Traveling from Longview to San Antonio covers 363.3 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 58 minutes. Because this journey is classified as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint, it is best approached as a dedicated one-day commitment. You should budget approximately $54 for fuel to complete the trek between these two Great Plains locations. While the route is manageable in a single day, the winding nature of the roads means you will spend significant time behind the wheel. Use this trip as a focused transit between East Texas and the heart of the state, but keep your schedule flexible enough to account for the local road conditions.
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
172.3 miles from Longview, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Longview, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on US 80
0.6 mi·1 min·West Marshall Avenue
2
Turn left onto TX 31; Spur 63
6.8 mi·8 min·North Spur 63
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 259; TX 31
0.6 mi·41 sec·US Highway 259 North
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 259 Business; TX 31
1.3 mi·1 min·US Highway 259 Business North
5
Turn right onto TX 31
29 mi·34 min·State Highway 31 East
6
Continue on TX 31
1.9 mi·2 min·Chandler Highway
7
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi·6 min·State Highway 31 West
8
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi·2 min·East Highway 31
9
Continue on TX 31
21 mi·23 min·State Highway 31 East
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
11
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi·7 min·Jed Robinson Loop
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
13
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft·14 sec
14
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 31 West
15
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi·6 min·East Royall Boulevard
16
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi·11 min·State Highway 31 East
17
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi·10 min·Northwest 2nd Street
18
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi·13 min·Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
19
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi·21 min·West State Highway 31
20
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi·5 min·Hubbard Bypass
21
Continue on TX 31
17 mi·17 min·State Highway 31
22
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi·2 min·East US Highway 84
23
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi·4 min·Bellmead Drive
24
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi·1 min·East Waco Drive
25
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft·12 sec·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
26
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
27
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi·6 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi·54 min·Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton StreetUse the slight left lane.
31
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi·11 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·8 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.6 mi·41 sec·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, LaredoUse the slight left lane.
36
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 157AToward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro AvenueUse the slight right lane.
37
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
526 ft·17 sec·East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
38
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
39
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
159 ft·3 sec·Navarro Street
40
Continue on Navarro Street
111 ft·2 sec·Navarro Street
41
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
0.4 mi·51 sec·North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
42
Turn right onto West Travis Street
222 ft·10 sec·West Travis Street
43
Turn left onto North Flores Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·North Flores Street
44
Continue on Military Plaza
392 ft·15 sec·Military Plaza
45
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft·8 sec·Dolorosa Street
46
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 363.3-mile route, it is wise to depart early in the morning to ensure you reach San Antonio before fatigue sets in. Plan for at least one substantial stop to break up the nearly six-hour duration and allow for a quick mental reset. Because the drive relies on local roads rather than interstates, your navigation system may require more frequent checking than usual. Prioritize your fuel budget of $54 by keeping an eye on your tank, as you will not always have the convenience of frequent, large-scale highway service centers. Use the flexibility of this one-day itinerary to pull over safely if the local road traffic becomes more demanding than anticipated.
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 172.3 miles from Longview, TX, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.3 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 17m
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 Longview, 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 Longview, TX
This is one driving day of about 344.6 miles and 6h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Longview, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 99.6 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 104.2 and 343.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
104.2 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
263.1 mi into trip|~4h 53m in|I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
7
336.5 mi into trip|~6h 14m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South
8
342.9 mi into trip|~6h 22m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
8
343.4 mi into trip|~6h 23m in
Take the exit toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
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 157A
Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.07 one way
$104.14 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$56.99
$113.99
premium
$4.54
$61.53
$123.05
diesel
$5.61
$76.08
$152.17
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: 120.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.4
1
$36.18
$16.54
Efficient EV
86.2
0
$30.15
$13.78
EV Truck/SUV
137.8
1
$48.24
$22.05
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Longview, TX
Morning
in Longview on Tuesday
Local time
9:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Morning
in San Antonio on Tuesday
Local time
9:30 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
10 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
6h 26m 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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 166.4
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 344.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on driving experience, as this route avoids major interstates entirely in favor of local roads like North Spur 63 and Highway 259. With a 0% highway share, this is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous cruise. You will find no long, uninterrupted stretches of road, as the longest segment on North Spur 63 is 0 miles. The route’s personality is defined by constant navigation through local corridors rather than high-speed highway transit. Prepare for a steady, rhythmic pace that requires frequent adjustments as you work your way through the regional landscape.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 104.2 miles in near TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass.
Driving Effort9/10
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 25 significant decision points across 344.6 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 104.2 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 263.1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 336.5 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Longview is a city in the Piney Woods region of Texas. At one time a major headquarters of the vast East Texas Oil Field, petroleum remains a large part of the city's economy. Founded in 1871, the city earned its name when surveyors for the Southern Pacific Railroad noted what a "long view" they could see from a hill near the center of the new town. Longview is now home to more than 75,000 residents and has grown to be an important center of commerce and industry for the Piney Woods region of Texas.
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 26m. Total distance: 344.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 26m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 104.2 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 263.1 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 336.5 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 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.
