Origin
Queen City, TX
Morning in Queen City on Thursday
Local time
10:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Queen City, TX to San Antonio, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
7h 34m
Distance
402.5 mi
648 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 25m
★
6 AM
7h 35m
8 AM
7h 55m
10 AM
7h 42m
12 PM
7h 40m
3 PM
7h 43m
5 PM
7h 54m
8 PM
7h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Queen City, TX
Arian Fernandez
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 402.5-mile journey from Queen City, TX to San Antonio, TX will take approximately 7 hours and 34 minutes of driving time. It's a manageable one-day trip, though you might consider an overnight stop if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $61. You'll primarily be on roads like the Purple Heart Trail, TX 155, and I-35, with a significant portion of your travel on highways. This route offers a straightforward connection between the Great Plains regions of East Texas and Central Texas, making it a practical choice for reaching your destination without extensive detours.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
201.2 miles from Queen City, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 34m. Total distance: 402.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 61% of the route utilizing major highways. While much of your time will be spent on faster roads, you'll encounter stretches on the Purple Heart Trail and TX 155. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 99.6 miles on the Purple Heart Trail, offering a sustained period of driving. The character of the drive transitions as you move from smaller highways to the broader expanse of I-35, providing a mix of driving experiences.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 57 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 is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Purple Heart Trail and TX 155. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 162.1 miles in near TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 402.5 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 162.1 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 320.9 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 394.3 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 33 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
162.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Turn left onto TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
320.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 2m 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
394.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 23m 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
400.7 mi into trip
|
~7h 31m 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
401.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 31m 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...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 99.6 mi | 1h 46m |
| TX 155 | 66.2 mi | 1h 15m |
| I 35 | 55.8 mi | 58m |
| State Highway 31 East | 30.9 mi | 35m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Queen City, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on FM 74
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Houston Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Loop 236
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Loop 236
3
Turn left onto US 59
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 59
4
Turn straight onto US 59
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Loop 59
5
Take the exit onto US 59
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 59
Toward US 59 South, TX 77 West: Marshall, Naples
6
Merge onto US 59; TX77
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
7
Continue on US 59; FM 2328
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 59; FM 2328
8
Turn right onto TX 155
40 mi
·
45 min
·
TX 155
9
Turn left onto US 271; TX 155
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Wood Street
10
Turn straight onto TX 155
13 mi
·
15 min
·
TX 155
11
Turn right onto US 80; TX 155
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto TX 155
13 mi
·
14 min
·
TX 155
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto US 271; TX 155
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US Highway 271
14
Turn right onto Loop 323
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Northeast Loop 323
15
Continue on Loop 323
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
West Northwest Loop 323
16
Continue on Loop 323
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Southwest Loop 323
17
Turn right onto TX 31
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Chandler Highway
18
Continue on TX 31
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 31 West
19
Continue on TX 31
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Highway 31
20
Continue on TX 31
21 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 31 East
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
22
Merge onto US 175; TX 19; TX 31; Loop 7
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Jed Robinson Loop
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
24
Keep slight left at fork
445 ft
·
14 sec
25
Turn right onto TX 31
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 31 West
26
Continue on TX 31
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Royall Boulevard
27
Continue on TX 31
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 31 East
28
Continue on TX 31
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
29
Turn left onto TX 31
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Corsicana Bypass
Use the straight lane.
30
At end of road, turn left onto TX 31
19 mi
·
21 min
·
West State Highway 31
31
Continue on TX 31
5.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Hubbard Bypass
32
Continue on TX 31
17 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 31
33
Continue on US 84
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East US Highway 84
34
Continue on US 84
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Bellmead Drive
35
Turn straight onto US 84
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Waco Drive
36
Turn left onto North Jack Kultgen Expressway
519 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
37
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 35 South, US 77 South
38
Merge onto I 35; US 77
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
North Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on I 35
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
56 mi
·
58 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35; US 290
50 mi
·
54 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Toward 32nd Street, Dean Keeton Street
Use the slight left lane.
42
Continue on I 35
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Continue on I 35
10.0 mi
·
11 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Use the slight left lane.
47
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 157A
Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
48
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
526 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
49
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
50
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
159 ft
·
3 sec
·
Navarro Street
51
Continue on Navarro Street
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
Navarro Street
52
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
53
Turn right onto West Travis Street
222 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Travis Street
54
Turn left onto North Flores Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Flores Street
55
Continue on Military Plaza
392 ft
·
15 sec
·
Military Plaza
56
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft
·
8 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
57
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Queen City to maximize daylight and allow for two planned stops. Given the 402.5 miles, a single day is feasible, but be mindful of the 99.6-mile stretch on Purple Heart Trail where services might be less frequent. Keep your fuel tank topped up, especially before heading into that longer segment. The $61 fuel estimate is a helpful guide for budgeting, and planning your two stops strategically will ensure you stay refreshed for the highway-focused portions, particularly on I-35 as you approach 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 201.2 miles from Queen City, TX, or about 3h 53m 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 89 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 201.2 miles or 3h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 25m
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 Queen City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Queen City, TX
This is one driving day of about 402.5 miles and 7h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Queen City, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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 201.2 mi from Queen City, TX · 3h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
201 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 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 201.2 miles from Queen City, 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.
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
$60.82 one way
$121.64 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
141 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $66.57 | $133.14 |
| premium | $4.54 | $71.86 | $143.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $88.87 | $177.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 120.8 | 1 | $42.26 | $19.32 |
| Efficient EV | 100.6 | 1 | $35.22 | $16.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 161 | 2 | $56.35 | $25.76 |
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 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.
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Morning in San Antonio on Thursday
Local time
10:59 AM
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
21 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
7h 34m 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 Queen City, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 402.5 miles and takes about 7h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, TX 155, I 35. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 201.2 miles from Queen City, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $60.82 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 33 significant decision points across 402.5 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 162.1 miles (TX 31 / Corsicana Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 320.9 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 394.3 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Queen City, TX to San Antonio, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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