Trip from San Antonio, TX to Hilltop Lakes, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 8m

Distance

213.3 mi

343 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

3h 55m ★

6 AM

4h 8m

8 AM

4h 34m

10 AM

4h 17m

12 PM

4h 15m

3 PM

4h 18m

5 PM

4h 33m

8 PM

4h 0m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Hilltop Lakes, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

This 213.3-mile drive from San Antonio, TX to Hilltop Lakes, TX is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 8 minutes of travel time. The journey primarily follows State Highway 21 East, also known as Pickle Parkway for a portion, with a significant 77% of the route on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, this trip is budget-friendly for a day excursion. You'll be traveling within the Great Plains region for the entirety of your trip, making for a consistent landscape. This route is straightforward and efficient, perfect for getting directly to your destination.

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

106.7 miles from San Antonio, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
State Highway 21 East	65.2 mi	1h 11m
TX 21	34.7 mi	41m
Pickle Parkway	34 mi	30m
90th Infantry Division Highway	22.2 mi	23m
Camino Real	17.6 mi	20m
I 10	10.9 mi	10m
FM 39 South	7.9 mi	11m
FM 3 South	7.8 mi	13m

Longest stretch: State Highway 21 East — 65.2 mi, about 1h 11m

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 Hilltop Lakes, 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

34 mi · 30 min · Pickle Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 463 Toward TX 21: Old Lockhart Road, Laws Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto US 183

0.6 mi · 38 sec · US 183

Turn slight right

0.3 mi · 1 min

Toward TX 21 Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Turn right onto TX 21

18 mi · 20 min · Camino Real

Take the ramp onto TX 21

5.5 mi · 6 min · TX 21

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Turn straight onto College Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · College Street

Turn left onto TX 21; TX 95

0.4 mi · 35 sec · State Highway 95

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto TX 21; Loop 150

0.8 mi · 1 min · Chestnut Street

Use the right lane.

Continue on TX 21

65 mi · 1 hr 11 min · State Highway 21 East

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 21

29 mi · 34 min · TX 21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Turn left onto FM 39

7.9 mi · 11 min · FM 39 South

Turn left onto FM 3

0.8 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Continue on FM 3

7.8 mi · 13 min · FM 3 South

Turn right onto Hilltop Boulevard

1.0 mi · 3 min · Hilltop Boulevard

Turn left onto Deerfield Drive

226 ft · 10 sec · Deerfield Drive

Arrive at destination

Deerfield Drive

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour and 8-minute duration, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip from San Antonio. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and take advantage of the flexibility a shorter drive offers. You'll encounter one major named road, State Highway 21 East, for the majority of your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without significant services could be the 65.2 miles on TX 21 East, so topping off before this segment is advisable.

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 106.7 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 1h 56m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.2 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 47 miles or 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 106.7 miles or 1h 56m 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 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilltop Lakes, 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 213.3 miles and 4h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 State Highway 21 East for about 65.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

La Grange, TX

107 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

Geronimo, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Garfield, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106.7 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 State Highway 21 East if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.2 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 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 74.7 — 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

74.7 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward TX 21: Old Lockhart Road, Laws Road

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 463 Toward TX 21: Old Lockhart Road, Laws Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$32.38 one way

$64.76 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 75 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$35.69	$71.38
premium	$4.58	$38.46	$76.92
diesel	$5.35	$44.93	$89.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	64	0	$22.40	$10.24
Efficient EV	53.3	0	$18.66	$8.53
EV Truck/SUV	85.3	1	$29.86	$13.65

Gas CO2

75 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (67% 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 May 25, 2026

Origin

San Antonio, TX

Afternoon in San Antonio on Wednesday

Local time

3:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

89°F

Mostly Sunny

ENE 0 to 5 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 7:08AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 5:29AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Destination

Hilltop Lakes, TX

Afternoon in Hilltop Lakes on Wednesday

Local time

3:49 PM

CDT

Current temp

87°F

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

NE 0 to 5 mph 26% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 7:08AM CDT by NWS San Angelo TX

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued May 25 at 5:29AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

90°F

La Grange, TX

107 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.

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

2 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

4h 8m 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...

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?

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 77% of the miles on primary roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 65.2 miles along State Highway 21 East, offering a good period of consistent travel. While largely highway, the route is not necessarily a monotonous interstate experience, offering a blend of efficient travel. The roads are generally well-maintained and designed for steady progress towards Hilltop Lakes.

77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 65.2 mi on State Highway 21 East.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 21 East and TX 21. 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 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 213.3 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

674 ft 252 ft

Total Climb

445 ft

Total Descent

627 ft

Highest Point

674 ft

~45.7 mi in

Elevation Range

422 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 Hilltop Lakes, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Waco.

Austin

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

Waco

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

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 Hilltop Lakes, 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 4h 8m. Total distance: 213.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 65.2 miles on State Highway 21 East. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 13 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 Hilltop Lakes, 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 13 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 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Hilltop Lakes, 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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Trip from San Antonio, TX to Hilltop Lakes, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-10

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Road Ranger

Buc-ee's

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Flying J Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

TA

QuikTrip

QuikTrip

Petro Stopping Centers

Jud's Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Spanish Governor's Palace

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

San Antonio | The Saga

Hemisfair

San Antonio Fire Museum

The Amazing Mirror Maze

SEA LIFE San Antonio

San Antonio River Lock & Dam

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

San Antonio, TX

Hilltop Lakes, TX

Same local time

2 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 8m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

San Antonio Missions 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 Hilltop Lakes, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

More from San Antonio, TX

More trips to Hilltop Lakes, TX