Origin
Palmer, TX
Afternoon in Palmer on Sunday
Local time
12:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palmer, 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
4h 43m
Distance
256 mi
412 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 30m
★
6 AM
4h 43m
8 AM
5h 10m
10 AM
4h 53m
12 PM
4h 50m
3 PM
4h 54m
5 PM
5h 9m
8 PM
4h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmer, TX
Wikimedia Commons
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking from Palmer, Texas, this 256-mile journey to San Antonio is a straightforward drive, estimated to take around 4 hours and 43 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Purple Heart Trail and I-35, this route is well-suited for a single day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The estimated fuel cost for this leg is approximately $39. You'll traverse a mixed drive profile, offering a blend of highway speeds and potentially some varied road conditions as you travel south through Texas. Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, you can maintain a good pace.
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
128 miles from Palmer, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 99.6 mi | 1h 46m |
| I 35E | 60.5 mi | 1h |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 17 mi | 20m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Farm-to-Market Road 878 | 5.9 mi | 10m |
| West Jefferson Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Wyatt Street | 1.9 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on FM 813
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Jefferson Street
2
Turn straight onto FM 878
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 878
3
Keep slight right at fork onto FM 878
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Farm-to-Market Road 878
4
Continue on FM 878
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Palmetto Road
5
Continue on FM 878
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Wyatt Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 287 Bus
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
7
Continue on US 287 Bus
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Main Street
8
Turn left onto US 77
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Monroe Street
9
Turn slight right onto US 77
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Highway 77
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 35E South: Waco
12
Merge onto I 35E
60 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 35E
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
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.
17
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
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.
21
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.
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 157A
Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
526 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
24
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
159 ft
·
3 sec
·
Navarro Street
26
Continue on Navarro Street
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
Navarro Street
27
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Turn right onto West Travis Street
222 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Travis Street
29
Turn left onto North Flores Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Flores Street
30
Continue on Military Plaza
392 ft
·
15 sec
·
Military Plaza
31
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft
·
8 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
32
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour and 43-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach San Antonio. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. The longest stretch without a break is nearly 100 miles, so plan your fuel and rest accordingly before you hit that point. Given the relatively short distance, you can easily complete this trip in one day, but having a backup plan for an unexpected delay is always wise. Keep an eye on your fuel levels as you approach San Antonio, as services can sometimes be more spread out on certain highway sections.
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 128 miles from Palmer, TX, or about 2h 21m 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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128 miles or 2h 21m 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 49m
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 Palmer, 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 Palmer, TX
This is one driving day of about 256 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Palmer, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 128 miles from Palmer, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 118.6 and 254.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
118.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
174.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m 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
7
247.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 31m 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
254.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 39m 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
254.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 40m 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
$38.68 one way
$77.36 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $42.34 | $84.68 |
| premium | $4.54 | $45.71 | $91.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.52 | $113.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.88 | $12.29 |
| Efficient EV | 64 | 0 | $22.40 | $10.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.4 | 1 | $35.84 | $16.38 |
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.
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Afternoon in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
12:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Belton, TX
128 mi in
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
17 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 43m 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
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 70.6
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 256
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 offers a mixed experience on the road, with 56% of it being on major highways like I-35E and I-35, interspersed with stretches on the Purple Heart Trail. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted drive of 99.6 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, which might offer a different pace than the interstate. The overall profile suggests a drive that transitions between higher-speed highway segments and potentially more varied road conditions. Expect a dynamic feel behind the wheel as you progress south.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 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 118.6 miles in near I 35.
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 256 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 118.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.5 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 247.9 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
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 43m. Total distance: 256 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m 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.
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 118.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.5 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 247.9 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 9.4 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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