This 328.1-mile drive from Gunter, TX to San Antonio, TX is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 6 hours and 23 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on the Purple Heart Trail and I-35, with a small portion on North Trade Days Boulevard, meaning about 43% of your journey will be on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $50, this route offers a straightforward way to travel between the Great Plains regions of Texas. It's definitely manageable in a single day, but plan for a significant portion of your day to be spent on the road.
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
164 miles from Gunter, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 23m. Total distance: 328.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this 328.1-mile journey, with a significant 43% portion on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 99.6 miles, primarily on the Purple Heart Trail. This suggests a blend of faster-paced highway driving and potentially more local road sections as you navigate through Texas. The character of the drive will likely shift as you progress south, moving from the open plains towards the more developed areas around San Antonio.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 43 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 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 87.6 miles in near TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass.
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 24 significant decision points across 328.1 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 87.6 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 246.5 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 319.9 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
87.6 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
246.5 mi into trip|~4h 50m 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
319.9 mi into trip|~6h 11m 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
326.3 mi into trip|~6h 19m 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
326.9 mi into trip|~6h 20m 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...
Step-by-step road directions between Gunter, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on FM 17
1.0 mi·1 min·FM 17
2
At end of road, turn left onto FM 515
6.1 mi·8 min·FM 515
3
Continue on FM 2795
0.8 mi·1 min·FM 2795
4
Turn right onto US 69; FM 2795
0.9 mi·1 min·East Lennon Drive
5
Turn left onto TX 19
21 mi·31 min·South Texas Street
6
Continue on TX 19
24 mi·36 min·North Trade Days Boulevard
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·36 sec
8
Merge onto US 175; TX 31; Loop 7
3.8 mi·4 min·Jed Robinson Loop
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
10
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft·14 sec
11
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 31 West
12
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi·6 min·East Royall Boulevard
13
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi·11 min·State Highway 31 East
14
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi·10 min·Northwest 2nd Street
15
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi·13 min·Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
16
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi·21 min·West State Highway 31
17
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi·5 min·Hubbard Bypass
18
Continue on TX 31
17 mi·17 min·State Highway 31
19
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi·2 min·East US Highway 84
20
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi·4 min·Bellmead Drive
21
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi·1 min·East Waco Drive
22
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft·12 sec·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
24
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi·6 min·North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 35
38 mi·39 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi·58 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi·54 min·Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton StreetUse the slight left lane.
28
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi·1 min·Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 35
12 mi·12 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi·11 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·8 min·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.6 mi·41 sec·North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, LaredoUse the slight left lane.
33
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 157AToward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro AvenueUse the slight right lane.
34
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
526 ft·17 sec·East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
35
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
36
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
159 ft·3 sec·Navarro Street
37
Continue on Navarro Street
111 ft·2 sec·Navarro Street
38
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
0.4 mi·51 sec·North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
39
Turn right onto West Travis Street
222 ft·10 sec·West Travis Street
40
Turn left onto North Flores Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·North Flores Street
41
Continue on Military Plaza
392 ft·15 sec·Military Plaza
42
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft·8 sec·Dolorosa Street
43
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour and 23-minute estimated drive time, starting early from Gunter, TX is your best bet to maximize daylight and arrive in San Antonio with time to spare. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $50, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 99.6 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, as services might be more spread out in certain sections.
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 164 miles from Gunter, TX, or about 3h 24m 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 72 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164 miles or 3h 24m 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 15m
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 Gunter, 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 Gunter, TX
This is one driving day of about 328.1 miles and 6h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Gunter, 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 164 mi from Gunter, TX
· 3h 24m into the drive
The midpoint is around 164 miles from Gunter, 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
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 147.1
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 328.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.58 one way
$99.15 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$54.27
$108.53
premium
$4.54
$58.58
$117.16
diesel
$5.61
$72.44
$144.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.4
1
$34.45
$15.75
Efficient EV
82
0
$28.71
$13.12
EV Truck/SUV
131.2
1
$45.93
$21.00
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Gunter, TX
Night
in Gunter on Thursday
Local time
9:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Night
in San Antonio on Thursday
Local time
9:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
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
6h 23m 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 Gunter, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 328.1 miles and takes about 6h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, I 35, North Trade Days Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 164 miles from Gunter, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.58 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 24 significant decision points across 328.1 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 87.6 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 246.5 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 319.9 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Gunter, 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.
