Trip from Buna, TX to San Antonio, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 39m

Distance

312.1 mi

502 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 27m ★

6 AM

5h 40m

8 AM

6h 6m

10 AM

5h 49m

12 PM

5h 46m

3 PM

5h 50m

5 PM

6h 5m

8 PM

5h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Buna, TX

Mark Direen

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Buna, TX to San Antonio, TX is 312.1 miles and takes about 5h 39m via Katy Freeway and US 96, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This mostly highway route will take you from the Great Plains region in East Texas to the Great Plains in South Central Texas. With 98% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time cruising at higher speeds. This is a straightforward drive, ideal for a single-day trip if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.

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

156 miles from Buna, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Katy Freeway	175.2 mi	3h 2m
Eastex Freeway	84.2 mi	1h 36m
US 96	31.7 mi	34m
I 10	12 mi	12m
East Commerce Street	4.3 mi	7m
Jose Lopez Freeway	1.6 mi	1m
US Highway 96 Business	1.3 mi	2m
90th Infantry Division Highway	0.8 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Katy Freeway — 175.2 mi, about 3h 2m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 42 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~2,943 veh/hr typical · worst 3,773

Quietest

2 AM

~394 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.5×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Buna, TX and San Antonio, TX.

Start on TX 62

323 ft · 5 sec · TX 62

Turn slight left onto TX 62

107 ft · 1 sec · TX 62

Turn slight left onto US 96 Business

1.3 mi · 2 min · US Highway 96 Business

At end of road, turn left onto US 96

32 mi · 34 min · US 96

Keep slight right at fork onto US 69; US 96; US 287

84 mi · 1 hr 36 min · Eastex Freeway

Toward Houston, Port Arthur Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10; US 90

175 mi · 3 hr 2 min · Katy Freeway

Use the straight lane.

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.

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.

Continue on I 10; US 90

1.6 mi · 1 min · Jose Lopez Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec

Exit 579 Toward Commerce Street, Houston Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Interstate 10 East

Turn right onto East Houston Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · East Houston Street

Turn slight left onto East Commerce Street

4.3 mi · 7 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

To make the most of this drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid potential midday traffic, especially as you get closer to San Antonio. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops. You'll cover 312.1 miles in under six hours, so a single stop for fuel and a quick break midway should suffice. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $47, and plan your last refueling stop before entering more populated areas. The Katy Freeway will be your main artery for a significant portion of the journey, so be prepared for its characteristics.

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 156 miles from Buna, TX, or about 2h 53m 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 69 miles or 1h 18m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 156 miles or 2h 53m 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 37m

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 Buna, 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 Buna, TX

This is one driving day of about 312.1 miles and 5h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Buna, 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

Houston, TX

156 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

Houston, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Houston, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 156 miles from Buna, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12102077527

Visit website

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+12102274746

Visit website

San Antonio | The Saga

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0 mi from route

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9–9:30 pm

+12102259800

Visit website

Hemisfair

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+12107094750

Visit website

San Antonio Fire Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm

+12103907236

Visit website

The Amazing Mirror Maze

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10:30 am–8 pm

+12102242288

Visit website

SEA LIFE San Antonio

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12106101160

Visit website

San Antonio River Lock & Dam

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 33.1 and 312 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

33.1 mi into trip | ~37m in | US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway toward Houston, Port Arthur

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Houston, Port Arthur

292.6 mi into trip | ~5h 15m 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.

304.6 mi into trip | ~5h 28m 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.

306.9 mi into trip | ~5h 30m 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

312 mi into trip | ~5h 39m in | Dolorosa Street

Turn left onto Dolorosa Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.75 one way

$85.50 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 109 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$47.75	$95.50
premium	$4.23	$51.91	$103.83
diesel	$4.80	$58.93	$117.86

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: 109.2 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	93.6	1	$32.77	$14.98
Efficient EV	78	0	$27.31	$12.48
EV Truck/SUV	124.8	1	$43.69	$19.97

Gas CO2

109 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.

Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Buna, TX

Late night in Buna on Sunday

Local time

1:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

92°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 5 mph 19% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 3:47PM CDT until July 16 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 3:47PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

San Antonio, TX

Late night in San Antonio on Sunday

Local time

1:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 10 mph 39% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 3:47PM CDT until July 16 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 3:47PM 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

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

5h 39m 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 312.1

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

You'll be on highways for about 98% of this 312.1-mile trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch of highway driving is 175.2 miles, primarily on the Katy Freeway. The transition to surface roads will occur late in your drive, after extensive highway cruising. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach and enter urban areas.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

16 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 Eastex Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.1 miles in near US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 312.1 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 33.1 miles (US 69; US 96; US 287 / Eastex Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 292.6 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 304.6 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

649 ft 22 ft

Total Climb

679 ft

Total Descent

107 ft

Highest Point

649 ft

~312.1 mi in

Elevation Range

627 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Buna, TX and San Antonio, TX, road signs point toward Houston and Port Arthur.

Houston

33.1 mi in | ~37m | via US 69; US 96; US 287

Port Arthur

33.1 mi in | ~37m | via US 69; US 96; US 287

About the Cities

Starting in Buna, TX

Full guide →

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 5h 39m. Total distance: 312.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). 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.

Yes — we found about 42 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 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. There are 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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 11.3 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, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.