Spanning 348.1 miles across the Texas Great Plains, this journey from Lamesa to San Antonio typically takes about 5 hours and 15 minutes of pure drive time. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the trip in a single day, though you should budget approximately $52 for fuel to cover the distance. You will navigate via North Lynn Avenue, South Dallas Avenue, and Highway 87 as you head south. Since both the origin and destination are situated within the Great Plains region, the landscape remains consistent throughout your travels. It is a straightforward trek that works well for those looking to reach San Antonio efficiently without needing an overnight stop.
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
173.1 miles from Lamesa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
72.2 mi
1h 17m
I 10
71.7 mi
1h 14m
William B Crooker Memorial Highway
52.1 mi
52m
US 83
40 mi
38m
Ellis Street
29.4 mi
31m
South Main Street
21.5 mi
23m
North US Highway 87
18.1 mi
18m
South US Highway 87
18.1 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 72.2 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lamesa, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on this road
160 ft·13 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 87
1.3 mi·1 min·North Lynn Avenue
3
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi·1 min·South Dallas Avenue
4
Continue on US 87; US 180
18 mi·18 min·South US Highway 87
5
Continue on US 87
1.4 mi·1 min·William Crooker Highway
6
Continue on US 87
18 mi·18 min·North US Highway 87
7
Continue on US 87
52 mi·52 min·William B Crooker Memorial Highway
8
Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163
1.2 mi·2 min·4th Street
9
Continue on US 87
15 mi·14 min·US Highway 87 South
10
Continue on US 87
72 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 87
11
Turn right onto US 83
21 mi·23 min·South Main Street
12
Continue on US 83
29 mi·31 min·Ellis Street
13
Take the exit onto US 83
40 mi·38 min·US 83
Toward I 10 East: San AntonioUse the left lane.
14
Continue on I 10
54 mi·54 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
17 mi·19 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
1.7 mi·2 min·McDermott Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 569CToward Santa Rosa Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Pecos-La Trinidad
19
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pecos-La Trinidad
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·Dolorosa Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 15-minute journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to break up the drive. Since this is a turn-heavy route, departing in the morning ensures you have plenty of daylight to navigate the local roads safely. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $52 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local price variations. Given that the route lacks long, monotonous highway stretches, use the frequent turns as a natural reminder to stay alert and adjust your posture. Flexibility is your best asset here, so feel free to pull over whenever you need a quick refresh before reaching San Antonio.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.1 miles from Lamesa, TX, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.2 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 76 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.1 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 55m
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 Lamesa, 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 Lamesa, TX
This is one driving day of about 346.2 miles and 6h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Lamesa, 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 US 87 for about 72.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 231.2 and 345.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
231.2 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
6
325.4 mi into trip|~5h 35m in|I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
344.5 mi into trip|~5h 56m in
Take the exit toward Santa Rosa Street, 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.
Exit 569C
Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
6
345.1 mi into trip|~5h 58m in|North Pecos-La Trinidad
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
345.7 mi into trip|~5h 59m in|Dolorosa Street
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.31 one way
$104.62 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$57.26
$114.52
premium
$4.54
$61.81
$123.62
diesel
$5.61
$76.44
$152.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.9
1
$36.35
$16.62
Efficient EV
86.6
0
$30.29
$13.85
EV Truck/SUV
138.5
1
$48.47
$22.16
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lamesa, TX
Late night
in Lamesa on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Late night
in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
23 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
6h 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.
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 346.2
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 298.4
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 that demands your full attention rather than a mindless highway cruise. With a 0% highway share, this route relies entirely on local roads and Highway 87, creating a more intimate connection with the landscape. You will not find any long, uninterrupted stretches of interstate here, as the longest segment on North Lynn Avenue is 0 miles. The route’s personality is defined by its technical nature, keeping you engaged as you navigate through the local roads. Prepare for a steady, hands-on driving experience that differs significantly from the typical high-speed interstate commute.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.2 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 231.2 miles in near US 83.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 346.2 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 231.2 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 325.4 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 344.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Lamesa is a city in the Llano Estacado region of Texas. It is heavy on the agriculture sector and gives off an authentic feel of provincial Texan life.
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 6h. Total distance: 346.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.2 miles on US 87. 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 231.2 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 325.4 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 344.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 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.
