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Trip from Combine, TX to San Antonio, TX

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

5h 11m

Distance

287.2 mi

462 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 59m ★
6 AM
5h 12m
8 AM
5h 39m
10 AM
5h 21m
12 PM
5h 19m
3 PM
5h 23m
5 PM
5h 38m
8 PM
5h 4m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Combine, TX, TX

Combine, TX

Thomas balabaud

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Combine, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 287.2 miles and takes about 5h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, South R L Thornton Freeway, I 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.40 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

143.6 miles from Combine, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 11m. Total distance: 287.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

This is a 5h 11m highway drive covering 287.2 miles, with most of the trip on Purple Heart Trail and South R L Thornton Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 99.6 miles on Purple Heart Trail.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Trail is the longest continuous segment at about 99.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and South R L Thornton Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 20 significant decision points across 287.2 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 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 205.6 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 279.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
24 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit toward I 35E South: Waco

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 467B Toward I 35E South: Waco
8
205.6 mi into trip | ~3h 39m in | I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
7
279.1 mi into trip | ~5h 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
285.5 mi into trip | ~5h 8m 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
286 mi into trip | ~5h 9m 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...

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Purple Heart Trail 99.6 mi 1h 46m
South R L Thornton Freeway 80.3 mi 1h 22m
I 35 55.8 mi 58m
North Pan Am Expressway 17 mi 20m
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway 10.8 mi 11m
North Jack Kultgen Expressway 6.6 mi 7m
US 175 6.5 mi 6m
FM 1389 4.6 mi 7m
Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Combine, TX and San Antonio, TX.

1

Start on FM 1389

1.4 mi · 2 min · FM 1389
2

Keep slight right at fork onto FM 1389

1.9 mi · 3 min · FM 1389
3

Turn slight right onto FM 1389

1.3 mi · 1 min · FM 1389
4

At end of road, turn left onto North Frontage Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Frontage Road
5

Continue on South Highway 175

0.3 mi · 32 sec · South Highway 175
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward US 175 West
7

Merge onto US 175

6.5 mi · 6 min · US 175
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 20 West: Fort Worth Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 20

11 mi · 11 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min
Exit 467B Toward I 35E South: Waco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 35E

80 mi · 1 hr 22 min · South R L Thornton Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on I 35; US 77

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 35

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

56 mi · 58 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290

50 mi · 54 min · Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street Use the slight left lane.
16

Continue on I 35

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on I 35

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on I 35

10.0 mi · 11 min · North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

0.6 mi · 41 sec · North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo Use the slight left lane.
21

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Exit 157A Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue Use the slight right lane.
22

Turn straight onto East Elmira Street

526 ft · 17 sec · East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
23

Turn left onto North Main Avenue

0.2 mi · 18 sec · North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
24

Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street

159 ft · 3 sec · Navarro Street
25

Continue on Navarro Street

111 ft · 2 sec · Navarro Street
26

Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue

0.4 mi · 51 sec · North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
27

Turn right onto West Travis Street

222 ft · 10 sec · West Travis Street
28

Turn left onto North Flores Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · North Flores Street
29

Continue on Military Plaza

392 ft · 15 sec · Military Plaza
30

Turn left onto Dolorosa Street

327 ft · 8 sec · Dolorosa Street
31

Arrive at destination

Dolorosa Street

Trip Plan

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 143.6 miles from Combine, TX, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 63 miles or 1h 10m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 143.6 miles or 2h 34m 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 12m

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 Combine, 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 Combine, TX

This is one driving day of about 287.2 miles and 5h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Combine, 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 99.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 143.6 mi from Combine, TX · 2h 34m into the drive

city in Bell County, Texas

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Troy, TX

144 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.

Popular next leg

Troy, TX to San Antonio, TX

153.2 mi · 2h 49m

Pacing Suggestions

Waxahachie, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Belton, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 143.6 miles from Combine, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 miles.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

5 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 108.9
View on nps.gov
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

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 287.2
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.40 one way

$86.79 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $47.50 $95.00
premium $4.54 $51.28 $102.56
diesel $5.61 $63.41 $126.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 100.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 86.2 1 $30.16 $13.79
Efficient EV 71.8 0 $25.13 $11.49
EV Truck/SUV 114.9 1 $40.21 $18.38

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

34 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 16, 2026

Origin

Combine, TX

Night in Combine on Thursday

Local time

11:30 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Antonio, TX

Night in San Antonio on Thursday

Local time

11:30 PM

CDT

Current temp

90°F

Partly Sunny

SSE 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

60°F

Troy, TX

144 mi in

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

30 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 11m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Combine, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 287.2 miles and takes about 5h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, South R L Thornton Freeway, I 35. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 143.6 miles from Combine, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.40 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 287.2 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 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 205.6 miles (I 35; US 290 / Purple Heart Trail): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 279.1 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Combine, TX to San Antonio, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

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