San Antonio to Lewisville is 296 miles and takes about 5h 20m via Purple Heart Trail and I 35E, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the Great Plains. The route is a mix of highway and surface roads, making for a varied driving experience over its 296 miles. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll have ample time to reach your destination without feeling too rushed, provided you plan your stops efficiently.
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
148 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 42m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 104 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,070 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,856
Quietest
2 AM
~706 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Lewisville, 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·45 sec·East Market Street
4
Turn left
363 ft·13 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Turn straight onto East Commerce Street
216 ft·12 sec·East Commerce Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 281 North, I 37 North
7
Merge onto I 37; US 281
0.8 mi·55 sec·William J Bordelon Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 142AToward I 35 North: AustinUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 35
8.2 mi·10 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway
7.4 mi·8 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35: AustinUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi·2 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
48 mi·52 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi·1 hr 40 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
63 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
17 mi·19 min·North Stemmons Freeway
Toward I 35E North: DentonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 450Toward TX 121 BusinessUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto South Stemmons Freeway
0.2 mi·16 sec·South Stemmons Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn slight right onto Texas Street
0.3 mi·31 sec·Texas Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on South Mill Street
1.0 mi·2 min·South Mill Street
Use the straight lane.
23
Arrive at destination
South Mill Street
Trip Plan
For this single-day trip of 296 miles, leaving San Antonio in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. You'll have about 5 hours and 20 minutes of driving time, so planning one stop for a break or meal is sensible. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 188.3-mile stretch on the Purple Heart Trail, as fuel availability might be less frequent there. The $43 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices. Given the relatively short duration, you have the flexibility to adjust your stop based on how you feel.
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 148 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 65 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148 miles or 2h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewisville, 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 296 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 188.3 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 277.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 281 North, I 37 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 281 North, I 37 North
7
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142A
Toward I 35 North: Austin
7
10.7 mi into trip|~14m in|North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Austin
7
214.9 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|I 35E
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35E: Dallas
7
277.4 mi into trip|~4h 57m in|I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E / North Stemmons Freeway toward I 35E North: Denton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35E North: Denton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.32 one way
$90.64 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.29
$50.02
$100.03
premium
$4.64
$54.05
$108.10
diesel
$6.18
$72.01
$144.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.8
1
$31.08
$14.21
Efficient EV
74
0
$25.90
$11.84
EV Truck/SUV
118.4
1
$41.44
$18.94
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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 16, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Late night
in San Antonio on Saturday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 15 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 4:48AM CDT until October 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 4:46AM CDT until October 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Destination
Lewisville, TX
Late night
in Lewisville on Saturday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Rain Showers Likely
N 20 mph74% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 4:48AM CDT until October 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 4:46AM CDT until October 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Shreveport LA
63°F
Troy, TX
148 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
10 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
5h 20m 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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 183.7
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 35% of this 296-mile drive on highways, with the remaining 65% on surface roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch on a single road is 188.3 miles on the Purple Heart Trail. Expect to transition from highway cruising to navigating more local traffic as you move between these road types. The frequent exits on the highway sections can require attention, especially before merging onto surface roads.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 296 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 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 5h 20m. Total distance: 296 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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.
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 Lewisville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lewisville, TX before the return drive.
