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Trip from Midland, 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 Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 45m

Distance

322.1 mi

518 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 33m ★
6 AM
5h 46m
8 AM
6h 12m
10 AM
5h 55m
12 PM
5h 52m
3 PM
5h 56m
5 PM
6h 11m
8 PM
5h 38m

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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Downtown Midland, TX, TX

Midland, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 322.1-mile drive from Midland, TX to San Antonio, TX is a straightforward, single-day trip, estimated to take about 5 hours and 45 minutes. You'll primarily be on US 87 and I-10, with a small portion on East State Highway 158. The majority of this route, 82%, is highway driving, making it a focused journey across the Texas landscape. With an estimated fuel cost of $49, it’s an accessible option for a quick transition between the Great Plains regions of Texas. This drive is well-suited for a single-day adventure, allowing for a relatively early start and arrival within the same day.

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

161 miles from Midland, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 87 72.2 mi 1h 17m
I 10 71.7 mi 1h 14m
East State Highway 158 61.4 mi 1h 9m
US 83 40 mi 38m
Ellis Street 29.4 mi 31m
South Main Street 21.5 mi 23m
US Highway 87 South 14.6 mi 14m
Garden City Highway 2.7 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US 87 — 72.2 mi, about 1h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Loop 269

44 ft · 6 sec · West Wall Street
2

Turn left onto TX 349 Bus

0.6 mi · 48 sec · South Big Spring Street
3

Turn left onto TX 140

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Florida Avenue
4

Continue on TX 140

2.7 mi · 4 min · Garden City Highway
5

Continue on TX 158

61 mi · 1 hr 9 min · East State Highway 158
6

Merge onto US 87; TX 158; TX 163

2.6 mi · 2 min · US Highway 87 North
7

Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163

1.2 mi · 2 min · 4th Street
8

Continue on US 87

15 mi · 14 min · US Highway 87 South
9

Continue on US 87

72 mi · 1 hr 17 min · US 87
10

Turn right onto US 83

21 mi · 23 min · South Main Street
11

Continue on US 83

29 mi · 31 min · Ellis Street
12

Take the exit onto US 83

40 mi · 38 min · US 83
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio Use the left lane.
13

Continue on I 10

54 mi · 54 min · I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

17 mi · 19 min · I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

1.7 mi · 2 min · McDermott Freeway
16

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 569C Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
17

Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad

0.2 mi · 16 sec · North Pecos-La Trinidad
18

Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Pecos-La Trinidad
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn left onto Dolorosa Street

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Dolorosa Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
20

Arrive at destination

Dolorosa Street

Trip Plan

For this 5-hour and 45-minute drive, departing from Midland, TX in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. Given the 322.1-mile distance, plan for one stop to break up the journey, perhaps midway through the 72.2-mile stretch on US 87. The estimated fuel cost is $49, so ensure your tank is full before departing and be mindful of fuel availability, especially on the longer highway segments. This route is easily manageable in one day, so you have flexibility in your stopping times. Keep an eye on the transition from US 87 to I-10 as you approach San Antonio.

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 161 miles from Midland, TX, or about 2h 58m 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 71 miles or 1h 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 161 miles or 2h 58m 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 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 Midland, 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 Midland, TX

This is one driving day of about 322.1 miles and 5h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Midland, 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.

city in and county seat of Kimble County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Junction, TX

161 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

San Angelo, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Eden, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 161 miles from Midland, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 87 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Chuck E. Cheese

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour Moderately

Midland, Texas

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14326972322

Visit website

Liberty City Rage Room

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Midland, Texas

Hours: Closed

+14324005911

Visit website

Centennial Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Midland, Texas

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14326878200

Visit website

Spanish Governor's Palace

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

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 207.1 and 321.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
207.1 mi into trip | ~3h 47m 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
301.3 mi into trip | ~5h 20m 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
320.4 mi into trip | ~5h 42m 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
321 mi into trip | ~5h 43m 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
321.6 mi into trip | ~5h 44m in | Dolorosa Street

Turn left onto Dolorosa Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.67 one way

$97.34 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 113 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $53.27 $106.55
premium $4.54 $57.51 $115.02
diesel $5.61 $71.12 $142.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 112.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 96.6 1 $33.82 $15.46
Efficient EV 80.5 0 $28.18 $12.88
EV Truck/SUV 128.8 1 $45.09 $20.61

Gas CO2

113 kg

EV CO2

38 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 20, 2026

Origin

Midland, TX

Late night in Midland on Tuesday

Local time

4:24 AM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 5 to 15 mph 41% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 19 at 7:18PM CDT until April 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Brownsville TX

Destination

San Antonio, TX

Late night in San Antonio on Tuesday

Local time

4:24 AM

CDT

Current temp

56°F

Chance Rain Showers

NE 5 mph 49% chance Live forecast

Rip Current Statement

Rip Current Statement issued April 19 at 7:18PM CDT until April 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Brownsville 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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 45m 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

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 322.1
View on nps.gov
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour Free near mile 277.6
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 highway-focused experience for most of this 322.1-mile journey. With 82% of the drive on main roads like US 87 and I-10, you'll find consistent speed and straightforward navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 72.2 miles on US 87, so be prepared for a solid period of driving without significant turns or slowdowns. While the profile is largely highway, the initial segment on East State Highway 158 might offer a slightly different feel before merging onto the main arteries. Overall, it's a drive characterized by efficiency and continuous travel.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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 207.1 miles in near US 83.

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 10 significant decision points across 322.1 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 207.1 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 301.3 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 320.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Starting in Midland, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1881

Midland is a city in the Permian Basin region of Texas. Its warm climate, friendly people, and central location are the primary reasons for the city's popularity. It is home to about 133,000 people (census, 1 April 2020) Twenty minutes to the west is Odessa, with a population of about 100,000. Nearly a quarter of a million people reside in the Midland/Odessa metropolitan area.

Top landmarks

  • • George W. Bush Childhood Home — historic place in Midland, Midland County, Texas
  • • Tower Petroleum Building — historic place in Midland, Midland County, Texas
  • • Permian Basin Petroleum Museum — Midland museum

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 5h 45m. Total distance: 322.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

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 207.1 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 301.3 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 320.4 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 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.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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