Trip from Holiday Lakes, TX to San Antonio, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 22m

Distance

236.1 mi

380 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 9m ★

6 AM

4h 22m

8 AM

4h 49m

10 AM

4h 32m

12 PM

4h 29m

3 PM

4h 33m

5 PM

4h 47m

8 PM

4h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Holiday Lakes, TX

Jeff Stapleton

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 236.1-mile drive from Holiday Lakes, TX to San Antonio, TX is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 22 minutes. You'll spend about 89% of your time on highways, making it a focused road trip experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is $36. Given its manageable duration and highway-focused profile, this route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region for the entirety of this trip, so expect consistent terrain.

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

118 miles from Holiday Lakes, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Katy Freeway	161.7 mi	2h 45m
Nolan Ryan Expressway	20.7 mi	23m
I 10	12 mi	12m
South Sam Houston Tollway West	10.3 mi	11m
West Sam Houston Tollway South	7 mi	7m
Brazoria County Expressway	5.5 mi	6m
East Commerce Street	4.3 mi	7m
FM 521	3.1 mi	5m

Longest stretch: Katy Freeway — 161.7 mi, about 2h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Holiday Lakes, TX and San Antonio, TX.

Start on 4th Street

251 ft · 12 sec · 4th Street

Turn right onto Lake Drive

0.3 mi · 39 sec · Lake Drive

Continue on North Texas Avenue

0.2 mi · 31 sec · North Texas Avenue

Continue on Creekside Drive

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Creekside Drive

At end of road, turn left onto Sims Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Sims Road

Continue on CR 30

2.0 mi · 4 min · CR 30

At end of road, turn left onto FM 521

3.1 mi · 5 min · FM 521

Turn right onto CR 45

0.5 mi · 1 min · County Road 45

Turn right onto TX 288

0.7 mi · 55 sec · Nolan Ryan Expressway

Take the exit

209 ft · 5 sec

Merge onto TX 288

20 mi · 22 min · Nolan Ryan Expressway

Continue on TX 288

0.1 mi · 7 sec · South Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 288 Toll

5.1 mi · 5 min · Brazoria County Expressway

Take the exit onto Brazoria County Expressway

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Brazoria County Expressway

Toward SHT West, SHT East: Sam Houston Tollway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 2 min

Toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto SHT

10 mi · 11 min · South Sam Houston Tollway West

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on BW 8

1.9 mi · 2 min · South Sam Houston Parkway West

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on SHT

7.0 mi · 7 min · West Sam Houston Tollway South

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Toward I 10 West, I 10 East: San Antonio, Downtown Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 2 min

Toward I 10 West: San Antonio Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 10; US 90

162 mi · 2 hr 45 min · Katy Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

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.

Continue on I 10; US 90

1.6 mi · 1 min · Jose Lopez Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec

Exit 579 Toward Commerce Street, Houston Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Interstate 10 East

Turn right onto East Houston Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · East Houston Street

Turn slight left onto East Commerce Street

4.3 mi · 7 min · East Commerce Street

Turn left onto Military Plaza

392 ft · 15 sec · Military Plaza

Turn left onto Dolorosa Street

327 ft · 8 sec · Dolorosa Street

Arrive at destination

Dolorosa Street

Trip Plan

For this 4-hour and 22-minute trip, consider an early morning departure from Holiday Lakes, TX, to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential traffic as you approach San Antonio, TX. With the longest stretch covering 161.7 miles, plan for one primary stop around the halfway point for fuel and a break. The $36 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices. Since this is a straightforward highway drive, focus on staying alert and enjoying the efficient journey to your destination.

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 118 miles from Holiday Lakes, TX, or about 2h 17m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 161.7 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 52 miles or 1h 7m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 118 miles or 2h 17m 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 34m

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 Holiday Lakes, 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 Holiday Lakes, TX

This is one driving day of about 236.1 miles and 4h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Holiday Lakes, 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 Katy Freeway for about 161.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sugar Land, TX

118 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

Missouri City, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sugar Land, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 118 miles from Holiday Lakes, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

+12102271373

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 32.9 and 230.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

32.9 mi into trip | ~44m in | Brazoria County Expressway

Take the exit onto Brazoria County Expressway toward SHT West, SHT East: Sam Houston Tollway

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. Toward SHT West, SHT East: Sam Houston Tollway

33.3 mi into trip | ~45m in

Keep slight left at fork toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward SHT West: Sam Houston Tollway

53.4 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the exit toward I 10 West, I 10 East: San Antonio, Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 10 West, I 10 East: San Antonio, Downt...

53.7 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 10 West: San Antonio

230.9 mi into trip | ~4h 13m 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

$35.68 one way

$71.35 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 83 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.20	$39.05	$78.10
premium	$4.54	$42.15	$84.31
diesel	$5.61	$52.13	$104.26

Estimated Tolls: $1.39

Sam Houston Tollway (17.3 mi) $1.39

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 82.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	70.8	0	$24.79	$11.33
Efficient EV	59	0	$20.66	$9.44
EV Truck/SUV	94.4	1	$33.05	$15.11

Gas CO2

83 kg

EV CO2

28 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

Holiday Lakes, TX

Late night in Holiday Lakes on Tuesday

Local time

5:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Antonio, TX

Late night in San Antonio on Tuesday

Local time

5:28 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

ENE 10 mph 79% chance 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

6 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 22m 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.

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 236.1

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 236.1-mile journey, with 89% of the route consisting of major roadways like the Katy Freeway and I-10. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 161.7 miles on the Katy Freeway, indicating significant periods of consistent driving. This profile suggests a route where maintaining speed and covering distance efficiently is the primary characteristic, rather than a winding, scenic exploration. You'll likely experience a steady pace for the majority of your travel time.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 161.7 mi on Katy Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Katy Freeway and Nolan Ryan Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.9 miles in near Brazoria County Expressway.

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 20 significant decision points across 236.1 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 32.9 miles (Brazoria County Expressway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Holiday Lakes, TX and San Antonio, TX, road signs point toward Sht West, Sht East: Sam Houston Tollway, Sht West: Sam Houston Tollway and Downtown.

Sht West

32.9 mi in | ~44m | via Brazoria County Expressway

Sht East: Sam Houston Tollway

32.9 mi in | ~44m | via Brazoria County Expressway

Sht West: Sam Houston Tollway

33.3 mi in | ~45m

Downtown

53.4 mi in | ~1h 9m

About the Cities

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 4h 22m. Total distance: 236.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 161.7 miles on Katy Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.39 in tolls one way, starting with Sam Houston Tollway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

Yes — we found about 27 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at San Antonio, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Holiday Lakes, TX or browse trips ending in San Antonio, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from Holiday Lakes, TX to San Antonio, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Road Ranger

Flying J Travel Center

Guadalupe County Westbound Rest Area

Guadalupe County Eastbound Rest Area

Buc-ee's

Road Ranger

Roady's Truck Stops

Buc-ee's

Flying J Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Petro Stopping Centers

Colorado County Eastbound Rest Area

Colorado County Westbound Rest Area

Love's Travel Stop

Jud's Travel Center

Amigos Country Corner

TA

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Super Travel Center

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Spanish Governor's Palace

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

San Antonio | The Saga

Hemisfair

San Antonio Fire Museum

The Amazing Mirror Maze

SEA LIFE San Antonio

San Antonio River Lock & Dam

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Holiday Lakes, TX

San Antonio, TX

Same local time

6 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 22m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in San Antonio, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From San Antonio, TX

More from Holiday Lakes, TX

More trips to San Antonio, TX