Stretching 282.7 miles between Cedar Hill and San Antonio, this journey takes approximately 4 hours and 7 minutes to complete. Because you aren't relying on major interstates, the trip functions best as a focused day trip rather than a multi-day expedition. You should set aside a fuel budget of about $42 to cover the distance. Since both your start and end points are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, the geography remains relatively consistent throughout the transit. Planning for one dedicated stop will help you break up the drive comfortably. This route is a practical choice if you prefer a direct, purposeful connection between these two Texas hubs without the typical interstate congestion.
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
131.5 miles from Cedar Hill, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Hill, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on Cedar Street
75 ft·7 sec·Cedar Street
2
Turn left onto Houston Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Houston Street
3
Turn left onto Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jefferson Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto South Highway 67
0.4 mi·30 sec·South Highway 67
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 67 South
6
Merge onto US 67
20 mi·22 min·South J Elmer Weaver Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto US 67 Bus
0.6 mi·1 min·North Baugh Street
8
Turn straight onto US 67 Bus
0.1 mi·14 sec·East College Street
9
Turn left onto FM 1706
0.8 mi·1 min·South Sparks Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto I 35 Bus
0.1 mi·15 sec·South Parkway Drive
11
Continue on I 35 Bus
487 ft·22 sec·I 35 Bus
12
Turn left
0.2 mi·22 sec
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward I 35W South
14
Merge onto I 35W
58 mi·58 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi·7 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi·54 min·Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton StreetUse the slight left lane.
19
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi·11 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·8 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.6 mi·41 sec·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, LaredoUse the slight left lane.
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 157AToward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro AvenueUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
526 ft·17 sec·East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
159 ft·3 sec·Navarro Street
28
Continue on Navarro Street
111 ft·2 sec·Navarro Street
29
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
0.4 mi·51 sec·North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
30
Turn right onto West Travis Street
222 ft·10 sec·West Travis Street
31
Turn left onto North Flores Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·North Flores Street
32
Continue on Military Plaza
392 ft·15 sec·Military Plaza
33
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft·8 sec·Dolorosa Street
34
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy, 282.7-mile drive, aim to depart early in the morning to navigate the local roads before traffic peaks. One well-timed stop will be sufficient to manage the 4-hour and 7-minute duration effectively. Keep your fuel budget of $42 in mind, as local roads may offer different refilling opportunities than major interstates. Because this route lacks long, uninterrupted highway segments, prioritize maintaining a steady pace to avoid fatigue from constant turning. A concrete tip for this specific path is to study your turn-by-turn navigation closely before starting, as the lack of highway signage means you will be relying heavily on local street markers throughout the entire journey.
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 131.5 miles from Cedar Hill, TX, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 58 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.5 miles or 2h 20m 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 51m
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 Cedar Hill, 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 Cedar Hill, TX
This is one driving day of about 263 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Cedar Hill, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 99.6 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 125.6 and 261.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
125.6 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
181.4 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
7
254.8 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South
8
261.2 mi into trip|~4h 42m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
8
261.8 mi into trip|~4h 43m in
Take the exit toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
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 157A
Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.74 one way
$79.48 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$43.50
$87.00
premium
$4.54
$46.96
$93.91
diesel
$5.61
$58.07
$116.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.9
0
$27.61
$12.62
Efficient EV
65.8
0
$23.01
$10.52
EV Truck/SUV
105.2
1
$36.82
$16.83
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Cedar Hill, TX
Morning
in Cedar Hill on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Morning
in San Antonio on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 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.
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
9 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
4h 45m 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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 81.6
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...
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 driving experience that favors backroads over high-speed transit. You will navigate via Houston Street, Jefferson Street, and Highway 67, meaning you won't encounter any significant highway stretches, as the highway share for this route is 0%. Because the longest stretch on Houston Street is 0 miles, you should be prepared for frequent turns and constant adjustments behind the wheel. The road’s personality is defined by its local character rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Staying alert is essential, as the route requires more active attention than a standard highway cruise.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and I 35W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 125.6 miles in near I 35.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 263 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 125.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.4 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 254.8 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): 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 4h 45m. Total distance: 263 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 125.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.4 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 254.8 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at San Antonio, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
