Trip from Lyford, TX to San Antonio, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 27m

Distance

232.3 mi

374 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 14m ★

6 AM

4h 27m

8 AM

4h 54m

10 AM

4h 37m

12 PM

4h 34m

3 PM

4h 38m

5 PM

4h 53m

8 PM

4h 19m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Lyford, TX

Jeff Stapleton

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Lyford to San Antonio covers 235.1 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 33 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $35 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Great Plains locations. Your path will take you through East Broadway Street, Interstate 69E, and Highway 77. Because the route is straightforward, it serves as a reliable connection for travelers looking to move efficiently between these points in Texas.

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

116.2 miles from Lyford, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 281	123.2 mi	2h 13m
U.S. Highway 77	71.4 mi	1h 20m
Nueces Street	14.7 mi	18m
West King Avenue	14.5 mi	17m
South 6th Street	4.4 mi	7m
East Commerce Street	0.9 mi	1m
Interstate 69E Frontage Road	0.4 mi	<1m
East Broadway Street	0.3 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: US 281 — 123.2 mi, about 2h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on East 8th Street

75 ft · 8 sec · East 8th Street

Turn left onto US 77 Business

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 77 Business

Turn left onto Spur 112

0.3 mi · 41 sec · East Broadway Street

Turn left onto Interstate 69E Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Interstate 69E Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Merge onto I 69E; US 77

71 mi · 1 hr 20 min · U.S. Highway 77

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 8 sec

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Turn left onto FM 772

0.2 mi · 17 sec · FM 772

Turn straight onto US 77 Business

4.4 mi · 7 min · South 6th Street

Turn left onto TX 141

14 mi · 17 min · West King Avenue

Take the ramp

0.6 mi · 1 min

Merge onto US 281

54 mi · 1 hr 1 min · US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

15 mi · 18 min · Nueces Street

Continue on US 281

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 281

Take the exit onto US 281

69 mi · 1 hr 11 min · US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 141 Toward Commerce Street, Downtown, The Alamo Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Interstate 37 South

380 ft · 11 sec · Interstate 37 South

Turn left onto East Commerce Street

0.9 mi · 1 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

Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, though planning for at least one stop is recommended to break up the drive time. Given the nature of this route, keep a close eye on your navigation as you move through local sections to avoid missing turns. Budgeting $35 for gas should be sufficient, but it is always wise to keep a little extra in reserve for fluctuations in fuel prices. Because the drive is under four hours, you can easily manage the trip in one sitting if you pace yourself. A concrete tip for this specific route is to stay vigilant during the transition periods between local roads and the primary highways, as these segments involve the most frequent turning.

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 116.2 miles from Lyford, TX, or about 2h 18m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.2 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 51 miles or 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 116.2 miles or 2h 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 3h 42m

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 Lyford, 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 Lyford, TX

This is one driving day of about 232.3 miles and 4h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Lyford, 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 281 for about 123.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Live Oak County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

George West, TX

116 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

Alice, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alice, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 116.2 miles from Lyford, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 281 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.2 miles.

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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 232.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 77 Business

Turn left onto US 77 Business

Navigation decision point

1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77

Merge onto I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

162.2 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in | US 281

Take the exit onto US 281

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

231 mi into trip | ~4h 24m in

Take the exit toward Commerce Street, Downtown, The Alamo

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 141 Toward Commerce Street, Downtown, The Alamo

232.3 mi into trip | ~4h 27m in | Dolorosa Street

Turn left onto Dolorosa Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.82 one way

$63.64 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 81 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$35.54	$71.08
premium	$4.23	$38.64	$77.28
diesel	$4.80	$43.86	$87.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	69.7	0	$24.39	$11.15
Efficient EV	58.1	0	$20.33	$9.29
EV Truck/SUV	92.9	1	$32.52	$14.87

Gas CO2

81 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Lyford, TX

Late night in Lyford on Monday

Local time

1:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

98°F

Mostly Sunny

SSE 17 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:53AM CDT until July 19 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

San Antonio, TX

Late night in San Antonio on Monday

Local time

1:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

93°F

Partly Sunny

SSE 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:55AM CDT until July 19 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 9:53AM CDT until July 19 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

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 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 27m 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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 224.3

View on nps.gov

Padre Island National Seashore

National Seashore

Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour $25 near mile 48.1

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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between various road types. While you will utilize major thoroughfares like Interstate 69E and Highway 77, the journey features a significant amount of local navigation rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Interestingly, there is no single long-distance stretch on this route, as the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on East Broadway Street. This lack of extended highway cruising means the character of the road changes frequently. You will spend your time navigating local transitions rather than settling into a long, high-speed cruise.

84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 123.2 mi on US 281.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 281 and U.S. Highway 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 77 Business.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 232.3 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: near the start (US 77 Business): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.2 miles (US 281): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

649 ft 24 ft

Total Climb

738 ft

Total Descent

123 ft

Highest Point

649 ft

~232.3 mi in

Elevation Range

625 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Lyford, TX

Full guide →

Top landmarks

• Old Lyford High School — historic place in Lyford, Willacy County, Texas

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 27m. Total distance: 232.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 123.2 miles on US 281. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 11 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 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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

Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Lyford, 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

Rest Area

Picnic Area

Love's Travel Stop

Kenedy County Rest Area

Rest Area

Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area

Picnic Area

QuikTrip

Pilot Travel Center

Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area

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

Lyford, TX

San Antonio, TX

Same local time

5 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 27m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Padre Island National Seashore

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

About the Cities

Starting in Lyford, TX

Arriving in San Antonio, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

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

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