Pinewood Estates to San Antonio is 275.2 miles and takes about 5 hours 7 minutes via US 90 and I-10, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within Texas, starting in the Great Plains region and ending in the same landscape. Expect a predominantly highway drive for most of the way, making for a straightforward connection between these two points. It's a manageable one-day trip, ideal if you're looking for an efficient drive with minimal fuss.
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
137.6 miles from Pinewood Estates, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Katy Freeway
175.2 mi
3h 2m
US 90
47.2 mi
54m
I 10
12 mi
12m
Crosby Freeway
12 mi
14m
State Highway 326
7.1 mi
10m
East Freeway
6.2 mi
7m
TX 105
5.4 mi
6m
East Commerce Street
4.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Katy Freeway
— 175.2 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pinewood Estates, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on Lakeview Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Lakeview Drive
2
Continue on Pinelake Drive
383 ft·18 sec·Pinelake Drive
3
Turn right onto Woodway Boulevard
0.5 mi·2 min·Woodway Boulevard
4
Continue on East Pineshadows Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·East Pineshadows Drive
5
Turn slight left onto Pinewood Boulevard
1.3 mi·2 min·Pinewood Boulevard
6
At end of road, turn right onto TX 105
5.4 mi·6 min·TX 105
7
Turn left onto TX 326
7.1 mi·10 min·State Highway 326
8
Turn right onto US 90
42 mi·48 min·US 90
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90
12 mi·14 min·Crosby Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto US 90
1.4 mi·1 min·US 90
11
Take the exit onto US 90
3.7 mi·4 min·US 90
Toward US 90 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 10; US 90
6.2 mi·7 min·East Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 10; US 90
175 mi·3 hr 2 min·Katy Freeway
Use the straight lane.
14
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.
15
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.
16
Continue on I 10; US 90
1.6 mi·1 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 579Toward Commerce Street, Houston StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East
0.3 mi·38 sec·Interstate 10 East
19
Turn right onto East Houston Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·East Houston Street
20
Turn slight left onto East Commerce Street
4.3 mi·7 min·East Commerce Street
21
Turn left onto Military Plaza
392 ft·15 sec·Military Plaza
22
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft·8 sec·Dolorosa Street
23
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Consider leaving Pinewood Estates in the morning to take advantage of the full daylight hours for your 5-hour drive. With a total duration of just over 5 hours, this route is easily completed in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $42, and plan your single stop strategically along the route. Given the majority of the drive is on the Katy Freeway, look for services before you begin that 175.2-mile stretch to ensure you're well-prepared.
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 137.6 miles from Pinewood Estates, TX, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.2 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 61 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.6 miles or 2h 40m 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 11m
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 Pinewood Estates, 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 Pinewood Estates, TX
This is one driving day of about 275.2 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Pinewood Estates, 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 175.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 57.1 and 270.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
57.1 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|US 90 / Crosby Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 90 / Crosby Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
70.6 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|US 90
Take the exit onto US 90 toward US 90 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 90 West
6
255.7 mi into trip|~4h 43m 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
267.7 mi into trip|~4h 56m 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
270.1 mi into trip|~4h 58m 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
$41.58 one way
$83.17 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$45.52
$91.03
premium
$4.54
$49.14
$98.27
diesel
$5.61
$60.76
$121.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.6
1
$28.90
$13.21
Efficient EV
68.8
0
$24.08
$11.01
EV Truck/SUV
110.1
1
$38.53
$17.61
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Pinewood Estates, TX
Morning
in Pinewood Estates on Sunday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Morning
in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live 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
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
5h 7m 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 275.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely on highways, with 97% of the drive utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a long stretch of highway cruising for 175.2 miles on the Katy Freeway. After this extended highway section, you'll transition to surface roads for the final part of your trip. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and frequent exits along the Katy Freeway portion.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 175.2 mi on Katy Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Katy Freeway and US 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 57.1 miles in near US 90 / Crosby Freeway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 275.2 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 57.1 miles (US 90 / Crosby Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.6 miles (US 90): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 255.7 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 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 275.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m 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 175.2 miles on Katy Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 57.1 miles (US 90 / Crosby Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.6 miles (US 90): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 255.7 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 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.
