Origin
Longview, TX
Afternoon in Longview on Sunday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
6h 26m
Distance
344.6 mi
555 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Longview, TX
Jeff Stapleton
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Longview to San Antonio covers 363.3 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 58 minutes. Because this journey is classified as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint, it is best approached as a dedicated one-day commitment. You should budget approximately $54 for fuel to complete the trek between these two Great Plains locations. While the route is manageable in a single day, the winding nature of the roads means you will spend significant time behind the wheel. Use this trip as a focused transit between East Texas and the heart of the state, but keep your schedule flexible enough to account for the local road conditions.
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
172.3 miles from Longview, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .
Expect a hands-on driving experience, as this route avoids major interstates entirely in favor of local roads like North Spur 63 and Highway 259. With a 0% highway share, this is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous cruise. You will find no long, uninterrupted stretches of road, as the longest segment on North Spur 63 is 0 miles. The route’s personality is defined by constant navigation through local corridors rather than high-speed highway transit. Prepare for a steady, rhythmic pace that requires frequent adjustments as you work your way through the regional landscape.
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 104.2 miles in near TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 344.6 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 104.2 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 263.1 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 336.5 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
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
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
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
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
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 99.6 mi | 1h 46m |
| State Highway 31 East | 59.9 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| West State Highway 31 | 18.8 mi | 21m |
| State Highway 31 | 17.2 mi | 17m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 17 mi | 20m |
| Corsicana Bypass | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| State Highway 31 West | 9.7 mi | 11m |
Step-by-step road directions between Longview, TX and San Antonio, TX.
Start on US 80
Turn left onto TX 31; Spur 63
Continue on US 259; TX 31
Keep slight right at fork onto US 259 Business; TX 31
Turn right onto TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Take the exit
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Turn left onto TX 31
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on TX 31
Continue on US 84
Continue on US 84
Turn straight onto US 84
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35; US 77
Continue on I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35
Continue on I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Take the exit
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
Continue on Navarro Street
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
Turn right onto West Travis Street
Turn left onto North Flores Street
Continue on Military Plaza
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
Arrive at destination
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 363.3-mile route, it is wise to depart early in the morning to ensure you reach San Antonio before fatigue sets in. Plan for at least one substantial stop to break up the nearly six-hour duration and allow for a quick mental reset. Because the drive relies on local roads rather than interstates, your navigation system may require more frequent checking than usual. Prioritize your fuel budget of $54 by keeping an eye on your tank, as you will not always have the convenience of frequent, large-scale highway service centers. Use the flexibility of this one-day itinerary to pull over safely if the local road traffic becomes more demanding than anticipated.
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.
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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.3 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Antonio, TX than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Longview, 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 Longview, TX
This is one driving day of about 344.6 miles and 6h 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 172.3 mi from Longview, TX · 3h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
172 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 172.3 miles from Longview, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$52.64 one way
$105.28 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $57.69 | $115.37 |
| premium | $4.59 | $62.29 | $124.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $76.56 | $153.12 |
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: 120.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.4 | 1 | $36.18 | $16.54 |
| Efficient EV | 86.2 | 0 | $30.15 | $13.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.8 | 1 | $48.24 | $22.05 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Longview on Sunday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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