Origin
Fairfield, TX
Night in Fairfield on Wednesday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, TX to San Antonio, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 38m
Distance
252.5 mi
406 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 25m
★
6 AM
4h 39m
8 AM
5h 5m
10 AM
4h 48m
12 PM
4h 45m
3 PM
4h 49m
5 PM
5h 4m
8 PM
4h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, TX
Wikimedia Commons
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Fairfield to San Antonio covers 261.6 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 9 minutes of driving time. Since the entire journey stays within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget around $39 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, you should plan for a more active time behind the wheel. It is a straightforward trek that works well for those looking to reach their destination by late afternoon without the fatigue of a multi-day haul.
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
126.2 miles from Fairfield, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a drive that prioritizes local roads over high-speed interstate cruising. With a highway share of 0%, your experience will be defined by navigating turning, local thoroughfares rather than long, monotonous highway stretches. This route requires your full attention as you transition through the Texas landscape, offering a more hands-on driving experience than a typical freeway commute. Since there are no major highway sprints, the pace remains steady and consistent throughout the 261.6-mile journey. You will find that the lack of major highways creates a more intimate, albeit more demanding, connection to the road as you make your way toward San Antonio.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pickle Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 70.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
658 ft
286 ft
Total Climb
814 ft
Total Descent
630 ft
Highest Point
658 ft
~242 mi in
Elevation Range
373 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pickle Parkway and US 79. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 128.2 miles in near East 2nd Street.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 252.5 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 128.2 miles (East 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 141.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
128.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
|
East 2nd Street
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
141.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Take the ramp toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 426
Toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville
7
211.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
6
233 mi into trip
|
~4h 14m in
|
I 10; US 90; TX 130
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
247.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 29m in
Take the exit toward Commerce Street, Houston Street
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 579
Toward Commerce Street, Houston Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fairfield, TX and San Antonio, TX, road signs point toward Jewett, Pflugerville and Toll 130 South: Austin.
Jewett
19.6 mi in
|
~20m
Pflugerville
141.1 mi in
|
~2h 48m
Toll 130 South: Austin
141.3 mi in
|
~2h 48m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pickle Parkway | 70.3 mi | 1h 3m |
| US 79 | 56.4 mi | 1h 10m |
| Main Street | 51.1 mi | 58m |
| I 10 | 32.5 mi | 33m |
| I 45 | 18.2 mi | 18m |
| East 2nd Street | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| East Commerce Street | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Chris Kelley Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Pickle Parkway
— 70.3 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on US 84
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
West Commerce Street
2
Keep slight left at fork onto US 84
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West US Highway 84
3
Turn left onto South Interstate 45
133 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Interstate 45
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
5
Merge onto I 45
18 mi
·
18 min
·
I 45
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 79: Buffalo, Jewett
7
Turn straight onto North Craig Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Craig Street
8
Turn right onto US 79
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Commerce Street
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on US 79
51 mi
·
58 min
·
Main Street
10
Continue on US 79; TX 6
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Market Street
11
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
12
Continue on US 79; US 190
54 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
US 79; US 190
13
Turn left onto Porter Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Porter Street
14
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
East 2nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 79
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US 79
16
Turn left onto FM 685
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Chris Kelley Boulevard
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto FM 685
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
TX 130 Frontage Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
Exit 426
Toward TX 130 Toll South: Austin, Pflugerville
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
14 sec
·
this road
Exit 426
Toward Toll 130 South: Austin, Pflugerville
20
Merge onto TX 130 Toll
70 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
Pickle Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 10; TX 130
11 mi
·
11 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 10; US 90; TX 130
9.4 mi
·
9 min
·
I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 10; US 90; TX 130
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10; US 90; TX 130
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 10; US 90
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 579
Toward Commerce Street, Houston Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn straight onto Interstate 10 East
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Interstate 10 East
29
Turn right onto East Houston Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Houston Street
30
Turn slight left onto East Commerce Street
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
East Commerce Street
31
Turn left onto Military Plaza
392 ft
·
15 sec
·
Military Plaza
32
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft
·
8 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
33
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 9-minute duration, departing early in the morning is your best bet to avoid midday traffic and ensure you arrive in San Antonio with plenty of daylight left. Because this route involves local roads rather than major interstates, keep a close eye on your navigation to ensure you stay on track through the various turns. Since you are looking at a $39 fuel estimate, topping off your tank in Fairfield before you depart will save you from having to hunt for fuel in unfamiliar areas along the way. Take advantage of the lack of mandatory stops by planning your own breaks strategically to keep your energy up. Staying alert is key on this turn-heavy drive, so prioritize comfort and hydration before you hit the road.
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 126.2 miles from Fairfield, TX, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.3 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 56 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.2 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, TX
This is one driving day of about 252.5 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Fairfield, 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 Pickle Parkway for about 70.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 126.2 mi from Fairfield, TX · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.2 miles from Fairfield, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pickle Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.3 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.15 one way
$76.31 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $41.76 | $83.52 |
| premium | $4.54 | $45.08 | $90.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.75 | $111.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.8 | 0 | $26.51 | $12.12 |
| Efficient EV | 63.1 | 0 | $22.09 | $10.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101 | 1 | $35.35 | $16.16 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Night in San Antonio on Wednesday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Taylor, TX
126 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
18 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
4h 38m 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 Fairfield, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 252.5 miles and takes about 4h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pickle Parkway, US 79, Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 126.2 miles from Fairfield, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.15 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 22 significant decision points across 252.5 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 128.2 miles (East 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 141.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Fairfield, TX and San Antonio, TX, road signs point toward Jewett, Pflugerville and Toll 130 South: Austin.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 286 ft to 658 ft elevation with about 814 ft of total climbing.
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