Traveling from Nassau Bay to San Antonio covers a distance of 226.9 miles, typically taking about 3 hours and 35 minutes of drive time. Because this is a relatively straightforward trip, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stop. You should budget approximately $34 for fuel to complete the journey. Both cities sit within the Great Plains region, ensuring a consistent geographic feel as you transition across Texas. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to power through or take breaks at your own pace. Ultimately, this is a practical route for those looking to reach the heart of San Antonio efficiently.
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
110.3 miles from Nassau Bay, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Katy Freeway
174.7 mi
3h 1m
Gulf Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
I 10
12 mi
12m
East Commerce Street
4.3 mi
7m
Jose Lopez Freeway
1.6 mi
1m
East NASA Parkway
1 mi
1m
NASA Parkway
0.9 mi
1m
90th Infantry Division Highway
0.8 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Katy Freeway
— 174.7 mi, about 3h 1m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~2,439 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,368
Quietest
2 AM
~350 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Nassau Bay, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on this road
14 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto San Sebastian Lane
476 ft·25 sec·San Sebastian Lane
3
Turn right onto Point Lookout Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Point Lookout Drive
4
Turn left onto NASA 1
0.4 mi·43 sec·East NASA Parkway
5
Continue on NASA 1
0.4 mi·33 sec·NASA Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Sarah Deel Drive, NASA ParkwayUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto East NASA Parkway
0.6 mi·1 min·East NASA Parkway
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on NASA Parkway
0.9 mi·1 min·NASA Parkway
9
Turn slight right
171 ft·6 sec
Use the right lane.
10
Turn slight right onto Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
0.6 mi·59 sec·Gulf Freeway Frontage Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 45 North
12
Merge onto I 45
22 mi·25 min·Gulf Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 48BToward I 10 West: San AntonioUse the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Merge onto I 10; US 90
175 mi·3 hr 1 min·Katy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi·12 min·I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
0.8 mi·51 sec·90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 10; US 90
1.6 mi·1 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 579Toward Commerce Street, Houston StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East
0.3 mi·38 sec·Interstate 10 East
20
Turn right onto East Houston Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·East Houston Street
21
Turn slight left onto East Commerce Street
4.3 mi·7 min·East Commerce Street
22
Turn left onto Military Plaza
392 ft·15 sec·Military Plaza
23
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft·8 sec·Dolorosa Street
24
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 35-minute drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid local traffic congestion. Since this is a direct route with no mandatory stops, you have the luxury of choosing your own rest points whenever you need to stretch your legs. Keep your fuel budget of $34 in mind and consider filling up before you leave Nassau Bay to avoid searching for stations along the more rural or local sections of the path. Because the road is turn-heavy, prioritize keeping your focus on the changing road conditions rather than solely on your navigation system. This flexibility allows you to manage your own timeline effectively throughout the day.
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 110.3 miles from Nassau Bay, TX, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.7 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.3 miles or 2h 1m 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 14m
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 Nassau Bay, 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 Nassau Bay, TX
This is one driving day of about 220.5 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Nassau Bay, 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 Katy Freeway for about 174.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 215.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward Sarah Deel Drive, NASA Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Sarah Deel Drive, NASA Parkway
7
26.2 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 48B
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
6
201 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|I 10; US 90; TX 130
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
213.1 mi into trip|~3h 48m in|I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130 / 90th Infantry Division Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
215.4 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Take the exit toward Commerce Street, Houston Street
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 579
Toward Commerce Street, Houston Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.10 one way
$66.20 round trip
$3.81/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$36.63
$73.25
premium
$4.57
$39.63
$79.26
diesel
$6.28
$54.48
$108.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.2
0
$23.15
$10.58
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.29
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.87
$14.11
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Nassau Bay, TX
Late night
in Nassau Bay on Friday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Clear
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Late night
in San Antonio on Friday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
NE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 220.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this trek. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend your time navigating local roads that demand more active attention than a typical highway sprint. The road’s personality is defined by these technical stretches, which provide a different pace compared to major thoroughfares. Because the route consists entirely of local paths, you will find it requires a more hands-on driving approach throughout the entire 226.9-mile distance. Stay alert, as the winding nature of these local roads makes for a dynamic experience behind the wheel.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 174.7 mi on Katy Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Katy Freeway and Gulf Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 220.5 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 201 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 — 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, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 220.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 174.7 miles on Katy Freeway. 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 201 miles (I 10; US 90; TX 130): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at San Antonio, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
