Origin
Lamesa, TX
Afternoon in Lamesa on Sunday
Local time
2:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lamesa, TX to San Antonio, TX
Drive Time
6h
Distance
346.2 mi
557 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
Lamesa, TX
Thomas balabaud
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 348.1 miles across the Texas Great Plains, this journey from Lamesa to San Antonio typically takes about 5 hours and 15 minutes of pure drive time. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the trip in a single day, though you should budget approximately $52 for fuel to cover the distance. You will navigate via North Lynn Avenue, South Dallas Avenue, and Highway 87 as you head south. Since both the origin and destination are situated within the Great Plains region, the landscape remains consistent throughout your travels. It is a straightforward trek that works well for those looking to reach San Antonio efficiently without needing an overnight stop.
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
173.1 miles from Lamesa, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a mindless highway cruise. With a 0% highway share, this route relies entirely on local roads and Highway 87, creating a more intimate connection with the landscape. You will not find any long, uninterrupted stretches of interstate here, as the longest segment on North Lynn Avenue is 0 miles. The route’s personality is defined by its technical nature, keeping you engaged as you navigate through the local roads. Prepare for a steady, hands-on driving experience that differs significantly from the typical high-speed interstate commute.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 72.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 87 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 231.2 miles in near US 83.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 346.2 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 231.2 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 325.4 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 344.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
231.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 2m in
|
US 83
Take the exit onto US 83 toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
6
325.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 35m 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
344.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 56m 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
345.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 58m 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
345.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 59m in
|
Dolorosa Street
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 87 | 72.2 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 10 | 71.7 mi | 1h 14m |
| William B Crooker Memorial Highway | 52.1 mi | 52m |
| US 83 | 40 mi | 38m |
| Ellis Street | 29.4 mi | 31m |
| South Main Street | 21.5 mi | 23m |
| North US Highway 87 | 18.1 mi | 18m |
| South US Highway 87 | 18.1 mi | 18m |
Longest stretch:
US 87
— 72.2 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lamesa, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on this road
160 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 87
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lynn Avenue
3
Continue on US 87; US 180
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Dallas Avenue
4
Continue on US 87; US 180
18 mi
·
18 min
·
South US Highway 87
5
Continue on US 87
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
William Crooker Highway
6
Continue on US 87
18 mi
·
18 min
·
North US Highway 87
7
Continue on US 87
52 mi
·
52 min
·
William B Crooker Memorial Highway
8
Continue on US 87; TX 158; TX 163
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
4th Street
9
Continue on US 87
15 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 87 South
10
Continue on US 87
72 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
US 87
11
Turn right onto US 83
21 mi
·
23 min
·
South Main Street
12
Continue on US 83
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Ellis Street
13
Take the exit onto US 83
40 mi
·
38 min
·
US 83
Toward I 10 East: San Antonio
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on I 10
54 mi
·
54 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
17 mi
·
19 min
·
I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
McDermott Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 569C
Toward Santa Rosa Street, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Pecos-La Trinidad
19
Keep slight right at fork onto North Pecos-La Trinidad
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pecos-La Trinidad
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 15-minute journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to break up the drive. Since this is a turn-heavy route, departing in the morning ensures you have plenty of daylight to navigate the local roads safely. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $52 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local price variations. Given that the route lacks long, monotonous highway stretches, use the frequent turns as a natural reminder to stay alert and adjust your posture. Flexibility is your best asset here, so feel free to pull over whenever you need a quick refresh before reaching San Antonio.
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 173.1 miles from Lamesa, TX, or about 3h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.2 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 80 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.1 miles or 3h 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 55m
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 Lamesa, 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 Lamesa, TX
This is one driving day of about 346.2 miles and 6h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lamesa, 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 US 87 for about 72.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 173.1 mi from Lamesa, TX · 3h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
173 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 173.1 miles from Lamesa, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 87 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.2 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
$52.88 one way
$105.77 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
121 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $57.95 | $115.91 |
| premium | $4.59 | $62.57 | $125.15 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $76.91 | $153.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.9 | 1 | $36.35 | $16.62 |
| Efficient EV | 86.6 | 0 | $30.29 | $13.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 138.5 | 1 | $48.47 | $22.16 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 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.
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Afternoon in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
2:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
54°F
Brownwood, TX
173 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
29 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 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 Lamesa, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 346.2 miles and takes about 6h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 87, I 10, William B Crooker Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 173.1 miles from Lamesa, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.88 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 8 significant decision points across 346.2 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 231.2 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 325.4 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 344.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Lamesa, TX to San Antonio, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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