Trip from San Antonio, TX to Paducah, TX

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 15m

Distance

381.3 mi

614 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

7h 5m ★

6 AM

7h 16m

8 AM

7h 37m

10 AM

7h 23m

12 PM

7h 21m

3 PM

7h 24m

5 PM

7h 36m

8 PM

7h 9m

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

Best Time

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San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

town in and county seat of Cottle County, Texas, United States

Paducah, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 381.3-mile journey from San Antonio, TX, to Paducah, TX, is designed for a single day of driving, taking approximately 7 hours and 15 minutes. Primarily a highway-focused experience, you'll spend about 76% of your time on major roads, including US 83 and I-10, before transitioning to Frisco Avenue. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $58. Given its duration and distance, it's a manageable, albeit long, day trip, traversing the Great Plains region throughout. This route offers a straightforward path for those looking to cover ground efficiently within Texas.

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

190.7 miles from San Antonio, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 83	176.5 mi	3h 40m
I 10	98.7 mi	1h 37m
Frisco Avenue	41.9 mi	44m
North Main Street	29.3 mi	30m
Roberts Avenue	16.5 mi	18m
McDermott Freeway	12.8 mi	14m
Commercial Avenue	1.4 mi	1m
East Fredericksburg Road	1.2 mi	2m

Longest stretch: US 83 — 176.5 mi, about 3h 40m

Traffic on I-10

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

2 PM

~537 veh/hr typical · worst 948

Quietest

3 AM

~95 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.7×

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 Paducah, TX.

Start on Dolorosa Street

143 ft · 4 sec · Dolorosa Street

Continue on West Market Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West Market Street

Turn left onto Navarro Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Navarro Street

Enter roundabout onto San Pedro Avenue

85 ft · 1 sec · San Pedro Avenue

Continue on San Pedro Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · San Pedro Avenue

Turn left onto West Cypress Street

0.1 mi · 10 sec · West Cypress Street

Use the left lane.

Turn straight onto East Fredericksburg Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Fredericksburg Road

Turn right onto Interstate 10 West

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Interstate 10 West

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 13 sec

Toward I 10 West, US 87 North

Merge onto I 10; US 87

13 mi · 14 min · McDermott Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

99 mi · 1 hr 37 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit onto US 83

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 83

Exit 456 Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard

Turn right onto US 83; US 377

29 mi · 30 min · North Main Street

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 83

42 mi · 44 min · Frisco Avenue

Continue on US 83

17 mi · 18 min · Roberts Avenue

Turn right onto US 67; US 83

0.9 mi · 1 min · Hutchings Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn straight onto US 83

79 mi · 1 hr 27 min · US 83

Toward US 83 North

Turn slight right onto US 83; US 277

0.1 mi · 7 sec · East Court Plaza

Continue on US 83; US 277

1.4 mi · 1 min · Commercial Avenue

Take the exit onto US 83

38 mi · 56 min · US 83

Keep slight right at fork onto US 83

60 mi · 1 hr 16 min · US 83

Arrive at destination

US 83

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 7-hour, 15-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from San Antonio to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With two planned stops, you can break up the 381.3 miles into manageable segments. The longest stretch of 176.5 miles on US 83 means you'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that section. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the latter half of the drive, to avoid any unnecessary delays.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 190.7 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 3h 19m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.5 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 84 miles or 1h 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 190.7 miles or 3h 19m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paducah, 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 381.3 miles and 7h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from San Antonio, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on US 83 for about 176.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Live Oak, TX

191 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

Kerrville, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ballinger, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 190.7 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 202.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in | West Cypress Street

Turn left onto West Cypress Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

3.1 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp toward I 10 West, US 87 North

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 10 West, US 87 North

16.1 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 10; US 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes.

114.7 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | US 83

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

Exit 456 Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard

202.8 mi into trip | ~3h 32m in | US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue

Turn right onto US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.23 one way

$104.45 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 133 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$58.34	$116.67
premium	$4.23	$63.42	$126.85
diesel	$4.80	$72.00	$143.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$52

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$77–$102

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 133.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	114.4	1	$40.04	$18.30
Efficient EV	95.3	1	$33.36	$15.25
EV Truck/SUV	152.5	1	$53.38	$24.40

Gas CO2

133 kg

EV CO2

45 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 Jul 17, 2026

Origin

San Antonio, TX

Late night in San Antonio on Monday

Local time

3:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Mostly Cloudy

SE 10 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 11:42PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Destination

Paducah, TX

Late night in Paducah on Monday

Local time

3:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 10 mph 26% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 11:42PM CDT until July 17 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:46PM CDT until July 17 at 3:45AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX

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

7 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 15m 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...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

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...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour Free near mile 52.6

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 predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with 76% of the mileage spent on major thoroughfares like US 83 and I-10. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of driving, 176.5 miles, along US 83. While the majority of the trip involves higher speeds, the transition to Frisco Avenue near the end suggests a slight shift in road character. This route is less about winding scenic byways and more about covering distance effectively on established roadways.

76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 176.5 mi on US 83.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 83 and I 10. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near West Cypress Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 381.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.6 miles (West Cypress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,101 ft 649 ft

Total Climb

2,008 ft

Total Descent

797 ft

Highest Point

2,101 ft

~136.2 mi in

Elevation Range

1,452 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from San Antonio, TX to Paducah, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Menard along the way.

Menard

114.7 mi in | ~1h 58m | via US 83

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

El Puente

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Madhatter's Tea House and Cafe

Cafe

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Visit website

San Antonio Art League Museum

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Visit website

Cottle County

Memorial

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0 mi from route

Cottle County Courthouse

Memorial

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

The Gray and The Blue

Memorial

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

Villa Finale Visitor Center

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Visit website

Beauregard House B&B

Guest_house

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Fiesta Bed and Breakfast

Guest_house

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Ayers Inn

Guest_house

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Life's Suites

Hotel

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Visit website

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

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 Paducah, TX

Full guide →

Paducah is a small town in the North Central Plains of Texas.

Top landmarks

• Cottle County Courthouse Historic District — historic district in Paducah, Cottle County, Texas

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 15m. Total distance: 381.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 176.5 miles on US 83. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 23 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Paducah, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Paducah, TX before the return drive.

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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