If you are planning a quick getaway from West Lake Hills to San Antonio, you are looking at a manageable 84.7-mile journey. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 34 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn’t require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $13, it is a cost-effective route for a weekend excursion or a quick change of scenery. Both the starting point and the destination reside within the Great Plains region of Texas, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your travels. Because the route is short and straightforward, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42 miles from West Lake Hills, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Trail
54.6 mi
58m
North Pan Am Expressway
17 mi
20m
South Capital of Texas Highway
3.6 mi
5m
US 290
2.7 mi
3m
Interstate Highway 35
1.7 mi
1m
Westlake Drive
1 mi
3m
Redbud Trail
0.6 mi
1m
North Main Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 54.6 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Lake Hills, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on Redbud Trail
0.6 mi·1 min·Redbud Trail
2
Turn right onto Westlake Drive
1.0 mi·3 min·Westlake Drive
3
Turn right onto RM 2244
0.1 mi·30 sec·Bee Caves Road
4
Turn left onto Camp Craft Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Camp Craft Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·27 sec·this road
6
Turn right onto Westbank Drive
0.2 mi·24 sec·Westbank Drive
7
Turn left onto Loop 360
3.6 mi·5 min·South Capital of Texas Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Merge onto US 290; TX 71
2.2 mi·2 min·US 290; TX 71
9
Take the exit onto US 290
0.5 mi·59 sec·US 290
Toward I 35 North, US 290 East, I 35 South: Waco, San AntonioUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: San AntonioUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 35
43 mi·45 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi·11 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·8 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.6 mi·41 sec·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, LaredoUse the slight left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 157AToward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro AvenueUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
526 ft·17 sec·East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
159 ft·3 sec·Navarro Street
21
Continue on Navarro Street
111 ft·2 sec·Navarro Street
22
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
0.4 mi·51 sec·North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto West Travis Street
222 ft·10 sec·West Travis Street
24
Turn left onto North Flores Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·North Flores Street
25
Continue on Military Plaza
392 ft·15 sec·Military Plaza
26
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft·8 sec·Dolorosa Street
27
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 84.7-mile trip, you can easily complete the drive in a single sitting without the need for formal rest stops. I recommend checking your fuel levels before you pull out of West Lake Hills, as the estimated $13 cost is based on average consumption for the duration of the trip. Because this is a turn-heavy local route, you should avoid navigating during peak commuter hours to ensure a smoother experience on the smaller roads. Given that there are no scheduled stops required, you have the freedom to depart whenever you like and arrive in San Antonio in under two hours. Keep your navigation system running, as the lack of highway driving means you will encounter more turns and junctions than you would on a typical interstate route.
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 42 miles from West Lake Hills, TX, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 miles or 52m 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 San Antonio, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Lake Hills, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Lake Hills, TX
This is one driving day of about 84 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from West Lake Hills, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 54.6 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 8.4 and 82.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
8.4 mi into trip|~14m in|US 290
Take the exit onto US 290 toward I 35 North, US 290 East, I 35 South: Waco, San Antonio
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.
Toward I 35 North, US 290 East, I 35 South: Wac...
7
8.8 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 35 South: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 South: San Antonio
7
75.8 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South
8
82.2 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
8
82.8 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
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 157A
Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.69 one way
$25.39 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$13.89
$27.79
premium
$4.54
$15.00
$30.00
diesel
$5.61
$18.55
$37.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.82
$4.03
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.35
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 12, 2026
Origin
West Lake Hills, TX
Morning
in West Lake Hills on Sunday
Local time
11:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph77% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 12 at 10:48AM CDT until April 13 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 12 at 10:11AM CDT until April 13 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio TX
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Morning
in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
11:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SSE 10 mph64% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 12 at 10:48AM CDT until April 13 at 4:00AM CDT by NWS Fort Worth TX
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 12 at 10:11AM CDT until April 13 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Austin/San Antonio 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 40m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that prioritizes backroads over high-speed interstate travel. Since the highway share for this trip is 0%, you won't be dealing with the monotonous drone of heavy traffic on major freeways. Instead, the road requires your full attention as you navigate winding local paths rather than straight, fast stretches. You will find that the character of the drive remains consistent from start to finish, maintaining a steady, local pace. It is a drive that feels more like a deliberate connection between two Texas hubs rather than a high-speed sprint across the state.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on Purple Heart Trail.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.4 miles in near US 290.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84 miles you will encounter 18 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 8.4 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.8 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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: 84 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. 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 San Antonio, 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 8.4 miles (US 290): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.8 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Antonio, TX before heading back.
