San Antonio to Sherman is 337 miles and takes about 6 hours 1 minute via Purple Heart Trail and I 35E, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you from the Great Plains region of Texas to another part of the same region, offering a relatively straightforward trip. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is manageable for a single stretch of driving. The majority of this trip involves highway travel, making it a fairly efficient way to cover the distance between these two Texas cities.
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
168.5 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 3m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 96 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,999 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,742
Quietest
2 AM
~661 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Sherman, 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
48 mi·52 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290
96 mi·1 hr 40 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 35
6.6 mi·7 min·South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 35; US 77
33 mi·33 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E
56 mi·58 min·I 35E
Toward I 35E: DallasUse the slight right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·41 sec
Exit 427AToward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin StreetUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft·5 sec
Toward I 35E North, I 30 West: Denton, Fort Worth, Texarkana
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Convention Center
21
Keep slight left at fork
385 ft·6 sec
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana
22
Continue on I 30; US 67
0.8 mi·1 min·East R L Thornton Freeway
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi·45 sec
Exit 46Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinneyUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 75 North: McKinneyUse the slight left lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward US 75 North: McKinney, Bryan Street East
26
Merge onto US 75
0.7 mi·49 sec·Julius Schepps Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on US 75
45 mi·48 min·North Central Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 75
10 mi·10 min·South Henry Hynds Expressway
29
Continue on US 75
6.4 mi·6 min·South Sam Rayburn Freeway
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward TX 56: Lamar Street, Houston Street
31
Turn straight onto South Sam Rayburn Freeway
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Sam Rayburn Freeway
32
Turn right onto TX 56
0.4 mi·42 sec·West Lamar Street
33
Arrive at destination
TX 56
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, departing San Antonio in the morning should allow you to reach Sherman with plenty of daylight remaining. Since it's a single-day trip, you can take your time with stops, perhaps planning one mid-way break to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 188.3-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail, as services might be more spread out. The estimated fuel cost is $48, so budget accordingly before you set off.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 168.5 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 74 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168.5 miles or 3h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sherman, 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 337 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 188.3 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 272.8 — 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
7
10.7 mi into trip|~14m in|North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Austin
8
271.1 mi into trip|~4h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Boulevard, Griffin Street
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 427A
Toward I 30 East: Texarkana, Riverfront Bouleva...
8
272.8 mi into trip|~4h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
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 46
Toward I 45, US 75: Houston, McKinney
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.59 one way
$101.18 round trip
$3.81/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$55.98
$111.95
premium
$4.57
$60.57
$121.13
diesel
$6.28
$83.27
$166.54
Estimated Tolls: $3.60
Central Expressway
(45 mi)$3.60
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.1
1
$35.39
$16.18
Efficient EV
84.3
0
$29.49
$13.48
EV Truck/SUV
134.8
1
$47.18
$21.57
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Night
in San Antonio on Thursday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sherman, TX
Night
in Sherman on Thursday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
57°F
Troy, TX
169 mi in
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
4 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
6h 1m 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.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 185.9
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?
You'll spend about 43% of this 337-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on Purple Heart Trail covering 188.3 miles. The profile is mixed highway and surface roads, so expect to transition between faster-paced driving and more local traffic. This means you'll encounter areas with more frequent exits and potentially slower speeds as you move between the main highway segments. Plan for a combination of efficient cruising and navigating through more developed areas.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.3 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 337 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 0.9 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 10.7 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
904 ft572 ft
Total Climb
817 ft
Total Descent
731 ft
Highest Point
904 ft
~120.4 mi in
Elevation Range
332 ft
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 Sherman, TX, road signs point toward Fort Worth, Texarkana, Convention Center, Mckinney and Bryan Street East.
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 — 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, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 337 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.60 in tolls one way, starting with Central Expressway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 Sherman, 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 0.9 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 10.7 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sherman, TX before the return drive.
