Origin
Dilley, TX
Late night in Dilley on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dilley, TX to San Antonio, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
71.6 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dilley, TX
Wikimedia Commons
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Dilley to San Antonio covers 71.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 7 minutes. Because this is a straightforward trek within the Great Plains region of Texas, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating this route involves utilizing I-35, the Purple Heart Trail, and the South Pan Am Expressway. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, the drive is quick and manageable, making it an easy transition between these two South Texas points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 57.7 mi | 57m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| South Main Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| South Santa Rosa Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Laredo Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Dolorosa Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South I 35 Access Road East | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 57.7 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dilley, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on I 35 Bus; FM 117
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto South I 35 Access Road East
427 ft
·
13 sec
·
South I 35 Access Road East
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
4
Merge onto I 35
58 mi
·
57 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 35
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Pan Am Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 155A
Toward Spur 536: South Alamo Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto South Laredo Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Laredo Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Continue on South Santa Rosa Street
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Santa Rosa Street
10
Turn right onto Dolorosa Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
11
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.8 miles from Dilley, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 65 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 70.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
2.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
South I 35 Access Road East
Turn right onto South I 35 Access Road East
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge onto I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
69.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
70.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward Spur 536: South Alamo Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 155A
Toward Spur 536: South Alamo Street
3
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
South Laredo Street
Turn straight onto South Laredo Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.82 one way
$21.64 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $11.84 | $23.68 |
| premium | $4.54 | $12.78 | $25.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.81 | $31.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.02 | $4.58 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Late night in San Antonio on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 15 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 6:30AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 6:28AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
65°F
Lytle, TX
36 mi in
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
8 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
1h 16m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 71.9-mile stretch. While you will spend time on major arteries like I-35 and the South Pan Am Expressway, the road profile leans toward more technical, local-style segments as you navigate toward your destination. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches to zone out on, so you will need to remain engaged with the road layout throughout the hour-long trip. The transition from the rural outskirts of Dilley into the more densely populated San Antonio area shifts the driving experience significantly, requiring your full attention as traffic density increases.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.7 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near South I 35 Access Road East.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 16m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (South I 35 Access Road East): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.8 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Starting in Dilley, 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 1h 16m. Total distance: 71.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.7 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (South I 35 Access Road East): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.8 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
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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