Trip from San Antonio, TX to Hale Center, TX
Pin this tripCompiled 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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
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 |
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
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.
Start on Dolorosa Street
Continue on West Market Street
Turn left onto Navarro Street
Enter roundabout onto San Pedro Avenue
Continue on San Pedro Avenue
Turn left onto West Cypress Street
Turn straight onto East Fredericksburg Road
Turn right onto Interstate 10 West
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Take the exit onto US 83
Turn right onto US 83; US 377
Continue on US 83
Continue on US 83
Turn right onto US 67; US 83
Turn left onto TX 158
Turn right onto FM 2111
Turn left onto TX 153
Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153
Turn right onto TX 70
Continue on TX 70
Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20; US 84
Take the exit onto US 84
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
Turn right onto Loop 46
Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207
Turn straight onto TX 207
Turn left onto Spur 575
Turn right onto US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto Interstate 27
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 27; US 87
Take the exit
Turn straight onto East Service Road
Turn right
Turn left onto County Road 155
Turn right
Turn right onto County Road R
Turn right onto West Service Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 27; US 87
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
A short stop after about 94 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop 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.
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
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
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Spanish Governor's Palace
Near the start, right off the route
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+12102077527
Visit websiteGO RIO San Antonio River Cruises
Near the start, right off the route
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+12102274746
Visit websiteSan Antonio | The Saga
Near the start, right off the route
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9–9:30 pm
+12102259800
Visit websiteHemisfair
Near the start, right off the route
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 5 am–12 pm
+12107094750
Visit websiteSan Antonio Fire Museum
Near the start, right off the route
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–3:30 pm
+12103907236
Visit websiteThe Amazing Mirror Maze
Near the start, right off the route
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10:30 am–8 pm
+12102242288
Visit websiteSEA LIFE San Antonio
Near the start, right off the route
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12106101160
Visit websiteSan Antonio River Lock & Dam
Near the start, right off the route
San Antonio, Texas
Hours: 9 am–10 pm
+12102271373
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 355 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.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn right onto US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto TX 158 / North Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.54 one way
$127.09 round trip
| 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.
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Morning in San Antonio on Monday
Local time
10:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Hale Center, TX
Morning in Hale Center on Monday
Local time
10:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Partly Cloudy
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
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
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...
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.
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.
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
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.
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
Lubbock
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
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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