If you are planning a trip from Barrett to San Antonio, prepare for a 217.9-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 27 minutes. This route is best tackled as a single-day trip, as it is manageable enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $32 on fuel for the trek, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will be traveling entirely within the Great Plains region, moving from Barrett across the Texas landscape toward San Antonio. Because this route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it offers a different pace compared to standard highway travel. It is a straightforward drive, but the lack of high-speed highway segments means you should plan your schedule accordingly.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
107.9 miles from Barrett, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Katy Freeway
175.2 mi
3h 2m
I 10
12 mi
12m
Crosby Freeway
9 mi
10m
East Freeway
6.2 mi
7m
US 90
5.1 mi
6m
East Commerce Street
4.3 mi
7m
Jose Lopez Freeway
1.6 mi
1m
90th Infantry Division Highway
0.8 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Katy Freeway
— 175.2 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Barrett, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on FM 1942
74 ft·5 sec·Farm to Market 1942
2
Turn right onto FM 2100
0.2 mi·25 sec·Crosby Lynchburg Road
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on FM 2100
0.1 mi·9 sec·North Main Street
4
Turn slight left
155 ft·8 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward US 90 West
6
Merge onto US 90
9.0 mi·10 min·Crosby Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn straight onto US 90
1.4 mi·1 min·US 90
8
Take the exit onto US 90
3.7 mi·4 min·US 90
Toward US 90 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 10; US 90
6.2 mi·7 min·East Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on I 10; US 90
175 mi·3 hr 2 min·Katy Freeway
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi·12 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
0.8 mi·51 sec·90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 10; US 90
1.6 mi·1 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 579Toward Commerce Street, Houston StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East
0.3 mi·38 sec·Interstate 10 East
16
Turn right onto East Houston Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·East Houston Street
17
Turn slight left onto East Commerce Street
4.3 mi·7 min·East Commerce Street
18
Turn left onto Military Plaza
392 ft·15 sec·Military Plaza
19
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft·8 sec·Dolorosa Street
20
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, it is wise to leave early to avoid any unexpected traffic delays that often occur on smaller roads. Plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 3-hour and 27-minute transit to keep your energy up and stretch your legs. Keep your navigation tools handy, as the reliance on local streets like Crosby Lynchburg Road and North Main Street means you will need to stay alert for turn prompts. With a fuel budget of $32, topping off your tank before you leave Barrett is a smart way to ensure you have a buffer for the entire 217.9-mile distance. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so take advantage of the ability to adjust your stops based on your own comfort levels along the way.
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 107.9 miles from Barrett, TX, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.2 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 47 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.9 miles or 1h 56m 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 8m
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 Barrett, 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 Barrett, TX
This is one driving day of about 215.7 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Barrett, 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 Katy Freeway for about 175.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 0 and 210.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|FM 2100 / Crosby Lynchburg Road
Turn right onto FM 2100 / Crosby Lynchburg Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
11.1 mi into trip|~13m in|US 90
Take the exit onto US 90 toward US 90 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 90 West
6
196.2 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|I 10; US 90; TX 130
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
208.2 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
210.6 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Take the exit toward Commerce Street, Houston Street
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 579
Toward Commerce Street, Houston Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.59 one way
$65.19 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$35.68
$71.35
premium
$4.54
$38.51
$77.02
diesel
$5.61
$47.62
$95.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.7
0
$22.65
$10.35
Efficient EV
53.9
0
$18.87
$8.63
EV Truck/SUV
86.3
1
$30.20
$13.80
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Barrett, TX
Night
in Barrett on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Night
in San Antonio on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive 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
3 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
3h 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 215.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway driving. You will navigate via Crosby Lynchburg Road, North Main Street, and US 90 West, which keeps you on local thoroughfares for the duration of the 217.9-mile trip. This configuration gives the drive a more intimate feel, requiring more attention to navigation and turn-by-turn adjustments than a typical freeway slog. Because the route is composed of local roads, you should anticipate a consistent, moderate pace throughout the entire 3-hour and 27-minute duration. It is a practical path for those who prefer avoiding congested major highways in favor of a more grounded, road-level experience.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 175.2 mi on Katy Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Katy Freeway and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near FM 2100 / Crosby Lynchburg Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 215.7 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: near the start (FM 2100 / Crosby Lynchburg Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (US 90): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.2 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 215.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 175.2 miles on Katy Freeway. 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.
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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (FM 2100 / Crosby Lynchburg Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (US 90): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.2 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at San Antonio, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
