Origin
China Grove, TX
Afternoon in China Grove on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from China Grove, TX to San Antonio, TX
Drive Time
19m
Distance
11.5 mi
18 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from China Grove to San Antonio is a short, straightforward trip covering just 14.4 miles. You can easily complete this drive in about 20 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting around $2 for fuel is more than enough for this quick commute between these Great Plains locations. Since the entire route is within the same region, you won't experience any major shifts in landscape or climate. It is a practical, no-fuss journey that gets you from point A to point B without any unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
5.7 miles from China Grove, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed highway cruise, as this route features zero percent highway driving. You will navigate a series of local roads, specifically utilizing Highway 87 East, Rigsby Avenue, and Roland Avenue to reach your destination. Because there are no long stretches of open road, your longest uninterrupted segment is effectively 0 miles on Highway 87 East. This path requires your full attention as you transition through various local intersections. It is a functional, urban-style drive that prioritizes navigation through city streets over distance or speed.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Rigsby Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 4.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 6.5 miles in near US 87.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 11.5 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 6.5 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles (I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
6.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
US 87
Turn left onto US 87 toward I 10 West, US 90 West
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 10 West, US 90 West
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
8.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward I 37, US 281: Corpus Christi, Johnson City
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 574
Toward I 37, US 281: Corpus Christi, Johnson Ci...
8
8.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 37 North, US 281 North: Johnson City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 37 North, US 281 North: Johnson City
8
10.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward Commerce Street, Downtown, The Alamo
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 141
Toward Commerce Street, Downtown, The Alamo
Towns Along This Route
Between China Grove, TX and San Antonio, TX, road signs point toward Johnson City, Downtown and The Alamo.
Johnson City
8.4 mi in
|
~14m
Downtown
10.1 mi in
|
~16m
The Alamo
10.1 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Rigsby Avenue | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| Jose Lopez Freeway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| William J Bordelon Freeway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| US Highway 87 East | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Commerce Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Roland Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| US 87 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Military Plaza | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Rigsby Avenue
— 4.7 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between China Grove, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on US 87
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US Highway 87 East
2
Continue on US 87
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 87 East
3
Continue on US 87
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Rigsby Avenue
4
Turn slight right onto US 87
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Roland Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 87
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
US 87
Toward I 10 West, US 90 West
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 10; US 87; US 90
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 574
Toward I 37, US 281: Corpus Christi, Johnson City
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 37 North, US 281 North: Johnson City
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 37; US 281
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
William J Bordelon Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 141
Toward Commerce Street, Downtown, The Alamo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto Interstate 37 South
380 ft
·
11 sec
·
Interstate 37 South
12
Turn left onto East Commerce Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Commerce Street
13
Turn left onto Military Plaza
392 ft
·
15 sec
·
Military Plaza
14
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft
·
8 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
15
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Given the 20-minute duration of this trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the entire drive is quite short, you do not need to worry about planning for rest stops or food breaks along the way. Your biggest priority should be staying alert for the frequent turns required by the local road layout. Keep your $2 fuel budget in mind, though you will likely find that your vehicle barely sips fuel on such a brief excursion. For the smoothest experience, check local traffic conditions on Rigsby Avenue before you head out to ensure your quick trip stays on schedule.
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 5.7 miles from China Grove, TX, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.7 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 11.5 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 5.7 miles or 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 16m
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 China Grove, 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 China Grove, TX
This is one driving day of about 11.5 miles and 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from China Grove, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Rigsby Avenue for about 4.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 5.7 mi from China Grove, TX · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 5.7 miles from China Grove, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Antonio, TX
The final approach into San Antonio, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around San Antonio, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.76 one way
$3.51 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.93 | $3.85 |
| premium | $4.59 | $2.08 | $4.16 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.55 | $5.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.21 | $0.55 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.01 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Afternoon in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
15 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
19m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from China Grove, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 11.5 miles and takes about 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Rigsby Avenue, Jose Lopez Freeway, William J Bordelon Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.7 miles from China Grove, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.76 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 11.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles (US 87): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles (I 10; US 87; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between China Grove, TX and San Antonio, TX, road signs point toward Johnson City, Downtown and The Alamo.
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