 410 / Connally Loop
Keep slight right at fork onto I 410 / Connally Loop toward I 410 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 410 South
8
82 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus Christi
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 41
Toward I 37, US 281 North: San Antonio, Corpus...
7
82.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 37 South: Corpus Christi
7
311.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 37m in
Take the exit toward Tower Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 150B
Toward Tower Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.19 one way
$86.37 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
110 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $48.24 | $96.48 |
| premium | $4.23 | $52.45 | $104.89 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $59.53 | $119.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.6 | 1 | $33.11 | $15.13 |
| Efficient EV | 78.8 | 0 | $27.59 | $12.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.1 | 1 | $44.14 | $20.18 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Origin
Austin, TX
Evening in Austin on Monday
Local time
6:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 5 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 19 at 8:33PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:28PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
South Alamo, TX
Evening in South Alamo on Monday
Local time
6:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
SE 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 19 at 8:33PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 19 at 8:28PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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
1 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
5h 44m 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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 87
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 56% of this drive is on highways, meaning you'll encounter stretches of faster travel. The longest continuous highway segment is 66.2 miles on South Nueces Street. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads, which will likely involve more moderate speeds and potentially more local traffic as you get closer to South Alamo. The profile is listed as mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for both types of driving conditions.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.2 mi on South Nueces Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.5 miles in near North Interstate 35.
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 18 significant decision points across 315.3 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 0.5 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles (I 410 / Connally Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
763 ft
83 ft
Total Climb
510 ft
Total Descent
902 ft
Highest Point
763 ft
~67.6 mi in
Elevation Range
680 ft
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.
On the drive from Austin, TX to South Alamo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Corpus Christi along the way.
Corpus Christi
82 mi in
|
~1h 31m
About the Cities
Starting in Austin, TX
Full guide →“City of the Violet Crown” · Founded 1835
Austin is a city of about 1,054,000 (2026) surpassing Fort Worth to become the 4th most populous city in Texas. It is on the southeast edge of the Hill Country region of Texas, making it the fourth-largest city in the state and the 11th-largest in the country. It is the capital of Texas and a college town, and also a center of an alternative culture away from the major cities on the US coasts, though the city is rapidly gentrifying with its rising popularity. Austin's attitude is commonly emblazoned about town on T-shirts and bumper stickers that read: "Keep Austin Weird." Austin is also marketed as the Live Music Capital of the World due to the large number of venues.
Top landmarks
- • Texas State Capitol — capitol and seat of government of the U.S. state of Texas
- • Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum — presidential library and museum for U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson in Austin,...
- • Texas State Cemetery — historic cemetery in Austin, Texas, USA
Arriving in South Alamo, TX
Full guide →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 5h 44m. Total distance: 315.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.2 miles on South Nueces Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 South Alamo, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (North Interstate 35): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles (I 410 / Connally Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 82 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at South Alamo, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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