Traveling from San Antonio to Ballinger covers 202.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 32 minutes of drive time. Because the entire journey remains within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $31 on fuel for the trek, which utilizes I-10 as its primary artery before transitioning to local roads like Frisco Avenue and North Main Street. This route is straightforward and efficient, making it a practical choice if you are looking to get from the city to the heart of the plains quickly. It functions best as a direct transit rather than a multi-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
101.4 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
98.7 mi
1h 37m
Frisco Avenue
41.9 mi
44m
North Main Street
29.3 mi
30m
Roberts Avenue
16.5 mi
18m
McDermott Freeway
12.8 mi
14m
East Fredericksburg Road
1.2 mi
2m
Navarro Street
0.8 mi
1m
San Pedro Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 98.7 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Ballinger, TX.
1
Start on Dolorosa Street
143 ft·4 sec·Dolorosa Street
2
Continue on West Market Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Market Street
3
Turn left onto Navarro Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Navarro Street
4
Enter roundabout onto San Pedro Avenue
85 ft·1 sec·San Pedro Avenue
5
Continue on San Pedro Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·San Pedro Avenue
6
Turn left onto West Cypress Street
0.1 mi·10 sec·West Cypress Street
Use the left lane.
7
Turn straight onto East Fredericksburg Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East Fredericksburg Road
8
Turn right onto Interstate 10 West
0.1 mi·13 sec·Interstate 10 West
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North
10
Merge onto I 10; US 87
13 mi·14 min·McDermott Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
99 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 83
0.3 mi·44 sec·US 83
Exit 456Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
13
Turn right onto US 83; US 377
29 mi·30 min·North Main Street
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on US 83
42 mi·44 min·Frisco Avenue
15
Continue on US 83
17 mi·18 min·Roberts Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
2 ft·US 83
Trip Plan
To keep your day manageable, aim to depart early to account for the 3 hours and 32 minutes of total travel time. Since the itinerary includes only one planned stop, use your fuel break strategically to stretch your legs during the longest 98.7-mile stretch on I-10. Keep a close watch on your gas gauge before leaving the interstate, as fuel availability can vary once you transition onto local roads. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic congestion in San Antonio. Planning for a single, efficient stop will help you maintain a steady rhythm until you reach your final destination in Ballinger.
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 101.4 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.7 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 45 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.4 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ballinger, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, TX
This is one driving day of about 202.8 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from San Antonio, 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 I 10 for about 98.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 114.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|West Cypress Street
Turn left onto West Cypress Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West, US 87 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North
5
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in|I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
16.1 mi into trip|~20m in|I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
114.7 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 456
Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.64 one way
$61.29 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$33.54
$67.08
premium
$4.54
$36.21
$72.42
diesel
$5.61
$44.78
$89.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.8
0
$21.29
$9.73
Efficient EV
50.7
0
$17.75
$8.11
EV Truck/SUV
81.1
1
$28.39
$12.98
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Late night
in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 5 to 10 mph44% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 12:13AM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 12:02AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
Destination
Ballinger, TX
Late night
in Ballinger on Sunday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 12:13AM CDT by NWS Houston/Galveston TX
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 12:02AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX
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
6 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
3h 32m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 48.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing high-speed highway travel with slower local navigation. You will spend about 55% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 98.7 miles along I-10. Once you exit the interstate, the character of the road shifts as you navigate through town streets, requiring more focus on local traffic patterns. The transition from major transit corridors to the final approach on North Main Street provides a clear change in pace. Expect a reliable, functional drive that moves you steadily from the interstate into the regional landscape.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.7 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near West Cypress Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 32m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (West Cypress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,103 ft649 ft
Total Climb
1,654 ft
Total Descent
677 ft
Highest Point
2,103 ft
~159.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,454 ft
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 San Antonio, TX to Ballinger, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Menard along the way.
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
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.7 miles on I 10. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (West Cypress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Ballinger, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
