Trip from San Antonio, TX to Canyon, TX

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 32m

Distance

489.8 mi

788 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$67

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

8h 25m ★

6 AM

8h 33m

8 AM

8h 48m

10 AM

8h 38m

12 PM

8h 37m

3 PM

8h 39m

5 PM

8h 47m

8 PM

8h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Randall County, Texas, United States

Canyon, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

San Antonio to Canyon is 489.8 miles and takes about 8h 32m via Marshall Formby Memorial Highway and I-10, with a fuel budget near $74 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip cuts across Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. The route is primarily on highways, offering a straightforward drive. With two recommended days for the trip, you can comfortably break up the 489.8 miles. This path is best suited for travelers looking for an efficient way to cover ground within Texas.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

244.9 miles from San Antonio, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 19m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway	105.2 mi	1h 46m
I 10	98.7 mi	1h 37m
US 84	74.5 mi	1h 14m
Frisco Avenue	41.9 mi	44m
State Highway 153	29.5 mi	33m
North Main Street	29.3 mi	30m
Highway 84	20 mi	19m
Roberts Avenue	16.5 mi	18m

Longest stretch: Marshall Formby Memorial Highway — 105.2 mi, about 1h 46m

Traffic on I-27

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~615 veh/hr typical · worst 753

Quietest

2 AM

~47 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

13.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Canyon, TX.

Start on Dolorosa Street

143 ft · 4 sec · Dolorosa Street

Continue on West Market Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West Market Street

Turn left onto Navarro Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Navarro Street

Enter roundabout onto San Pedro Avenue

85 ft · 1 sec · San Pedro Avenue

Continue on San Pedro Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · San Pedro Avenue

Turn left onto West Cypress Street

0.1 mi · 10 sec · West Cypress Street

Use the left lane.

Turn straight onto East Fredericksburg Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Fredericksburg Road

Turn right onto Interstate 10 West

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Interstate 10 West

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 13 sec

Toward I 10 West, US 87 North

Merge onto I 10; US 87

13 mi · 14 min · McDermott Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Take the exit onto US 83

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 83

Exit 456 Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard

Turn right onto US 83; US 377

29 mi · 30 min · North Main Street

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 83

42 mi · 44 min · Frisco Avenue

Continue on US 83

17 mi · 18 min · Roberts Avenue

Turn right onto US 67; US 83

387 ft · 18 sec · Hutchings Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto TX 158

6.3 mi · 7 min · North Broadway Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto FM 2111

12 mi · 13 min · FM 2111

Turn left onto TX 153

29 mi · 33 min · State Highway 153

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153

19 ft · 0 sec · State Highway 153

Turn right onto TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70

Continue on TX 70

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street

Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue

Take the ramp

340 ft · 8 sec

Toward I 20 West: Midland

Merge onto I 20; US 84

6.0 mi · 5 min · I 20; US 84

Take the exit onto US 84

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 84

Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 84

Turn right onto Loop 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Avenue F

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Avenue F

Turn straight onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Ralls Road

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 15th Street

Turn right onto US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 19 min · Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.6 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

Continue on US 84

6.8 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 5 min · Slaton Road

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Turn slight right onto Interstate 27

321 ft · 6 sec · Interstate 27

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Merge onto I 27; US 87

105 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Toward TX 217: Canyon, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Turn straight onto I-27 Frontage Road

0.3 mi · 43 sec · I-27 Frontage Road

Turn left onto TX 217

2.3 mi · 3 min · 4th Avenue

Turn right onto US 87

180 ft · 5 sec · 23rd Street

Arrive at destination

US 87

Trip Plan

Given the 8.5-hour drive time, planning for two days is a smart move to avoid fatigue. Consider leaving San Antonio in the morning to make good progress, aiming to stop for the night after roughly half the distance. The route involves two recommended stops, so use those as natural break points. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you transition to surface roads where stations might be less frequent than on the interstate. The Marshall Formby Memorial Highway section is the longest stretch, so ensure you're fueled up before heading into that 105.2-mile segment.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 244.9 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 4h 19m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.2 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 108 miles or 1h 51m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 244.9 miles or 4h 19m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 244.9 miles or 4h 19m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Canyon, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Antonio, TX

Aim for roughly 245 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Canyon, TX

Aim for roughly 245 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from San Antonio, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 105.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and county seat of Nolan County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Sweetwater, TX

245 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Sweetwater, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Sweetwater, TX

245 mi · about 4.3h in

A practical overnight split lands near Sweetwater, TX after about 245 miles or 4.3 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Junction, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sweetwater, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 244.9 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Marshall Formby Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.2 miles.

Overnight split

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12106101160

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 30

5 decision points cluster between mile 16.1 and 268.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.

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

202.8 mi into trip | ~3h 32m in | US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue

Turn right onto US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

202.8 mi into trip | ~3h 32m in | TX 158 / North Broadway Street

Turn left onto TX 158 / North Broadway Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

268.3 mi into trip | ~4h 44m in | US 84

Take the exit onto US 84 toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$67.09 one way

$134.17 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 171 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$74.94	$149.87
premium	$4.23	$81.47	$162.95
diesel	$4.80	$92.48	$184.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$67

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$197–$307

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 171.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	146.9	1	$51.43	$23.51
Efficient EV	122.5	1	$42.86	$19.59
EV Truck/SUV	195.9	2	$68.57	$31.35

Gas CO2

171 kg

EV CO2

57 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 Jul 16, 2026

Origin

San Antonio, TX

Morning in San Antonio on Sunday

Local time

9:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSE 10 mph 39% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Destination

Canyon, TX

Morning in Canyon on Sunday

Local time

9:46 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 5 to 10 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:35PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:31PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

103°F

Sweetwater, TX

245 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

23 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

8h 32m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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

View on nps.gov

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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 ~66 min detour Free near mile 50.7

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

About 56% of this drive is on highways, meaning you'll spend a good portion of the time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch without a major change is 105.2 miles along the Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. You'll transition between highway driving and surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and exit densities. Expect a mix of rural cruising and sections with more frequent intersections as you move between the interstate and other main roads.

56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 105.2 mi on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway.

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 16.1 miles in near I 10; US 87.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 489.8 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 16.1 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.7 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202.8 miles (US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,542 ft 649 ft

Total Climb

3,488 ft

Total Descent

595 ft

Highest Point

3,542 ft

~489.8 mi in

Elevation Range

2,893 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between San Antonio, TX and Canyon, TX, road signs point toward Menard and Lubbock.

Menard

114.7 mi in | ~1h 58m | via US 83

Lubbock

268.3 mi in | ~4h 44m | via US 84

About the Cities

Starting 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

Arriving in Canyon, TX

Full guide →

Canyon is a city in the High Plains region of the Texas Panhandle. It is home to the West Texas branch of Texas A&M University, the most prestigious in the region, and is the gateway city to Palo Duro Canyon.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Solo Traveler

8h 32m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 105.2 miles on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 245 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 35 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 Canyon, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.5 hours each way, a round trip means 17.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Canyon, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from San Antonio, TX or browse trips ending in Canyon, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from San Antonio, TX to Canyon, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-27

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rest Area

Kerr County Westbound Rest Area

Llano Estacado Picnic Area

Picnic Area

Flying J Travel Center

Picnic Area

Kerr County Eastbound Rest Area

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

Service Plaza

Scenic View

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

TA

Service Plaza

Eagles Landing Travel Plaza

Hale County Southbound Rest Area

Hale County Northbound Rest Area

Picnic Area

Eagles Landing Travel Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Picnic Area

Pilot Travel Center

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Spanish Governor's Palace

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

San Antonio | The Saga

Hemisfair

San Antonio Fire Museum

The Amazing Mirror Maze

Mackenzie Main City Park

SEA LIFE San Antonio

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

San Antonio, TX

Canyon, TX

Same local time

23 degrees cooler at arrival

8h 32m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in San Antonio, TX

Arriving in Canyon, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?