San Antonio to Combes is 246.6 miles and takes about 4h 21m via Lucian Adams Freeway and U.S. Highway 77, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays entirely within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another part of the Great Plains. Given its relatively short duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day of driving. You'll spend almost all your time on highways, making it a straightforward trip with minimal navigation challenges.
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
123.3 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,279 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,875
Quietest
2 AM
~201 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Combes, TX.
1
Start on Dolorosa Street
143 ft·4 sec·Dolorosa Street
2
Continue on West Market Street
0.4 mi·42 sec·West Market Street
3
Continue on East Market Street
0.4 mi·40 sec·East Market Street
4
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
0.2 mi·21 sec·Tower of the Americas Way
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 37 South, US 281 South
6
Merge onto I 37; US 281
1.4 mi·1 min·William J Bordelon Freeway
7
Continue on I 37; US 281
125 mi·2 hr 6 min·Lucian Adams Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77
31 mi·33 min·I 69E; US 77
Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, BrownsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 77
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·U.S. Highway 77
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77
25 mi·26 min·U.S. Highway 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 30Toward TX 107, FM 508: Santa Rosa, Rio HondoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto Interstate 69E Frontage Road
0.2 mi·31 sec·Interstate 69E Frontage Road
13
Turn right onto TX 107
0.4 mi·32 sec·Templeton Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
TX 107
Trip Plan
For this 4h 21m drive, leaving San Antonio in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Combes before dark. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $36 estimated cost suggests a mostly continuous drive. Since it's a shorter trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your morning's activities in San Antonio.
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 123.3 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 125.1 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 54 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.3 miles or 2h 6m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Combes, 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 246.6 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 Lucian Adams Freeway for about 125.1 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 0.8 and 245.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|Tower of the Americas Way
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 37 South, US 281 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 37 South, US 281 South
7
127.7 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|I 69E; US 77
Take the exit onto I 69E; US 77 toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
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.
Toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
6
220.4 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69E; US 77 / U.S. Highway 77
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
245.8 mi into trip|~4h 20m in
Take the exit toward TX 107, FM 508: Santa Rosa, Rio Hondo
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 30
Toward TX 107, FM 508: Santa Rosa, Rio Hondo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.02 one way
$74.04 round trip
$3.81/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$40.96
$81.92
premium
$4.57
$44.32
$88.64
diesel
$6.28
$60.93
$121.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74
0
$25.89
$11.84
Efficient EV
61.7
0
$21.58
$9.86
EV Truck/SUV
98.6
1
$34.52
$15.78
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Evening
in San Antonio on Thursday
Local time
7:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Sunny
ENE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Combes, TX
Evening
in Combes on Thursday
Local time
7:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
N 7 to 13 mph17% chanceLive 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
5 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 21m 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...
On May 8, 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on the prairie of Palo Alto. The battle was the first in a two-year long war that changed the map of North America. Although the two countries have deve...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 246.6
Protecting sixty-six miles of wild coastline along the Gulf of America, the narrow barrier island is home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Along the hypersaline...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$25
near mile 187.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 99% of the trip on major roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 125.1 miles on Lucian Adams Freeway before transitioning. The vast majority of your travel will be on highways, so expect relatively consistent speeds and fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops compared to a surface road trip.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 125.1 mi on Lucian Adams Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Lucian Adams Freeway and U.S. Highway 77. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Tower of the Americas Way.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 246.6 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Tower of the Americas Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.7 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
649 ft24 ft
Total Climb
63 ft
Total Descent
672 ft
Highest Point
649 ft
Elevation Range
625 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 Combes, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Brownsville 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 — 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, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 21m. Total distance: 246.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 125.1 miles on Lucian Adams Freeway. 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 0.8 miles (Tower of the Americas Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.7 miles (I 69E; US 77): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park and Padre Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Combes, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
