Origin
San Antonio, TX
Night in San Antonio on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Antonio, TX to Scissors, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 28m
Distance
246.3 mi
396 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 15m
★
6 AM
4h 29m
8 AM
4h 55m
10 AM
4h 38m
12 PM
4h 35m
3 PM
4h 39m
5 PM
4h 54m
8 PM
4h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Scissors, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This drive from San Antonio, TX to Scissors, TX covers 246.3 miles and will take approximately 4 hours and 28 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed as a single-day trip. You'll be spending most of your time on major roads like the Lucian Adams Freeway and Falfurrias Expressway, with about 71% of the route on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this 246.3-mile trip is around $37. This route is a good option if you're looking for efficiency and a direct path through the Great Plains region of 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
123.1 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lucian Adams Freeway | 66.8 mi | 1h 8m |
| South Nueces Street | 66.2 mi | 1h 10m |
| Falfurrias Expressway | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| I 69C | 27.9 mi | 30m |
| US 281 South | 15.2 mi | 19m |
| I 2 | 7.4 mi | 8m |
| North Salinas Boulevard | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| William J Bordelon Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Lucian Adams Freeway
— 66.8 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Scissors, 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
67 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
Lucian Adams Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 281 South
15 mi
·
19 min
·
US 281 South
Toward US 281 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
66 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
South Nueces Street
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
9.5 mi
·
10 min
·
I 69C; US 281
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
56 mi
·
58 min
·
Falfurrias Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 69C; US 281
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 2 East; US 83 East
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 2 East; US 83 East
14
Continue on I 2; US 83
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
I 2; US 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 155A
Toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto Expressway 83
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Expressway 83
17
Turn right onto FM 493
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
North Salinas Boulevard
18
Turn right onto Lott Road
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Lott Road
19
Turn left onto Grande Street
362 ft
·
17 sec
·
Grande Street
20
Turn right onto Cortez Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Cortez Street
21
Arrive at destination
Cortez Street
Trip Plan
With a driving time of under 5 hours, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, so you can leave San Antonio at your leisure. Since there's only one recommended stop, plan to fuel up before you leave or at your designated stop to ensure you have enough gas for the 246.3 miles. The longest stretch of 66.8 miles on the Lucian Adams Freeway means you can settle in for a good period of driving without frequent turns. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach your destination in Scissors, TX, as services can be spread out in this region.
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 123.1 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.8 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 54 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.1 miles or 2h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Scissors, 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 246.3 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 Lucian Adams Freeway for about 66.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123.1 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Lucian Adams Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.8 miles.
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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 242.5 — 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.
6
69.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
US 281 South
Take the exit onto US 281 South toward US 281 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 281 South
6
160.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
|
I 69C; US 281 / Falfurrias Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281 / Falfurrias Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
216.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 51m in
|
I 69C; US 281
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
242.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 20m in
Take the exit toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 155A
Toward FM 493: Salinas Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.22 one way
$74.43 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $40.74 | $81.47 |
| premium | $4.54 | $43.98 | $87.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.38 | $108.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.9 | 0 | $25.86 | $11.82 |
| Efficient EV | 61.6 | 0 | $21.55 | $9.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.5 | 1 | $34.48 | $15.76 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
Scissors, TX
Night in Scissors on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°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
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 28m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 8.5
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 drive that is predominantly highway-focused, with 71% of the 246.3 miles utilizing faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 66.8 miles on the Lucian Adams Freeway, offering a solid period of consistent travel. While much of the route will feel like a standard highway commute, you'll also navigate sections on South Nueces Street and Falfurrias Expressway, which might offer a slightly different driving experience. The overall character is one of steady progress rather than winding scenic byways.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.8 mi on Lucian Adams Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Lucian Adams Freeway and South Nueces Street. 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 Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 246.3 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 69.5 miles (US 281 South): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 160.4 miles (I 69C; US 281 / Falfurrias Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
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 4h 28m. Total distance: 246.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.8 miles on Lucian Adams Freeway. 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 Scissors, 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 69.5 miles (US 281 South): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 160.4 miles (I 69C; US 281 / Falfurrias Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Scissors, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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