Trip from San Antonio, TX to South Alamo, 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

4h 23m

Distance

241.6 mi

389 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 10m ★

6 AM

4h 23m

8 AM

4h 50m

10 AM

4h 32m

12 PM

4h 30m

3 PM

4h 34m

5 PM

4h 48m

8 PM

4h 15m

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

South Alamo, TX

Mark Direen

Trip Overview

San Antonio, TX to South Alamo, TX is 241.6 miles and takes about 4h 23m via Lucian Adams Freeway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, offering a straightforward drive for a single day. You'll primarily be on highways, making it a relatively quick transit between these two points. Plan for this to be a functional drive rather than one focused on extensive sightseeing, though you'll have flexibility to stop as needed. The route is well-suited for a quick hop if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.

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

120.8 miles from San Antonio, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m 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	3 mi	3m
North Tower Road	2.3 mi	4m
William J Bordelon Freeway	1.4 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Lucian Adams Freeway — 66.8 mi, about 1h 8m

Traffic on I-37

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

Peak

4 PM

~2,746 veh/hr typical · worst 3,357

Quietest

2 AM

~238 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

11.5×

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 South Alamo, TX.

Start on Dolorosa Street

143 ft · 4 sec · Dolorosa Street

Continue on West Market Street

0.4 mi · 42 sec · West Market Street

Continue on East Market Street

0.4 mi · 40 sec · East Market Street

Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Tower of the Americas Way

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 37 South, US 281 South

Merge onto I 37; US 281

1.4 mi · 1 min · William J Bordelon Freeway

Continue on I 37; US 281

67 mi · 1 hr 8 min · Lucian Adams Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto US 281 South

15 mi · 19 min · US 281 South

Toward US 281 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 281

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

9.5 mi · 10 min · I 69C; US 281

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

56 mi · 58 min · Falfurrias Expressway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 69C; US 281

18 mi · 20 min · I 69C; US 281

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 2 East; US 83 East

0.5 mi · 33 sec · I 2 East; US 83 East

Continue on I 2; US 83

3.0 mi · 3 min · I 2; US 83

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 150B Toward Tower Road Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto East Expressway 83

0.4 mi · 46 sec · East Expressway 83

Turn right onto North Tower Road

2.3 mi · 4 min · North Tower Road

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Turn left onto El Gato Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · El Gato Road

Turn left onto 2nd Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · 2nd Street

Arrive at destination

2nd Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 4h 23m drive, consider departing San Antonio in the morning to allow ample time for any brief stops. Since it's a single-day trip with a manageable distance, you have the flexibility to pause when needed, perhaps after the 66.8-mile stretch on Lucian Adams Freeway. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you get closer to South Alamo, as services can sometimes be more spread out in this region. The estimated fuel cost of $36 should help you budget accordingly for the 241.6 miles.

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 120.8 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 2h 10m 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 53 miles or 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 120.8 miles or 2h 10m 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 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Alamo, 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 241.6 miles and 4h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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

Alice, TX

121 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

Jourdanton, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alice, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 120.8 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Lucian Adams Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.8 miles.

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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 238.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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.

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

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.

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.

238.1 mi into trip | ~4h 15m in

Take the exit toward Tower Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 150B Toward Tower Road

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.09 one way

$66.18 round trip

$3.48/gal 25.4 MPG avg 85 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$3.89	$36.96	$73.93
premium	$4.23	$40.19	$80.37
diesel	$4.80	$45.62	$91.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 84.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	72.5	0	$25.37	$11.60
Efficient EV	60.4	0	$21.14	$9.66
EV Truck/SUV	96.6	1	$33.82	$15.46

Gas CO2

85 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026

Origin

San Antonio, TX

Evening in San Antonio on Monday

Local time

6:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

93°F

Partly Sunny

SSE 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:54AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:54AM CDT until July 22 at 11:40AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Destination

South Alamo, TX

Evening in South Alamo on Monday

Local time

6:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

98°F

Mostly Sunny

SSE 13 to 17 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:54AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi TX

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:54AM CDT until July 22 at 11:40AM CDT by NWS Corpus Christi 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

5 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 23m 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 8.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is mostly highway, with 71% of the 241.6 miles spent on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 66.8 miles on Lucian Adams Freeway, offering consistent cruising. The transition from highway to surface streets will occur gradually as you approach your destination. Expect a steady pace with fewer complex intersections for most of the drive.

71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

20 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 13 significant decision points across 241.6 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

649 ft 74 ft

Total Climb

65 ft

Total Descent

619 ft

1 mi from route ~3 min detour

San Antonio

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Fr 07:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-16:00; Su 09...

Visit website

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

Near the start, right off the route

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, TX

Cuisine: seafood

Hours: Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00

Visit website

Barriba Cantina

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, TX

Cuisine: mexican

Visit website

Hard Rock Cafe

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: american

Hours: Mo-Th, Su 08:00-23:00; Fr, Sa 08:00-00:0...

Visit website

Whataburger

Fast_food

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

San Antonio, TX

Museum

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Visit website

Emma Tenayuca

Monument

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

Villa Finale Visitor Center

Museum

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 South Alamo, TX

Full guide →

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 23m. Total distance: 241.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 23m 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.

Yes — we found about 15 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 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 South Alamo, 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. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at South Alamo, 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, 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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Explore More

Explore more options from San Antonio, TX or browse trips ending in South Alamo, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.

Trip from San Antonio, TX to South Alamo, TX

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-37

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Brooks County Rest Area

TA

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Rest Area

Rest Area

Live Oak County Southbound Rest Area

Live Oak County Northbound Rest Area

Picnic Area

Picnic Area

Flying J Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

QuikTrip

Pilot Travel Center

Service Plaza

Spanish Governor's Palace

GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises

San Antonio | The Saga

Hemisfair

San Antonio Fire Museum

The Amazing Mirror Maze

SEA LIFE San Antonio

San Antonio River Lock & Dam

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

San Antonio, TX

South Alamo, TX

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 23m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Detours Along the Way

Starbucks

Commonwealth Coffeehouse

Estate Coffee

El Puente

Madhatter's Tea House and Cafe

Commonwealth Coffeehouse & Bakery

Drink

The County Line

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co

Barriba Cantina

Hard Rock Cafe

Whataburger

River boat boarding

River boat boarding

River boat boarding

boat ride boarding

River boat boarding

Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

Emma Tenayuca

San Antonio Art League Museum

Villa Finale Visitor Center

Little Church of La Villita Historic District

La Antorcha de la Amistad

Beauregard House B&B

Fiesta Bed and Breakfast

Ayers Inn

About the Cities

Starting in San Antonio, TX

Arriving in South Alamo, TX

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?