This 164.5-mile drive from San Antonio, TX to Port O'Connor, TX takes approximately 3 hours and 31 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day trip. You'll navigate primarily via US Highway 87 East and some local streets like East Broadway Street and West Fay. With a fuel cost estimated around $25, this is an economical journey. The route traverses the Great Plains region for both its start and end points, offering a consistent landscape. It's a straightforward drive that's perfect for a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.2 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US Highway 87 East
48.7 mi
56m
East Broadway Street
23.8 mi
27m
West Fay
22.9 mi
24m
Port Lavaca Drive
21.3 mi
25m
FM 1289
11.2 mi
19m
State Highway 185 East
6.9 mi
12m
Rigsby Avenue
4.7 mi
8m
US 87
4.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US Highway 87 East
— 48.7 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Port O'Connor, 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
1.1 mi·1 min·William J Bordelon Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 139Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South, I 10 West, US 90 West, US 87 North: Houston, El PasoUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston, VictoriaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 10; US 87; US 90
1.7 mi·1 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 87
0.2 mi·33 sec·US 87
Exit 577Toward US 87 South: Roland Avenue, VictoriaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto US 87
0.5 mi·1 min·Roland Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn slight left onto US 87
4.7 mi·8 min·Rigsby Avenue
13
Continue on US 87
49 mi·56 min·US Highway 87 East
14
Continue on US 87
23 mi·24 min·West Fay
15
Turn left onto TX 72
3.9 mi·4 min·TX 72
16
Turn left onto US 77 Alt; US 87; US 183
0.7 mi·59 sec·South Esplanade Street
17
Turn right onto US 87
24 mi·27 min·East Broadway Street
18
Continue on US 87
3.9 mi·6 min·North Main Street
19
Turn left onto US 87; US 59 Bus; US 77 Bus
0.3 mi·26 sec·East Rio Grande Street
20
Turn right onto US 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·North Navarro Street
21
Turn left onto US 87
0.3 mi·30 sec·East Goodwin Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on US 87
21 mi·25 min·Port Lavaca Drive
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87
4.1 mi·4 min·US 87
24
Turn right onto FM 1090
0.8 mi·1 min·Alcoa Drive
25
Turn right onto TX 238
3.1 mi·5 min·West Austin Street
26
Continue on TX 238
1.0 mi·1 min·TX 238
27
Turn left onto FM 1289
11 mi·19 min·FM 1289
28
At end of road, turn left onto TX 185
6.9 mi·12 min·State Highway 185 East
29
Continue on TX 185
1.0 mi·1 min·Adams Avenue
30
Turn right onto TX 185
91 ft·2 sec·2nd Street
31
Arrive at destination
TX 185
Trip Plan
For this 3.5-hour drive, leaving San Antonio in the morning allows you to reach Port O'Connor with plenty of daylight. You'll only have one primary stop suggested, so consider making it around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 48.7-mile stretch on US Highway 87 East, as services might be less frequent. Since this is a short trip, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient for you, but an early start is always a good bet for maximizing your time at your destination.
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 82.2 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.7 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 36 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.2 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port O'Connor, 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 164.5 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 US Highway 87 East for about 48.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 82.2 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 114.7 — 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.
8
2.3 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South, I 10 West, US 90 West, US 87 North: Houston, El Paso
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 139
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South, I 10...
8
2.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: Houston, Victoria
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East, US 87 South: Hous...
8
4.7 mi into trip|~7m in|US 87
Take the exit onto US 87 toward US 87 South: Roland Avenue, Victoria
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 577
Toward US 87 South: Roland Avenue, Victoria
6
114.7 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|US 87 / East Goodwin Avenue
Turn left onto US 87 / East Goodwin Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.86 one way
$49.71 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$27.21
$54.41
premium
$4.54
$29.37
$58.74
diesel
$5.61
$36.32
$72.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.4
0
$17.27
$7.90
Efficient EV
41.1
0
$14.39
$6.58
EV Truck/SUV
65.8
0
$23.03
$10.53
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 16, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Late night
in San Antonio on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 5:47PM CDT until April 16 at 6:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 4:16PM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock TX
Destination
Port O'Connor, TX
Late night
in Port O'Connor on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
SSE 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 5:47PM CDT until April 16 at 6:15PM CDT by NWS Midland/Odessa TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 16 at 4:16PM CDT until April 16 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Lubbock 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
12 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
3h 31m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 mixed drive on this route, with about 48% of your journey on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 48.7 miles, found on US Highway 87 East. This section likely offers a good pace for covering ground, transitioning from the urban environment of San Antonio to more open Texas terrain. The road character shifts from city streets to a more rural feel as you progress towards the coast.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.7 mi on US Highway 87 East.
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 0.8 miles in near Tower of the Americas Way.
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 20 significant decision points across 164.5 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 (Tower of the Americas Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3h 31m. Total distance: 164.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.7 miles on US Highway 87 East. 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 Port O'Connor, 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 0.8 miles (Tower of the Americas Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Port O'Connor, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
