This straightforward 107.8-mile drive from San Antonio, TX, to Mathis, TX, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 51 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's an economical option for a quick journey. The route is predominantly highway, making it a focused drive through the Great Plains region, as both your origin and destination are within this landscape. You'll spend most of your time on main roads like Lucian Adams Freeway and William J Bordelon Freeway. Given its short duration and highway focus, this trip is ideal for a single day without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.9 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Mathis, 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·40 sec·East Market Street
4
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
0.2 mi·21 sec·Tower of the Americas Way
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 37 South, US 281 South
6
Merge onto I 37; US 281
1.4 mi·1 min·William J Bordelon Freeway
7
Continue on I 37; US 281
103 mi·1 hr 44 min·Lucian Adams Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward TX 359: Skidmore, Mathis
9
Turn right onto TX 359
0.5 mi·48 sec·State Highway 359
10
Turn slight right onto TX 359 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·North Front Street
11
Arrive at destination
TX 359 Bus
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 107.8-mile journey, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Leaving San Antonio in the morning or early afternoon will ensure you arrive in Mathis with plenty of daylight. With a duration of just under two hours and minimal stops suggested, you can easily complete this drive in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch of 103.5 miles on Lucian Adams Freeway, as services might be less frequent on such extended highway segments. The estimated fuel cost of $16 makes this an affordable leg of any trip.
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 53.9 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.5 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 24 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.9 miles or 55m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mathis, 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 107.8 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from San Antonio, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lucian Adams Freeway for about 103.5 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 106.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|Tower of the Americas Way
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 37 South, US 281 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 37 South, US 281 South
3
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|I 37; US 281 / William J Bordelon Freeway
Merge onto I 37; US 281 / William J Bordelon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
106.1 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward TX 359: Skidmore, Mathis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TX 359: Skidmore, Mathis
3
106.4 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|TX 359 / State Highway 359
Turn right onto TX 359 / State Highway 359
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.29 one way
$32.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$17.83
$35.66
premium
$4.54
$19.25
$38.49
diesel
$5.61
$23.80
$47.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.3
0
$11.32
$5.17
Efficient EV
27
0
$9.43
$4.31
EV Truck/SUV
43.1
0
$15.09
$6.90
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Late night
in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mathis, TX
Late night
in Mathis on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
11 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 51m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this trip, with 98% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 103.5 miles on the Lucian Adams Freeway, indicating a consistent and direct path. The journey primarily consists of freeway driving, offering a smooth and efficient transit. While the data doesn't specify changes in road type, the high highway share suggests a predictable driving experience without many deviations onto slower local roads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.5 mi on Lucian Adams Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Lucian Adams Freeway and William J Bordelon Freeway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Tower of the Americas Way.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from San Antonio, TX to Mathis, TX is easy. At 1h 51m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Tower of the Americas Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 37; US 281 / William J Bordelon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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
The longest stretch is about 103.5 miles on Lucian Adams Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.8 miles (Tower of the Americas Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 37; US 281 / William J Bordelon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 Mathis, TX before heading back.
