Spanning 316.3 miles, this journey from Stanton to San Antonio takes approximately 4 hours and 58 minutes of drive time. You will primarily navigate via East Front Street and I-20, making this a straightforward trip that is easily manageable within a single day. Budgeting around $47 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the trek. Both your starting point and your destination sit within the Great Plains, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your travels. Because the drive is under five hours, you won't need to worry about an overnight split, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of daylight to spare.
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
157.2 miles from Stanton, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 87
72.2 mi
1h 17m
I 10
71.7 mi
1h 14m
William B Crooker Memorial Highway
44.3 mi
44m
US 83
40 mi
38m
Ellis Street
29.4 mi
31m
South Main Street
21.5 mi
23m
US Highway 87 South
14.6 mi
14m
I 20
13.6 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 72.2 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stanton, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on South Saint Mary Street
85 ft·5 sec·South Saint Mary Street
2
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
0.7 mi·58 sec·East Front Street
3
Continue on I 20 Bus
0.8 mi·1 min·East Business I-20
4
Turn straight onto I 20 Bus
389 ft·14 sec·I 20 Bus
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 20 East: Abilene
6
Merge onto I 20
14 mi·13 min·I 20
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Exit 173Toward US 87 South: San Angelo
8
Turn straight onto West Interstate 20
0.3 mi·48 sec·West Interstate 20
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
10
Merge onto US 87
44 mi·44 min·William B Crooker Memorial Highway
11
Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163
1.2 mi·2 min·4th Street
12
Continue on US 87
15 mi·14 min·US Highway 87 South
13
Continue on US 87
72 mi·1 hr 17 min·US 87
14
Turn right onto US 83
21 mi·23 min·South Main Street
15
Continue on US 83
29 mi·31 min·Ellis Street
16
Take the exit onto US 83
40 mi·38 min·US 83
Toward I 10 East: San AntonioUse the left lane.
17
Continue on I 10
54 mi·54 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
17 mi·19 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
1.7 mi·2 min·McDermott Freeway
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 569CToward Santa Rosa Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Pecos-La Trinidad
22
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pecos-La Trinidad
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·Dolorosa Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
For a smooth trip, aim to depart early in the morning to account for the nearly five-hour duration and allow yourself at least one planned stop to break up the drive. Since the route involves significant local navigation, double-check your turn-by-turn directions before you leave to avoid confusion on local streets. With a fuel budget of $47, verify your tank levels before hitting the road, especially since you are navigating through turn-heavy sections where idling or frequent acceleration might occur. Given the single-day timeframe, use your one allotted stop to stretch your legs and refuel, as this will help you maintain focus during the more technical portions of the route. Flexibility is your greatest asset here, so don't hesitate to adjust your pace if you encounter unexpected local traffic.
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 157.2 miles from Stanton, TX, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.2 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 69 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.2 miles or 2h 47m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Antonio, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stanton, 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 Stanton, TX
This is one driving day of about 314.5 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Stanton, 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 87 for about 72.2 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 199.5 and 314 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
199.5 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
6
293.7 mi into trip|~5h 5m in|I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
312.8 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Take the exit toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
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 569C
Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
6
313.4 mi into trip|~5h 28m in|North Pecos-La Trinidad
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
314 mi into trip|~5h 29m in|Dolorosa Street
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.52 one way
$95.04 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$52.02
$104.03
premium
$4.54
$56.15
$112.30
diesel
$5.61
$69.44
$138.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.4
1
$33.02
$15.10
Efficient EV
78.6
0
$27.52
$12.58
EV Truck/SUV
125.8
1
$44.03
$20.13
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Stanton, TX
Night
in Stanton on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Night
in San Antonio on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
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
20 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
5h 30m 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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 314.5
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 260.3
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 as you transition from local roads onto the interstate system. While the route relies on I-20 East, the character of the road is defined by its local navigation rather than long, high-speed interstate stretches. Because the highway share is 0% based on the provided data, you should prepare for a more involved driving experience compared to a standard freeway cruise. The longest stretch without a turn is 0 miles on East Front Street, meaning you will need to remain alert and ready to maneuver frequently. This is not a monotonous highway grind; rather, it is a practical, hands-on path through the heart of the region.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.2 mi on US 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 199.5 miles in near US 83.
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 13 significant decision points across 314.5 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 199.5 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 293.7 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 312.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 5h 30m. Total distance: 314.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.2 miles on US 87. 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 San Antonio, 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 199.5 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 293.7 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 312.8 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 and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Antonio, TX before the return drive.
