Origin
New Braunfels, TX
Morning in New Braunfels on Sunday
Local time
9:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Braunfels, TX to San Antonio, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
40m
Distance
31.9 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Braunfels, TX
Wikimedia Commons
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from New Braunfels to San Antonio, you are looking at a quick 33.9-mile journey that typically takes about 38 minutes. This short trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting is straightforward as well, with an estimated fuel cost of just $5 for the one-way transit. Both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your drive. Because there are no required stops along the way, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination or weave in your own detours. It is an ideal route for commuters or travelers looking for a hassle-free connection between these two Texas hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Pan Am Expressway | 17 mi | 20m |
| Purple Heart Trail | 11.5 mi | 12m |
| West San Antonio Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Main Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Spur Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Interstate 35 South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Flores Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Schmidt Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Pan Am Expressway
— 17 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Braunfels, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on Main Plaza
525 ft
·
18 sec
·
Main Plaza
2
Continue on West San Antonio Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West San Antonio Street
3
Continue on Spur Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Spur Street
4
Continue on I 35 Bus
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Schmidt Avenue
5
Turn right onto Interstate 35 South
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Interstate 35 South
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
7
Merge onto I 35
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 157A
Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
526 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
159 ft
·
3 sec
·
Navarro Street
15
Continue on Navarro Street
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
Navarro Street
16
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto West Travis Street
222 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Travis Street
18
Turn left onto North Flores Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Flores Street
19
Continue on Military Plaza
392 ft
·
15 sec
·
Military Plaza
20
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft
·
8 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
21
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 23.7 and 31.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
23.7 mi into trip
|
~29m 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
8
30.1 mi into trip
|
~37m 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
8
30.7 mi into trip
|
~37m 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...
6
30.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
North Main Avenue
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
31.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
North Main Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.82 one way
$9.64 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $5.28 | $10.55 |
| premium | $4.54 | $5.70 | $11.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.04 | $14.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Morning in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
9:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
15 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
40m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will navigate primarily via West San Antonio Street, Spur Street, and Schmidt Avenue to reach your destination. Because this route involves zero highway driving, your journey remains entirely on local roads, creating a more hands-on feel behind the wheel. There is no long-distance highway stretch to speak of, as the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on West San Antonio Street. Prepare for frequent adjustments to your speed and direction as you navigate the local street grid throughout the entirety of the 33.9-mile trip.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17 mi on North Pan Am Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 23.7 miles in near I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 31.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.7 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
933 ft
630 ft
Total Climb
442 ft
Total Descent
423 ft
Highest Point
933 ft
~17.3 mi in
Elevation Range
303 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from New Braunfels, TX to San Antonio, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Laredo along the way.
Laredo
30.1 mi in
|
~37m
|
via I 35
About the Cities
Starting in New Braunfels, TX
Full guide →Founded 1845
New Braunfels is a resort town in the Texas Hill Country. As the name implies, it has a German heritage, and many of the local attractions capitalize on this.
Top landmarks
- • Comal County Courthouse — historic place in New Braunfels, Comal County, Texas
- • Gruene Family Home — historic place in Gruene, Comal County, Texas
- • Gruene Hall — historic place in Gruene, Comal 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 40m. Total distance: 31.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17 miles on North Pan Am Expressway. 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.7 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.7 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. 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.
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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