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Trip from San Antonio, TX to Hale Center, TX

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

Drive Time

7h 31m

Distance

426.2 mi

686 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
7h 21m ★
6 AM
7h 31m
8 AM
7h 51m
10 AM
7h 38m
12 PM
7h 36m
3 PM
7h 39m
5 PM
7h 50m
8 PM
7h 25m

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

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Hale Center, TX, TX

Hale Center, TX

Thomas balabaud

Trip Overview

San Antonio to Hale Center is 426.2 miles and takes about 7h 31m via I 10 and US 84, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the edge of the Great Plains into its heartland. For a single-day trip, expect a mostly highway experience that covers a significant portion of the state. It's a straightforward trek, ideal if you're looking to cover ground efficiently without much complication.

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

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

213.1 miles from San Antonio, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 44m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 10 98.7 mi 1h 37m
US 84 74.5 mi 1h 14m
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway 42.9 mi 43m
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: I 10 — 98.7 mi, about 1h 37m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~533 veh/hr typical · worst 963

Quietest

3 AM

~94 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.7×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 104 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 Hale Center, 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 456 Toward 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

Turn right onto US 67; US 83

387 ft · 18 sec · Hutchings Avenue
Use the right lane.
17

Turn left onto TX 158

6.3 mi · 7 min · North Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
18

Turn right onto FM 2111

12 mi · 13 min · FM 2111
19

Turn left onto TX 153

29 mi · 33 min · State Highway 153
20

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153

19 ft · 0 sec · State Highway 153
21

Turn right onto TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70
22

Continue on TX 70

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street
23

Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue
24

Take the ramp

340 ft · 8 sec
Toward I 20 West: Midland
25

Merge onto I 20; US 84

6.0 mi · 5 min · I 20; US 84
26

Take the exit onto US 84

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 84
Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock
27

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 84
28

Turn right onto Loop 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Avenue F
29

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Avenue F
30

Turn straight onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Ralls Road
31

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 15th Street
32

Turn right onto US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84
33

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 19 min · Highway 84
34

Continue on US 84

4.6 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway
35

Continue on US 84

6.8 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84
36

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 5 min · Slaton Road
37

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
38

Turn slight right onto Interstate 27

321 ft · 6 sec · Interstate 27
39

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec
40

Merge onto I 27; US 87

40 mi · 40 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
41

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward County Road
42

Turn straight onto East Service Road

362 ft · 11 sec · East Service Road
43

Turn right

148 ft · 8 sec
44

Turn left onto County Road 155

0.2 mi · 27 sec · County Road 155
45

Turn right

0.5 mi · 2 min
46

Turn right onto County Road R

0.2 mi · 23 sec · County Road R
47

Turn right onto West Service Road

0.2 mi · 31 sec · West Service Road
48

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
49

Merge onto I 27; US 87

3.0 mi · 2 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway
50

Arrive at destination

I 27; US 87

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 7.5-hour drive, leaving San Antonio in the early morning is your best bet. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 426.2 miles into manageable segments. The fuel cost is estimated at $62, so ensure you have enough for the trip, especially considering the longest stretch of 98.7 miles on I 10 where services might be further apart. Plan your stops around available services to refuel and stretch.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 213.1 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 3h 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 94 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 213.1 miles or 3h 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 6h 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hale Center, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Antonio, TX

This is one driving day of about 426.2 miles and 7h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from San Antonio, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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.

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ballinger, TX

213 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

Kerrville, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 94 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ballinger, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 213.1 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 I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Rest Area

0 mi from route

Kerr County Westbound Rest Area

0 mi from route

Llano Estacado Picnic Area

0 mi from route

Picnic Area

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Picnic Area

0.1 mi from route

Kerr County Eastbound Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Picnic Area

0.1 mi from route

Picnic Area

0.1 mi from route

Picnic Area

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Scenic View

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Eagles Landing Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Hale County Southbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Hale County Northbound Rest Area

0.2 mi from route

Picnic Area

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Picnic Area

0.3 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.5 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.5 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.6 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.6 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.6 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.6 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.7 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.7 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.7 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.7 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.7 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.7 mi from route

Spanish Governor's Palace

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+12102077527

Visit website

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+12102274746

Visit website

San Antonio | The Saga

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 9–9:30 pm

+12102259800

Visit website

Hemisfair

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+12107094750

Visit website

San Antonio Fire Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm

+12103907236

Visit website

The Amazing Mirror Maze

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10:30 am–8 pm

+12102242288

Visit website

SEA LIFE San Antonio

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12106101160

Visit website

San Antonio River Lock & Dam

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

San Antonio, Texas

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 35

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.

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
6
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.
6
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.
6
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

$63.54 one way

$127.09 round trip

$3.79/gal 25.4 MPG avg 149 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.29 $71.97 $143.93
premium $4.66 $78.24 $156.49
diesel $5.78 $97.02 $194.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$64

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 149.1 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 127.9 1 $44.75 $20.46
Efficient EV 106.6 1 $37.29 $17.05
EV Truck/SUV 170.5 2 $59.67 $27.28

Gas CO2

149 kg

EV CO2

50 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026

Origin

San Antonio, TX

Morning in San Antonio on Monday

Local time

10:44 AM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Mostly Cloudy

NE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Hale Center, TX

Morning in Hale Center on Monday

Local time

10:44 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Partly Cloudy

SSW 5 mph 1% chance 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

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

7h 31m on the road

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

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

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

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...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour Free near mile 44.1
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

With 64% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time cruising on I 10 and US 84. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 98.7 miles on I 10. You'll transition to surface roads for the remaining 36% of the trip, likely encountering more local traffic and varied speed limits as you approach Hale Center. Expect a consistent, rural cruising feel for much of this route.

64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
50 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?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and US 84. 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 10/10

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 35 significant decision points across 426.2 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 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

3,403 ft 649 ft

Total Climb

3,360 ft

Total Descent

606 ft

Highest Point

3,403 ft

~426.2 mi in

Elevation Range

2,754 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 Hale Center, 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 — 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

Arriving in Hale Center, TX

Full guide →

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 7h 31m. Total distance: 426.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

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.

Yes — we found about 36 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 Hale Center, 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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.

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 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hale Center, 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, 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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