Spanning 179.2 miles, the journey from Hearne to San Antonio is a manageable trek that typically takes about 2 hours and 56 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout your travels. Budgeting approximately $27 for fuel should cover your needs for this one-day trip, making it a cost-effective excursion. Because the duration is under three hours, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Whether you are heading south for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a straightforward path between these two Texas hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
89.6 miles from Hearne, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pickle Parkway
70.3 mi
1h 3m
US 79
56.4 mi
1h 10m
I 10
32.5 mi
33m
East 2nd Street
6.9 mi
8m
East Commerce Street
4.3 mi
7m
Chris Kelley Boulevard
2.1 mi
2m
Jose Lopez Freeway
1.6 mi
1m
TX 130 Frontage Road
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pickle Parkway
— 70.3 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hearne, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on US 79; TX 6
0.1 mi·7 sec·South Market Street
2
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
3
Continue on US 79; US 190
54 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 79; US 190
4
Turn left onto Porter Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Porter Street
5
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
6.9 mi·8 min·East 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 79
2.6 mi·3 min·US 79
7
Turn left onto FM 685
2.1 mi·2 min·Chris Kelley Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto FM 685
1.3 mi·1 min·TX 130 Frontage Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·10 sec
Exit 426Toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, PflugervilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi·11 min·I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
9.4 mi·9 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
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.
17
Continue on I 10; US 90
1.6 mi·1 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 579Toward Commerce Street, Houston StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East
0.3 mi·38 sec·Interstate 10 East
20
Turn right onto East Houston Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·East Houston Street
21
Turn slight left onto East Commerce Street
4.3 mi·7 min·East Commerce Street
22
Turn left onto Military Plaza
392 ft·15 sec·Military Plaza
23
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft·8 sec·Dolorosa Street
24
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Planning your departure for the early morning or mid-afternoon will help you avoid the most congested periods on these local roads. With only one stop required to complete the trip comfortably, you have plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs whenever you feel necessary. Since you are sticking to local streets rather than highways, keep a close watch on your navigation to ensure you do not miss a turn on the designated route. You might consider checking your fuel levels before leaving Hearne, as the $27 estimate is based on typical consumption for a trip of this length. Taking advantage of the shorter duration allows you to arrive in San Antonio feeling refreshed rather than drained by hours of high-speed driving.
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 89.6 miles from Hearne, TX, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.3 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 39 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.6 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 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 Hearne, 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 Hearne, TX
This is one driving day of about 179.3 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Hearne, 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 Pickle Parkway for about 70.3 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 55 and 174.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
55 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|East 2nd Street
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
67.9 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the ramp toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 426
Toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville
7
138.6 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
6
159.7 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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.
8
174.1 mi into trip|~3h 7m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.09 one way
$54.19 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$29.66
$59.31
premium
$4.54
$32.01
$64.03
diesel
$5.61
$39.59
$79.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.8
0
$18.83
$8.61
Efficient EV
44.8
0
$15.69
$7.17
EV Truck/SUV
71.7
0
$25.10
$11.48
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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 19, 2026
Origin
Hearne, TX
Morning
in Hearne on Tuesday
Local time
7:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Morning
in San Antonio on Tuesday
Local time
7:05 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
5 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
3h 16m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this path. You will navigate via Porter Street, East 2nd Street, and Chris Kelley Boulevard, which keeps your focus on the road. Since the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace compared to high-speed turnpikes. This route rewards drivers who prefer local thoroughfares over the predictable nature of major interstates. Staying alert is essential as you transition through these local roads, as the lack of highway miles means you will be managing frequent turns throughout the entire 179.2-mile distance.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.3 mi on Pickle Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pickle Parkway and US 79. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 55 miles in near East 2nd Street.
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 16 significant decision points across 179.3 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 55 miles (East 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 138.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hearne, TX and San Antonio, TX, road signs point toward Pflugerville and Toll 130 South: Austin.
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 3h 16m. Total distance: 179.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.3 miles on Pickle Parkway. 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 55 miles (East 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 138.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at San Antonio, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
