Traveling from Colorado, TX, to San Antonio, TX, covers a 105.1-mile distance that typically takes about 1 hour and 48 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend approximately $16 on fuel for the trek across the Great Plains region. Navigating this path involves transitioning from Hill Road and Royston Street onto Highway 95. Since both your start and end points are located within the Great Plains, you will experience a consistent regional landscape throughout the entire drive. It is a straightforward route for those looking to reach their destination without the need for multiple stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.9 miles from Colorado, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
60.8 mi
1h 1m
TX 304
20.8 mi
23m
FM 535
10.7 mi
18m
East Commerce Street
4.3 mi
7m
Loop 230
1.9 mi
3m
Jose Lopez Freeway
1.6 mi
1m
State Highway 95
0.8 mi
1m
90th Infantry Division Highway
0.8 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 60.8 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colorado, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on CR 321
0.5 mi·1 min·Old Lake Road
2
Continue on CR 321
0.3 mi·51 sec·Hill Road
3
Turn left onto Loop 230
1.9 mi·3 min·Loop 230
4
Turn left onto TX 95
351 ft·6 sec·Royston Street
5
Continue on TX 95
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 95
6
Turn right onto FM 535
11 mi·18 min·FM 535
7
Turn left onto TX 304
21 mi·23 min·TX 304
8
Turn right
0.2 mi·27 sec
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
10
Merge onto I 10
49 mi·48 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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 compact 105.1-mile drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the trip in under two hours, so there is no pressure to rush or plan for mid-route rest stops. Budgeting $16 for fuel should keep you covered, but it is always wise to double-check your tank before leaving Colorado, TX, to avoid unnecessary delays. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert for changing road signs as you switch from Royston Street to Highway 95. Taking advantage of the short duration allows you to arrive in San Antonio refreshed and ready for your next activity without the exhaustion that often accompanies longer road trips.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.9 miles from Colorado, TX, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.8 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 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.9 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 39m
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 Colorado, 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 Colorado, TX
This is one driving day of about 103.8 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Colorado, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 60.8 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.5 and 103.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
35.5 mi into trip|~50m in|I 10
Merge onto I 10
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
84.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
96.3 mi into trip|~1h 51m 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
98.7 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
5
103.8 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|Dolorosa Street
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.68 one way
$31.37 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$17.17
$34.34
premium
$4.54
$18.53
$37.07
diesel
$5.61
$22.92
$45.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.1
0
$10.90
$4.98
Efficient EV
26
0
$9.08
$4.15
EV Truck/SUV
41.5
0
$14.53
$6.64
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 16, 2026
Origin
Colorado, TX
Night
in Colorado on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Night
in San Antonio on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
64°F
Gonzales, TX
52 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
27 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
2h 3m 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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 100.2
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 monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, with the longest segment being 0 miles on Hill Road. Instead, you will be managing a series of local roads that require your full attention behind the wheel. The personality of this trip is defined by its winding nature, which contrasts sharply with the high-speed transit found on major thoroughfares. Because you are navigating local streets and Highway 95, be prepared to adjust your speed frequently as you transition between the various segments of the journey.
92% 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: 60.8 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and TX 304. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 35.5 miles in near I 10.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 103.8 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 35.5 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.3 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.3 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Colorado is a state of wild contrasts. From the flat plains of the eastern portion of the state to some of the Rocky Mountains' highest peaks to the high desert and red rock country of the western reaches of the state, the landscape is incredibly varied, home to many diverse ecosystems and natural marvels, and supports a thriving hunting and outdoors culture that draws people from around the world.
And yet, the contrasts in the natural landscape are nothing compared to the political and social contrasts you will find here. Like much of the rest of the American West, Colorado is a traditionally rural state with a frontier heritage and a very pro-business attitude. But here you will also find fiercely liberal communities in the college and resort towns that have been home to hippies and major countercultural figures.
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 2h 3m. Total distance: 103.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.8 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.5 miles (I 10): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.3 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.3 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway): 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Antonio, TX before heading back.
