The drive from Gardendale, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 355.9 miles and takes about 6h 13m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, South US Highway 385, Farm to Market Road 305 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 260 miles on I 10.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.78 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
177.9 miles from Gardendale, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 355.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 13m highway drive covering 355.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and South US Highway 385. The longest continuous stretch is about 260 miles on I 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 260 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and South US Highway 385. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Goldenrod Drive.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 355.9 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: near the start (East Goldenrod Drive): Navigation decision point; at 335.1 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 354.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Goldenrod Drive
Turn left onto East Goldenrod Drive
Navigation decision point
6
335.1 mi into trip|~5h 48m in|I 10; US 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
354.2 mi into trip|~6h 10m in
Take the exit toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
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 569C
Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
6
354.8 mi into trip|~6h 11m in|North Pecos-La Trinidad
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
355.4 mi into trip|~6h 12m in|Dolorosa Street
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
260 mi
4h 10m
South US Highway 385
51.3 mi
59m
Farm to Market Road 305
18.1 mi
26m
North Hollyhock Avenue
6.2 mi
7m
Northeast Loop 338
4.7 mi
5m
US 190
4.2 mi
6m
I 20
3.6 mi
3m
South Grant Avenue
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 260 mi, about 4h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gardendale, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on North Gardendale Avenue
140 ft·11 sec·North Gardendale Avenue
2
Turn left onto East Goldenrod Drive
0.3 mi·41 sec·East Goldenrod Drive
3
Turn right onto FM 554
6.2 mi·7 min·North Hollyhock Avenue
4
Turn left onto Loop 338
4.0 mi·4 min·Northeast Loop 338
5
Continue on Loop 338
1.5 mi·2 min·Ray C. Stoker, Jr. Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on Loop 338
0.7 mi·49 sec·Northeast Loop 338
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto East Interstate 20
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Interstate 20
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 20 West: El Paso
9
Merge onto I 20
3.6 mi·3 min·I 20
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 385: Andrews, Crane
11
Turn straight onto East Pool Road
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Pool Road
12
Turn left onto US 385
1.7 mi·2 min·South Grant Avenue
13
Continue on US 385
51 mi·59 min·South US Highway 385
14
Continue on FM 305
18 mi·26 min·Farm to Market Road 305
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 190
4.2 mi·6 min·US 190
16
At end of road, turn left onto I 10 Service Road
412 ft·8 sec·I 10 Service Road
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
18
Merge onto I 10
243 mi·3 hr 51 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
17 mi·19 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
1.7 mi·2 min·McDermott Freeway
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 569CToward Santa Rosa Street, DowntownUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.2 mi·16 sec·North Pecos-La Trinidad
23
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pecos-La Trinidad
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·Dolorosa Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 177.9 miles from Gardendale, TX, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 260 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 78 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.9 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 11m
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 Gardendale, 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 Gardendale, TX
This is one driving day of about 355.9 miles and 6h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Gardendale, 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 I 10 for about 260 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 177.9 mi from Gardendale, TX
· 3h 18m into the drive
The midpoint is around 177.9 miles from Gardendale, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 260 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
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.
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...
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 308.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.78 one way
$107.55 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$58.86
$117.73
premium
$4.54
$63.54
$127.09
diesel
$5.61
$78.58
$157.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.8
1
$37.37
$17.08
Efficient EV
89
1
$31.14
$14.24
EV Truck/SUV
142.4
1
$49.83
$22.78
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 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
Gardendale, TX
Late night
in Gardendale on Friday
Local time
5:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Late night
in San Antonio on Friday
Local time
5:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
33 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
6h 13m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gardendale, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 355.9 miles and takes about 6h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, South US Highway 385, Farm to Market Road 305. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 177.9 miles from Gardendale, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.78 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 15 significant decision points across 355.9 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: near the start (East Goldenrod Drive): Navigation decision point; at 335.1 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 354.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Gardendale, TX to San Antonio, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park.
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.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
