Trip from San Antonio, TX to Franklin, TX

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

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

194.1 mi

312 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 20m ★

6 AM

3h 32m

8 AM

3h 57m

10 AM

3h 41m

12 PM

3h 38m

3 PM

3h 42m

5 PM

3h 56m

8 PM

3h 25m

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

Best Time

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San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Robertson County, Texas, United States

Franklin, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

San Antonio to Franklin is 194.1 miles and takes about 3h 32m via Pickle Parkway and US 79, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route cuts through the heart of Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to another section of the Great Plains. Expect a mostly highway experience for the majority of this drive. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a single day of travel without needing to find an overnight stop. Consider this if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Texas cities.

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

97 miles from San Antonio, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Pickle Parkway	73 mi	1h 6m
US 79	64.9 mi	1h 19m
90th Infantry Division Highway	22.2 mi	23m
I 10	10.9 mi	10m
Palm Valley Boulevard	5 mi	6m
Carlos G Parker Boulevard Southwest	4.3 mi	4m
East Commerce Street	3.5 mi	5m
West 2nd Street	3.1 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Pickle Parkway — 73 mi, about 1h 6m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,799 veh/hr typical · worst 2,453

Quietest

2 AM

~275 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.5×

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 Franklin, TX.

Start on Dolorosa Street

143 ft · 4 sec · Dolorosa Street

Continue on West Market Street

0.4 mi · 42 sec · West Market Street

Continue on East Market Street

0.4 mi · 45 sec · East Market Street

Turn left

363 ft · 13 sec

Use the left lane.

Turn straight onto East Commerce Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Commerce Street

Keep slight left at fork onto East Commerce Street

2.7 mi · 4 min · East Commerce Street

Turn slight right onto East Houston Street

0.3 mi · 30 sec · East Houston Street

Turn left onto Interstate 10 East

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Interstate 10 East

Use the left / straight lanes.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Toward I 10 East, US 90 East Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 10; US 90

1.8 mi · 2 min · Jose Lopez Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10; US 90

22 mi · 23 min · 90th Infantry Division Highway

Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 10; TX 130

11 mi · 10 min · I 10; TX 130

Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min

Exit 614 Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 130 Toll

73 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 423 Toward US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 34 sec · this road

Exit 423 Toward US 79: Palm Valley Boulevard

Continue on TX 130 Frontage Road

0.2 mi · 35 sec · TX 130 Frontage Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 33 sec

Merge onto US 79

5.0 mi · 6 min · Palm Valley Boulevard

Continue on US 79

3.1 mi · 3 min · West 2nd Street

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Toward US 79 North: Rockdale

Continue on US 79

4.3 mi · 4 min · Carlos G Parker Boulevard Southwest

Keep slight right at fork onto US 79

53 mi · 1 hr 5 min · US 79

Take the exit onto US 79; US 190

0.1 mi · 26 sec · US 79; US 190

At end of road, turn left onto US 79; US 190; TX 6

1.6 mi · 1 min · South Market Street

Continue on US 79; TX 6

0.3 mi · 22 sec · North State Highway 6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 79

12 mi · 13 min · US 79

Arrive at destination

US 79

Trip Plan

Leaving San Antonio in the morning gives you plenty of time to reach Franklin before evening. With a drive time of just over 3.5 hours, you won't need to split this trip. You can make a single fuel stop, likely before you leave San Antonio or midway if needed, given the estimated $29 fuel cost. Keep an eye on signage for US 79, as it will be your primary surface road route after the highway sections conclude.

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 97 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 1h 37m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73 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 43 miles or 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 97 miles or 1h 37m 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 49m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, 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 194.1 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 Pickle Parkway for about 73 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montopolis, TX

97 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

New Braunfels, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Montopolis, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 97 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 Pickle Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73 miles.

Hours: 9 am–10 pm

+12102271373

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 113.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

4.6 mi into trip | ~7m in | Interstate 10 East

Turn left onto Interstate 10 East

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

4.7 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the ramp toward I 10 East, US 90 East

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 10 East, US 90 East

39.7 mi into trip | ~44m in

Take the exit toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

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 614 Toward TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco

113.6 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in

Take the exit toward US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley Boulevard

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 423 Toward US 79: Taylor, Round Rock, Palm Valley B...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.59 one way

$53.17 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 68 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$29.70	$59.39
premium	$4.23	$32.29	$64.57
diesel	$4.80	$36.65	$73.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 67.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	58.2	$20.38	$9.32
Efficient EV	48.5	$16.98	$7.76
EV Truck/SUV	77.6	$27.17	$12.42

Gas CO2

68 kg

EV CO2

23 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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

San Antonio, TX

Morning in San Antonio on Sunday

Local time

6:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

90°F

Partly Sunny

SSE 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:56PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:38PM CDT until July 20 at 4:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Franklin, TX

Morning in Franklin on Sunday

Local time

6:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

91°F

Mostly Sunny

S 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:56PM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:38PM CDT until July 20 at 4:15PM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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

1 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

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...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend about 78% of this 194.1-mile drive on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch on highway is 73 miles on Pickle Parkway. After that, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Expect a good amount of highway cruising, punctuated by periods of more local traffic as you approach your destination.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 73 mi on Pickle Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pickle Parkway and US 79. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.

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 16 significant decision points across 194.1 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 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (Interstate 10 East): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

739 ft 284 ft

Total Climb

533 ft

Total Descent

734 ft

Highest Point

739 ft

~110.9 mi in

Elevation Range

456 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 Franklin, TX, road signs point toward Austin, Waco and Round Rock.

Austin

28.8 mi in | ~33m | via I 10; TX 130

Waco

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Joe Blues

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Sweet Designs Bake Shop Deli

Cafe

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

DQ Grill & Chill

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Franklin, TX

Cuisine: ice_cream;burger

Visit website

Hard Rock Cafe

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: american

Hours: Mo-Th, Su 08:00-23:00; Fr, Sa 08:00-00:0...

Visit website

Subway

Fast_food

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0 mi from route

Cuisine: sandwich

Subway

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Franklin, TX

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: Mo-Th 09:00-22:00; Fr 09:00-23:00; Sa-Su...

Visit website

Texas de Brazil

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Visit website

San Antonio Art League Museum

Museum

Hotel

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Rockdale, TX

Visit website

Fiesta Bed and Breakfast

Guest_house

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Ayers Inn

Guest_house

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

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 Franklin, TX

Full guide →

Top landmarks

• Franklin Carnegie Library — historic place in Franklin, Robertson County, Texas
• Robertson County Courthouse — courthouse at Deckerd St. at Alley St. Franklin, 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 3h 32m. Total distance: 194.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 73 miles on Pickle Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 16 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 Franklin, 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions 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 Franklin, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.

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.

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