If you are planning a quick excursion from San Antonio to Yorktown, you can expect a manageable 74-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, it serves perfectly as a simple day trip, allowing you to reach your destination and return without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate through the heart of the Great Plains, keeping your transit costs low with an estimated fuel budget of around $11. Since the route involves zero formal stops, it is a straightforward drive that prioritizes efficiency over sightseeing. This trip is ideal if you prefer a direct, local transit experience rather than a long-haul interstate haul.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 119
33.7 mi
46m
US Highway 87 East
29.6 mi
35m
Rigsby Avenue
4.7 mi
8m
Jose Lopez Freeway
1.7 mi
1m
William J Bordelon Freeway
1.1 mi
1m
Roland Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
East Market Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 119
— 33.7 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Yorktown, 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
30 mi·35 min·US Highway 87 East
14
Turn right onto TX 119
34 mi·46 min·State Highway 119
15
Turn left onto TX 72
0.4 mi·40 sec·West Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
TX 72
Trip Plan
Because this drive is a short 1 hour and 40-minute trek, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily squeeze this trip into a single day, leaving in the morning and returning by evening without feeling rushed. Since there are no scheduled stops along the way, make sure to fuel up before leaving San Antonio to keep your $11 budget on track and avoid unnecessary detours. Keep a close eye on your navigation, especially when transitioning between the various local streets, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires constant attention. Taking advantage of the shorter duration allows you to plan your day around the destination in Yorktown rather than worrying about a taxing time behind the wheel.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.7 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yorktown, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Antonio, TX
This is one driving day of about 74 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from San Antonio, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 119 for about 33.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 4.7 — 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.
5
1 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 37 South, US 281 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 37 South, US 281 South
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.18 one way
$22.36 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$12.24
$24.48
premium
$4.54
$13.21
$26.42
diesel
$5.61
$16.34
$32.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.2
0
$7.77
$3.55
Efficient EV
18.5
0
$6.48
$2.96
EV Truck/SUV
29.6
0
$10.36
$4.74
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 15, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Morning
in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
10:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Yorktown, TX
Morning
in Yorktown on Sunday
Local time
10:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 40m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies entirely on local roads like West Market Street, East Market Street, and Tower of the Americas Way. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be cruising at high speeds on major freeways, meaning your focus will be on navigating the local road network. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on West Market Street, confirming that this is a technical drive characterized by frequent turns rather than long, straightaways. Prepare for a slower, more hands-on driving experience that changes rhythm as you transition between these local streets.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.7 mi on State Highway 119.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 119 and US Highway 87 East. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.8 miles (Tower of the Americas Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
657 ft274 ft
Total Climb
192 ft
Total Descent
567 ft
Highest Point
657 ft
~5.3 mi in
Elevation Range
383 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 Yorktown, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Victoria along the way.
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 1h 40m. Total distance: 74 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.7 miles on State Highway 119. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Yorktown, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Tower of the Americas Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Yorktown, TX before heading back.
