Mason, TX to San Antonio, TX is 111.7 miles and takes about 2h 8m via US 87 and I-10, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Expect a straightforward highway-focused journey for this relatively short trip. It's a practical option for a single-day drive, allowing plenty of time for activities at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.8 miles from Mason, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South US Highway 87
59.9 mi
1h 7m
US 87
27.2 mi
27m
I 10
17.4 mi
19m
McDermott Freeway
1.7 mi
2m
West Main Street
1.5 mi
4m
South Washington Street
1.1 mi
2m
San Antonio Street
0.9 mi
1m
North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
South US Highway 87
— 59.9 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on TX 29
486 ft·9 sec·Austin Street
2
Turn right onto Postoak Street
0.1 mi·37 sec·Postoak Street
3
Turn left onto US 87
0.9 mi·1 min·San Antonio Street
4
Continue on US 87
40 mi·44 min·South US Highway 87
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 290; US 87
1.5 mi·4 min·West Main Street
6
Turn right onto US 87
1.1 mi·2 min·South Washington Street
7
Continue on US 87
20 mi·23 min·South US Highway 87
8
Take the ramp onto US 87
27 mi·27 min·US 87
Toward I 10 East: San AntonioUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
17 mi·19 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
1.7 mi·2 min·McDermott Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 569CToward Santa Rosa Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Pecos-La Trinidad
13
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pecos-La Trinidad
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·Dolorosa Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of about 2 hours, this drive offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after a leisurely morning in Mason. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, keeping your tank topped up should be easy and inexpensive. The longest stretch without a break is under an hour, so you likely won't need many planned stops, but always be mindful of your fuel gauge, especially as you approach San Antonio.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.8 miles from Mason, TX, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.9 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 25 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.8 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 43m
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 Mason, 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 Mason, TX
This is one driving day of about 111.7 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Mason, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South US Highway 87 for about 59.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 63.8 and 111.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
63.8 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|US 87
Take the ramp onto US 87 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
6
90.9 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
110 mi into trip|~2h 4m 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
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 6m 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
111.2 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|Dolorosa Street
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.88 one way
$33.76 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$18.47
$36.95
premium
$4.54
$19.94
$39.89
diesel
$5.61
$24.66
$49.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
Efficient EV
27.9
0
$9.77
$4.47
EV Truck/SUV
44.7
0
$15.64
$7.15
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Mason, TX
Late night
in Mason on Sunday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Late night
in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
2:31 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
3 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
2h 8m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 111.7
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 42.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the route utilizing major roadways like South US Highway 87 and I-10. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 59.9 miles on South US Highway 87, offering a consistent pace. The road character remains largely highway-like throughout, making for a predictable and efficient transit. Expect smooth sailing on these well-maintained roads for the majority of your trip.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.9 mi on South US Highway 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on South US Highway 87 and US 87. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 63.8 miles in near US 87.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 111.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 63.8 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 90.9 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 110 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 2h 8m. Total distance: 111.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.9 miles on South US Highway 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 63.8 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here; at 90.9 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 110 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Antonio, TX before heading back.
