San Antonio to Lost Creek is 84.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 40 minutes via Purple Heart Trail, North Pan Am Expressway, and South Capital of Texas Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Texas, moving from the Great Plains region to a similar landscape. Expect a local feel with frequent turns, making it less of a straightforward highway cruise and more of a journey through varied Texas terrain. It's a manageable day trip, perfect for when you want a relatively short drive with a bit of character.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.2 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Trail
54.5 mi
58m
North Pan Am Expressway
15.6 mi
18m
South Capital of Texas Highway
4.8 mi
6m
Interstate Highway 35
1.9 mi
2m
Bee Caves Road
0.9 mi
1m
William J Bordelon Freeway
0.8 mi
<1m
Canyon Rim Drive
0.6 mi
2m
East Market Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 54.5 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Lost Creek, 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
43 mi·45 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 231Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West, TX 71 East: Johnson City, BastropUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
2.9 mi·3 min
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson CityUse the slight left lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto Loop 360
4.8 mi·6 min·South Capital of Texas Highway
Toward Loop 360, Capital of Texas HighwayUse the straight lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Bee Caves Road
18
Turn left onto RM 2244
0.9 mi·1 min·Bee Caves Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn left onto Canyon Rim Drive
0.6 mi·2 min·Canyon Rim Drive
20
Keep slight left at fork onto Guinevere Lane
347 ft·21 sec·Guinevere Lane
21
Turn left onto Whippoorwill Trail
220 ft·9 sec·Whippoorwill Trail
22
Arrive at destination
Whippoorwill Trail
Trip Plan
Given the 1-hour 40-minute duration, this is a prime same-day trip, so you can leave anytime that suits your schedule. The $13 fuel cost is minimal, but it's always wise to top off before departing San Antonio to ensure you have plenty for the local road segments. Pay attention to your turns, especially on the Purple Heart Trail, as this is a key characteristic of the drive. Since there are no designated stops in the data, feel free to take a spontaneous break if you see a convenient spot, but plan for the frequent turns rather than long, straight stretches.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.2 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.2 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lost Creek, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Antonio, TX
This is one driving day of about 84.4 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from San Antonio, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 54.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 77.9 — 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
8
74.5 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 290 West, TX 71 West, TX 71 East: Johnson City, Bastrop
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 231
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West, TX 71 East: Joh...
8
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 290 West, TX 71 West: Johnson City
8
77.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|Loop 360 / South Capital of Texas Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto Loop 360 / South Capital of Texas Highway toward Loop 360, Capital of Texas Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward Loop 360, Capital of Texas Highway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.75 one way
$25.51 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$13.96
$27.92
premium
$4.54
$15.07
$30.14
diesel
$5.61
$18.63
$37.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.3
0
$8.86
$4.05
Efficient EV
21.1
0
$7.39
$3.38
EV Truck/SUV
33.8
0
$11.82
$5.40
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Evening
in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
5:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lost Creek, TX
Evening
in Lost Creek on Sunday
Local time
5:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
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
8 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
1h 40m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with only 22% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.5 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, so be prepared for a mix of driving conditions. The road personality shifts as you progress, moving from expressway sections to more local roads, requiring your attention to navigation and traffic. It's not a high-speed dash but rather a more engaged driving experience.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 74.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Lost Creek, TX, road signs point toward Bastrop, Loop 360 and Capital Of Texas Highway.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 84.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Lost Creek, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 74.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lost Creek, TX before heading back.
