Origin
Dilley, TX
Late night in Dilley on Friday
Local time
4:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dilley, TX to San Antonio, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
71.6 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dilley, TX
Wikimedia Commons
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Dilley to San Antonio covers 71.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 7 minutes. Because this is a straightforward trek within the Great Plains region of Texas, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating this route involves utilizing I-35, the Purple Heart Trail, and the South Pan Am Expressway. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, the drive is quick and manageable, making it an easy transition between these two South Texas points.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 71.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 71.9-mile stretch. While you will spend time on major arteries like I-35 and the South Pan Am Expressway, the road profile leans toward more technical, local-style segments as you navigate toward your destination. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches to zone out on, so you will need to remain engaged with the road layout throughout the hour-long trip. The transition from the rural outskirts of Dilley into the more densely populated San Antonio area shifts the driving experience significantly, requiring your full attention as traffic density increases.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 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 57.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near South I 35 Access Road East.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 16m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (South I 35 Access Road East): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.8 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
2.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
South I 35 Access Road East
Turn right onto South I 35 Access Road East
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge onto I 35 / Purple Heart Trail
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
69.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
70.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward Spur 536: South Alamo Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 155A
Toward Spur 536: South Alamo Street
3
70.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
South Laredo Street
Turn straight onto South Laredo Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 57.7 mi | 57m |
| South Pan Am Expressway | 9.9 mi | 11m |
| South Main Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| South Santa Rosa Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Laredo Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Dolorosa Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South I 35 Access Road East | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 57.7 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dilley, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on I 35 Bus; FM 117
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto South I 35 Access Road East
427 ft
·
13 sec
·
South I 35 Access Road East
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
4
Merge onto I 35
58 mi
·
57 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 35
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
South Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Pan Am Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 155A
Toward Spur 536: South Alamo Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto South Laredo Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
South Laredo Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Continue on South Santa Rosa Street
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Santa Rosa Street
10
Turn right onto Dolorosa Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
11
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.8 mi from Dilley, TX · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.8 miles from Dilley, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.82 one way
$21.64 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $11.84 | $23.68 |
| premium | $4.54 | $12.78 | $25.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.81 | $31.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.02 | $4.58 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Late night in San Antonio on Friday
Local time
4:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 15 mph
3% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 6:30AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 6:28AM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
65°F
Lytle, TX
36 mi in
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
8 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
1h 16m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Dilley, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 71.6 miles and takes about 1h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, South Pan Am Expressway, South Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.8 miles from Dilley, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.82 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 straightforward 1h 16m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (South I 35 Access Road East): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 35 / Purple Heart Trail): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.8 miles (I 35 / South Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Dilley, TX to San Antonio, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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