Bell County Northbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Clarksville, TX to San Antonio, 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
7h 22m
Distance
407.6 mi
656 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 12m
★
6 AM
7h 22m
8 AM
7h 43m
10 AM
7h 29m
12 PM
7h 27m
3 PM
7h 31m
5 PM
7h 42m
8 PM
7h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarksville, TX
Jeff Stapleton
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Clarksville, TX to San Antonio, TX is 407.6 miles and takes about 7h 22m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Great Plains region of Northeast Texas down into the Great Plains of Central Texas. Expect a mixed highway and surface road experience, with the majority of your travel on major roadways. Given the 7-hour drive time, it's a manageable one-day trip, but you might consider an early start to avoid potential traffic as you approach San Antonio.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203.8 miles from Clarksville, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 41m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 99.6 mi | 1h 46m |
| South R L Thornton Freeway | 89.9 mi | 1h 32m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| I 30 | 55.1 mi | 59m |
| South Church Street | 46.4 mi | 50m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 17 mi | 20m |
| US Highway 82 West | 16.6 mi | 18m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 96 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,090 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~671 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
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 Clarksville, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on US 82 Bus; TX 37 Bus
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on US 82
17 mi
·
18 min
·
US Highway 82 West
3
Continue on US 82
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Front Street
4
Continue on US 82
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US Highway 82 East
5
Continue on US 82
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Lamar Road
6
Continue on US 82
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Lamar Avenue
7
Turn left onto Southeast Loop 286
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Southeast Loop 286
8
Merge onto US 271; Loop 286
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Southeast Loop 286
9
Continue on Loop 286
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Southwest Loop 286
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Toward TX 19, TX 24: Cooper, Sulphur Springs
11
Turn left onto TX 19; TX 24
46 mi
·
50 min
·
South Church Street
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 30 West: Dallas
13
Merge onto I 30; US 67
55 mi
·
59 min
·
I 30; US 67
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 46A
Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 35E South, I 35E North: Waco, Denton
16
Keep slight left at fork
221 ft
·
5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco
Use the left / right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35E
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
19
Continue on I 35E
89 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
South R L Thornton Freeway
Exit 426
Toward Dallas Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
24
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Use the slight left lane.
29
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 157A
Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
30
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
526 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
31
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
32
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
159 ft
·
3 sec
·
Navarro Street
33
Continue on Navarro Street
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
Navarro Street
34
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
35
Turn right onto West Travis Street
222 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Travis Street
36
Turn left onto North Flores Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Flores Street
37
Continue on Military Plaza
392 ft
·
15 sec
·
Military Plaza
38
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft
·
8 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
39
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Clarksville early in the morning is recommended to make the most of daylight and potentially beat afternoon traffic. With a total duration of around 7 hours and 22 minutes, this is a feasible one-day trip, but plan for at least two brief stops to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 99.6 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, so be sure to have a full tank before embarking on that portion. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you get closer to San Antonio, as services can become more spaced out on certain segments.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 203.8 miles from Clarksville, TX, or about 3h 41m 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 90 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.8 miles or 3h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 13m
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 Clarksville, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clarksville, TX
This is one driving day of about 407.6 miles and 7h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Clarksville, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
204 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 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 203.8 miles from Clarksville, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 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
Hill County Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Walburg Travel Center & Food Court
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Ascent Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Hill County Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Marlstone Retail Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bell County Southbound Rest Area
0.4 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.4 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.9 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
2.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 134.8 and 406.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
134.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
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 46A
Toward I 35E: Denton, Waco
9
135.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35E North, I 35E South: Denton, Waco
8
326.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 49m 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
8
405.9 mi into trip
|
~7h 18m 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
406.5 mi into trip
|
~7h 19m 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
$55.83 one way
$111.66 round trip
$3.48/gal
25.4 MPG avg
143 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.89 | $62.36 | $124.72 |
| premium | $4.23 | $67.80 | $135.60 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $76.96 | $153.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 122.3 | 1 | $42.80 | $19.56 |
| Efficient EV | 101.9 | 1 | $35.67 | $16.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 163 | 2 | $57.06 | $26.09 |
Gas CO2
143 kg
EV CO2
48 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
Clarksville, TX
Late night in Clarksville on Monday
Local time
1:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph
20% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 19 at 4:03PM CDT until July 19 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 4:00PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Late night in San Antonio on Monday
Local time
1:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 19 at 4:03PM CDT until July 19 at 4:45PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 19 at 4:00PM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
100°F
Italy, TX
204 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 22m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 224.9
View on nps.gov
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 407.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 60% of this 407.6-mile drive is on major highways like I 35. You'll encounter a long stretch of 99.6 miles on the Purple Heart Trail before transitioning to other main roads. The transition from highway to surface roads means you'll notice a change in speed limits and exit density. Expect a good amount of urban merging and exiting as you pass through various towns and cities along the way.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 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?
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 134.8 miles in.
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 23 significant decision points across 407.6 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 134.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 326.1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
892 ft
412 ft
Total Climb
876 ft
Total Descent
639 ft
Highest Point
892 ft
~291.2 mi in
Elevation Range
480 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.
Between Clarksville, TX and San Antonio, TX, road signs point toward Sulphur Springs, Waco, Denton and Dallas Zoo.
Sulphur Springs
32.8 mi in
|
~38m
Waco
134.8 mi in
|
~2h 29m
Denton
135.3 mi in
|
~2h 30m
Dallas Zoo
136.4 mi in
|
~2h 32m
|
via I 35E
About the Cities
Starting in Clarksville, TX
Full guide →Founded 1833
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 7h 22m. Total distance: 407.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
Yes — we found about 38 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 134.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 326.1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and 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 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 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.
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