Trip from Mansfield, 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 44m

Distance

258.4 mi

416 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 31m ★

6 AM

4h 45m

8 AM

5h 12m

10 AM

4h 54m

12 PM

4h 51m

3 PM

4h 55m

5 PM

5h 10m

8 PM

4h 37m

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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city in Texas, USA; suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

Mansfield, TX

Wikimedia Commons

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Mansfield, TX to San Antonio, TX is 258.4 miles and takes about 4h 44m via Purple Heart Trail and I-35, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route travels from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the Great Plains, offering a straightforward trip between two major Texas cities. With a highway share of 59%, you'll experience a mix of interstate cruising and surface road driving. This is a solid choice for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed departure or a full day of activities upon arrival.

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

129.2 miles from Mansfield, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 22m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Trail	99.6 mi	1h 46m
I 35W	63.5 mi	1h 4m
I 35	55.8 mi	58m
North Pan Am Expressway	17 mi	20m
East FM 917	9 mi	14m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway	6.6 mi	7m
Interstate Highway 35	1.7 mi	1m
Farm-to-Market Road 917	1.5 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m

Traffic on I-35

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 100 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~3,421 veh/hr typical · worst 4,049

Quietest

2 AM

~584 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on East Broad Street

182 ft · 8 sec · East Broad Street

Continue on East Broad Street

335 ft · 20 sec · East Broad Street

Turn left onto South Main Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

Turn right onto FM 917

1.5 mi · 2 min · Farm-to-Market Road 917

Continue on FM 917

0.7 mi · 58 sec · South 2nd Avenue

Continue on FM 917

9.0 mi · 14 min · East FM 917

Turn left onto South Burleson Boulevard

0.2 mi · 29 sec · South Burleson Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward I 35W South Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 35W

63 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 35W

Toward I 35W South: Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

56 mi · 58 min · I 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290

50 mi · 54 min · Purple Heart Trail

Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street Use the slight left lane.

Continue on I 35

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate Highway 35

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

10.0 mi · 11 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 35 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

0.6 mi · 41 sec · North Pan Am Expressway

Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Exit 157A Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto East Elmira Street

526 ft · 17 sec · East Elmira Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn left onto North Main Avenue

0.2 mi · 18 sec · North Main Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street

159 ft · 3 sec · Navarro Street

Continue on Navarro Street

111 ft · 2 sec · Navarro Street

Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue

0.4 mi · 51 sec · North Main Avenue

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto West Travis Street

222 ft · 10 sec · West Travis Street

Turn left onto North Flores Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · North Flores Street

Continue on 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 roughly 4.5-hour drive, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the heaviest rush hour traffic leaving the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The route's mixed profile means pacing yourself is key; plan for a brief stop around the halfway point, perhaps after the 99.6-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to surface roads, and remember the estimated fuel cost is around $39. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your departure time.

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 129.2 miles from Mansfield, TX, or about 2h 22m 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 57 miles or 1h 6m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 129.2 miles or 2h 22m 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 50m

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 Mansfield, 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 Mansfield, TX

This is one driving day of about 258.4 miles and 4h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Mansfield, 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.

city in Williamson County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jarrell, TX

129 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

Italy, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jarrell, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.2 miles from Mansfield, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12102077527

Visit website

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+12102274746

Visit website

San Antonio | The Saga

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0 mi from route

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9–9:30 pm

+12102259800

Visit website

Hemisfair

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+12107094750

Visit website

San Antonio Fire Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm

+12103907236

Visit website

The Amazing Mirror Maze

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10:30 am–8 pm

+12102242288

Visit website

Cultural Activities Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Temple, Texas

Hours: 8:30 am–4 pm

+12547739926

Visit website

SEA LIFE San Antonio

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12106101160

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 12.9 and 257.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

12.9 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the ramp toward I 35W South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 35W South

176.9 mi into trip | ~3h 12m 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

250.3 mi into trip | ~4h 33m 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

256.7 mi into trip | ~4h 41m 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

257.2 mi into trip | ~4h 41m 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

$35.39 one way

$70.79 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$39.53	$79.07
premium	$4.23	$42.98	$85.96
diesel	$4.80	$48.79	$97.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	77.5	0	$27.13	$12.40
Efficient EV	64.6	0	$22.61	$10.34
EV Truck/SUV	103.4	1	$36.18	$16.54

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 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

Mansfield, TX

Late night in Mansfield on Monday

Local time

3:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Partly Cloudy

S 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 22 at 7:46AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 21 at 3:48AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Destination

San Antonio, TX

Late night in San Antonio on Monday

Local time

3:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Mostly Cloudy

SSE 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 22 at 7:46AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:19AM CDT until July 21 at 3:48AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi 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

3 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

4h 44m 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.

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...

5 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 80.2

View on nps.gov

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 258.4

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

This drive features a 59% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the 258.4 miles on interstates. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 99.6 miles, primarily on the Purple Heart Trail. Expect a mixed profile, transitioning between highway speeds and more varied surface road conditions. You'll notice the shift in pace as you move from faster interstate travel to more frequent intersections and local traffic on surface roads.

59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

29 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?

7/10

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 12.9 miles in.

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 18 significant decision points across 258.4 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 12.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 176.9 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 250.3 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

832 ft 482 ft

Total Climb

764 ft

Total Descent

718 ft

Highest Point

832 ft

~166.1 mi in

Elevation Range

351 ft

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Hewitt, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Temple, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

El Puente

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Madhatter's Tea House and Cafe

Cafe

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Entwined Grounds

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Grandview, TX

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Fr 06:00-14:00; Sa 07:00-15:00

Visit website

Wendy's

Fast_food

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.2 mi from route

Robinson, TX

Cuisine: burger

Hours: Mo-Th 06:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-01:00; Su...

Visit website

Hard Rock Cafe

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: american

Hours: Mo-Th, Su 08:00-23:00; Fr, Sa 08:00-00:0...

Visit website

Whataburger

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, TX

Cuisine: burger

Hours: 24/7

Visit website

Schilo's Delicatessen

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, TX

Cuisine: german

Hours: Mo-Su 08:00-14:30

Visit website

Viva Villa

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio

Cuisine: mexican

Hours: Mo-Th 7:00-21:30; Fr 7:00-23:00; Sa 8:30...

Visit website

Ellie's Texas Roots

Fast_food

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Mansfield, TX

Park

About the Cities

Starting in Mansfield, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1856

Mansfield (Texas) is a fast growing city south of Arlington, between Dallas and Fort Worth.

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 44m. Total distance: 258.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

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.

Yes — we found about 25 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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

Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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