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Trip from Pelican Bay, TX to San Antonio, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 55m

Distance

311.7 mi

502 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 42m ★
6 AM
4h 56m
8 AM
5h 23m
10 AM
5h 5m
12 PM
5h 3m
3 PM
5h 7m
5 PM
5h 21m
8 PM
4h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Pelican Bay, TX, TX

Pelican Bay, TX

Tori Pezzulla❤️

Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Pelican Bay, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 311.7 miles and takes about 4h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Long Circle, Long Boulevard, Sandy Beach Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.10 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

155.9 miles from Pelican Bay, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .

About the Cities

Arriving in San Antonio, TX

Full guide →

Founded 1718

San Antonio is the second largest city in the state of Texas and the 7th largest in the United States. It's the 24th largest metropolitan area in the country. Visited by more than 31 million annual visitors, San Antonio is a beautiful city at the axis of three different geological terrains: Hill Country, South Texas Plains and Prairie and Lakes. There's a lot to do in this city: fine art museums, historical missions and plenty of amusement parks in addition to great dining and lots of drinking. The culture and people are vibrant and interesting. San Antonio's downtown is one of the most lively in the nation.

Top landmarks

  • Alamo Mission in San Antonio — historic place in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
  • San Antonio Missions National Historical Park — historic district in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
  • Fort Sam Houston — military base in San Antonio, Texas

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 311.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 55m drive with frequent turns across 311.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Circle is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 55m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pelican Bay, TX to San Antonio, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Long Circle
Long Boulevard
Sandy Beach Road
Northwest Parkway
TX 199 East
Jacksboro Highway
Lake Worth Boulevard
North Henderson Street

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Long Circle — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pelican Bay, TX and San Antonio, TX.

1

Start on Sheila Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · Sheila Drive
2

At the end of the road, turn right onto Long Circle

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Long Circle
3

Turn right onto Long Boulevard

384 ft · 22 sec · Long Boulevard
4

Turn left onto Sandy Beach Road

1.4 mi · 5 min · Sandy Beach Road
5

Turn left

2.1 mi · 4 min
6

Turn left onto Northwest Parkway

443 ft · 9 sec · Northwest Parkway
7

Take the ramp slight left toward TX 199 East

0.2 mi · 24 sec · TX 199 East
8

Merge slight left onto Jacksboro Highway

8.7 mi · 9 min · Jacksboro Highway
9

Continue on Lake Worth Boulevard

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lake Worth Boulevard
10

Continue on Lake Worth Boulevard

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lake Worth Boulevard
11

Continue on Lake Worth Boulevard

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Lake Worth Boulevard
12

Continue on Jacksboro Highway

4.5 mi · 7 min · Jacksboro Highway
13

Continue on North Henderson Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Henderson Street
14

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Wind Roundabout

112 ft · 2 sec · Wind Roundabout
15

Exit the rotary onto North Henderson Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · North Henderson Street
16

Turn left onto West Lancaster Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Lancaster Avenue
17

Keep slight right to continue on East Lancaster Avenue

0.3 mi · 27 sec · East Lancaster Avenue
18

Turn right onto South Freeway

92 ft · 2 sec · South Freeway
19

Take the ramp straight toward I 35W South

0.1 mi · 16 sec · I 35W South
20

Merge slight left onto South Freeway

84 mi · 1 hr 26 min · South Freeway
21

Continue on North Jack Kultgen Expressway

6.6 mi · 7 min · North Jack Kultgen Expressway
22

Continue on Purple Heart Trail

38 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
23

Keep slight left

56 mi · 58 min
24

Keep slight left to continue on Purple Heart Trail

50 mi · 54 min · Purple Heart Trail
25

Continue on Interstate Highway 35

1.7 mi · 1 min · Interstate Highway 35
26

Continue on Purple Heart Trail

12 mi · 12 min · Purple Heart Trail
27

Continue on North Pan Am Expressway

10.0 mi · 11 min · North Pan Am Expressway
28

Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

6.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway
29

Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

0.6 mi · 41 sec · North Pan Am Expressway
30

Take the exit slight right toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
31

Turn straight onto East Elmira Street

525 ft · 17 sec · East Elmira Street
32

Turn left onto North Main Avenue

0.2 mi · 19 sec · North Main Avenue
33

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Navarro Street

161 ft · 3 sec · Navarro Street
34

Exit the roundabout onto Navarro Street

112 ft · 2 sec · Navarro Street
35

Keep slight right to continue on North Main Avenue

0.4 mi · 52 sec · North Main Avenue
36

Turn right onto West Travis Street

223 ft · 11 sec · West Travis Street
37

Turn left onto North Flores Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · North Flores Street
38

Continue on Military Plaza

390 ft · 16 sec · Military Plaza
39

Turn left onto Dolorosa Street

328 ft · 8 sec · Dolorosa Street
40

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 155.9 miles from Pelican Bay, TX, or about 2h 27m into the drive.

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 69 miles or 1h 5m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 155.9 miles or 2h 27m 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 2m

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 Pelican Bay, 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 Pelican Bay, TX

This is one driving day of about 311.7 miles and 4h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Pelican Bay, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 155.9 mi from Pelican Bay, TX · 2h 27m into the drive

city in Bell County, Texas

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Troy, TX

156 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.

Popular next leg

Troy, TX to San Antonio, TX

153.2 mi · 2h 49m

Pacing Suggestions

Burleson, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Troy, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 155.9 miles from Pelican Bay, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

$47.10 one way

$94.20 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 109 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $51.55 $103.11
premium $4.54 $55.65 $111.30
diesel $5.61 $68.82 $137.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 109.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 93.5 1 $32.73 $14.96
Efficient EV 77.9 0 $27.27 $12.47
EV Truck/SUV 124.7 1 $43.64 $19.95

Gas CO2

109 kg

EV CO2

36 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 16, 2026

Origin

Pelican Bay, TX

Morning in Pelican Bay on Saturday

Local time

9:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

San Antonio, TX

Morning in San Antonio on Saturday

Local time

9:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

60°F

Troy, TX

156 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

4 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 55m 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 Pelican Bay, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 311.7 miles and takes about 4h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Long Circle, Long Boulevard, Sandy Beach Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 155.9 miles from Pelican Bay, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.10 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 straightforward 4h 55m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pelican Bay, TX to San Antonio, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Pelican Bay, TX to San Antonio, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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