Origin
Brownwood, TX
Morning in Brownwood on Sunday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brownwood, TX to San Antonio, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 8m
Distance
219 mi
353 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 56m
★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 15m
3 PM
4h 19m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brownwood, TX
Wikimedia Commons
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 219-mile drive from Brownwood, TX to San Antonio, TX takes approximately 4 hours and 8 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with a 95% highway share, including stretches of the Katy Freeway and East Freeway as you approach your destination. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $33. This route is a straightforward, highway-focused experience connecting two points within the Great Plains region of Texas. Given its manageable length, you can easily complete it in one go, allowing for a flexible 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
109.5 miles from Brownwood, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Katy Freeway | 175.2 mi | 3h 2m |
| East Freeway | 18.9 mi | 23m |
| I 10 | 12 mi | 12m |
| East Commerce Street | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Jose Lopez Freeway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Decker Drive | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Bayway Drive | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Bayshore Drive | 1.3 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
Katy Freeway
— 175.2 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brownwood, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on Mapleton Avenue
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Mapleton Avenue
2
Turn right onto Bayshore Drive
0.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Bayshore Drive
3
Keep slight right at fork onto Bayshore Drive
0.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Bayshore Drive
4
Turn left onto West Schreck Street
0.7 mi
·
3 min
·
West Schreck Street
5
Turn left onto Bayway Drive
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Bayway Drive
6
Turn left onto Decker Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Decker Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 10 West
8
Merge onto Spur 330
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
·
Decker Drive
Use the straight lane.
9
Merge onto I 10
19 mi
·
23 min
·
East Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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 579
Toward Commerce Street, Houston Street
Use 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
For this 4-hour, 219-mile drive, you can comfortably depart anytime and arrive the same day. With only one recommended stop and a manageable fuel cost of $33, flexibility is on your side. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential evening traffic. Since the longest stretch without a break is over 175 miles, plan for a brief rest stop midway through your journey. A good tip is to ensure your gas tank is full before leaving Brownwood, as this will minimize any need to search for fuel stations during the longest highway segments.
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 109.5 miles from Brownwood, TX, or about 2h 10m 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 48 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.5 miles or 2h 10m 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 23m
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 Brownwood, 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 Brownwood, TX
This is one driving day of about 219 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Brownwood, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
110 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 109.5 miles from Brownwood, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Katy Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 175.2 miles.
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 145 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 213.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Spur 330 / Decker Drive
Merge onto Spur 330 / Decker Drive
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
5.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 10 / East Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / East Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
199.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 44m 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
211.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 57m 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
213.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 59m 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
$33.09 one way
$66.18 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $36.22 | $72.44 |
| premium | $4.54 | $39.10 | $78.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.35 | $96.70 |
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: 76.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.7 | 0 | $23.00 | $10.51 |
| Efficient EV | 54.8 | 0 | $19.16 | $8.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.6 | 1 | $30.66 | $14.02 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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.
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Morning in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
7:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 10 mph
0% chance
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
15 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
4h 8m 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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 219
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 predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with 95% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I-10. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 175.2 miles on the Katy Freeway. This means you'll experience consistent speeds and minimal traffic disruptions for significant portions of the trip. While primarily highway, keep an eye out for any transitions as you get closer to San Antonio, though the overall feel remains that of efficient travel.
95% 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Katy Freeway and East Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in near Spur 330 / Decker Drive.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 219 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 4.7 miles (Spur 330 / Decker Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 10 / East Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 199.5 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
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 8m. Total distance: 219 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). 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: at 4.7 miles (Spur 330 / Decker Drive): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 10 / East Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 199.5 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 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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