Origin
Pelican Bay, TX
Morning in Pelican Bay on Tuesday
Local time
7:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pelican Bay, TX to San Antonio, TX
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 23m
Distance
288.1 mi
464 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 10m
★
6 AM
5h 23m
8 AM
5h 50m
10 AM
5h 33m
12 PM
5h 30m
3 PM
5h 34m
5 PM
5h 49m
8 PM
5h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pelican Bay, TX
Tori Pezzulla❤️
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Pelican Bay to San Antonio is 288.1 miles and takes about 5h 23m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within Texas, traversing the Great Plains region from start to finish. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a good option for a single-day journey without feeling overly rushed. You'll encounter a mixed driving profile, so be prepared for varied road conditions as you make your way south.
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
144 miles from Pelican Bay, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 99.6 mi | 1h 46m |
| South Freeway | 83.9 mi | 1h 27m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 17 mi | 20m |
| Jacksboro Highway | 13.2 mi | 16m |
| North Jack Kultgen Expressway | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| FM 730 | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Lake Worth Boulevard | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pelican Bay, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on Sheila Drive
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheila Drive
2
At end of road, turn right onto Long Circle
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
Long Circle
3
Turn right onto Long Boulevard
384 ft
·
22 sec
·
Long Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Sandy Beach Road
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Sandy Beach Road
5
Turn left onto FM 730
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
FM 730
6
Turn left onto Northwest Parkway
442 ft
·
8 sec
·
Northwest Parkway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward TX 199 East
8
Merge onto TX 199
8.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Jacksboro Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on TX 199
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Worth Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Continue on TX 199
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Worth Boulevard
11
Continue on TX 199
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Lake Worth Boulevard
12
Continue on TX 199
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Jacksboro Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on TX 199
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Henderson Street
14
Enter roundabout onto TX 199
113 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Henderson Street
15
Continue on TX 199
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Henderson Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto West Lancaster Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Lancaster Avenue
17
Keep slight right at fork onto East Lancaster Avenue
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Lancaster Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto South Freeway
91 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Freeway
Use the right lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 35W South
20
Merge onto I 35W; US 287 Bus
84 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
·
South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 35; US 77
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
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.
25
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
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.
29
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.
30
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 157A
Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
31
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
526 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
32
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
33
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
159 ft
·
3 sec
·
Navarro Street
34
Continue on Navarro Street
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
Navarro Street
35
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
36
Turn right onto West Travis Street
222 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Travis Street
37
Turn left onto North Flores Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Flores Street
38
Continue on Military Plaza
392 ft
·
15 sec
·
Military Plaza
39
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft
·
8 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
40
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Consider starting your journey in the morning to take advantage of the full daylight hours for the 5h 23m drive. With only one recommended stop and a total of 288.1 miles, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 99.6-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate. The estimated fuel cost is around $44, so budget accordingly before you depart from Pelican Bay.
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 144 miles from Pelican Bay, TX, or about 2h 45m 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 63 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144 miles or 2h 45m 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 23m
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 Pelican 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 Pelican Bay, TX
This is one driving day of about 288.1 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Pelican 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 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
144 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 144 miles from Pelican Bay, 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 265 decision points cluster between mile 21.9 and 286.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
21.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
East Lancaster Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto East Lancaster Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
206.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m 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
279.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 11m 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
286.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 19m 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
286.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 20m 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
$43.53 one way
$87.07 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $47.65 | $95.30 |
| premium | $4.54 | $51.44 | $102.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.61 | $127.22 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.01
Northwest Parkway
(0.1 mi)
$0.01
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.4 | 1 | $30.25 | $13.83 |
| Efficient EV | 72 | 0 | $25.21 | $11.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.2 | 1 | $40.33 | $18.44 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Morning in San Antonio on Tuesday
Local time
7:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Troy, TX
144 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
14 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
5h 23m 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 118.2
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 311.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed driving experience, with 58% of it on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Purple Heart Trail, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 99.6 miles. As you progress, the drive will transition from the Purple Heart Trail to the South Freeway and eventually merge onto I 35, indicating a shift towards more urban and faster-paced highway travel as you approach San Antonio. Expect a blend of open road and busier thoroughfares.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 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?
8/10
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 21.9 miles in near East Lancaster Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 288.1 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 21.9 miles (East Lancaster Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 206.5 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 279.9 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Pelican Bay, TX
Full guide →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 23m. Total distance: 288.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m 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.
Expect about $0.01 in tolls one way, starting with Northwest Parkway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 21.9 miles (East Lancaster Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 206.5 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 279.9 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From San Antonio, TX
More from Pelican Bay, TX
More trips to San Antonio, TX
Explore more options from Pelican Bay, TX or browse trips ending in San Antonio, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.