Origin
San Antonio, TX
Afternoon in San Antonio on Saturday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Antonio, TX to Valley Mills, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
182.9 mi
294 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Valley Mills, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from San Antonio, TX to Valley Mills, TX covers 182.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Market Street, East Market Street, East Commerce Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.64 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.4 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Market Street | — | — |
| East Market Street | — | — |
| East Commerce Street | — | — |
| US 281 North | — | — |
| William J Bordelon Freeway | — | — |
| I 35 North | — | — |
| North Pan Am Expressway | — | — |
| Purple Heart Trail | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Market Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Valley Mills, TX.
1
Start on Dolorosa Street
144 ft
·
5 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
2
Continue on West Market Street
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Market Street
3
Continue on East Market Street
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Market Street
4
Turn left
364 ft
·
13 sec
5
Turn straight onto East Commerce Street
217 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Commerce Street
6
Take the ramp sharp left toward US 281 North, I 37 North
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 281 North, I 37 North
7
Merge slight left onto William J Bordelon Freeway
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
William J Bordelon Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 North: Austin
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35 North: Austin
9
Merge slight left onto North Pan Am Expressway
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
10
Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
11
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
12
Continue on Interstate Highway 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
13
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
14
Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail
58 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
15
Take the exit slight right toward Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Central Avenue
16
Turn straight onto South I-35 Frontage Road
328 ft
·
9 sec
·
South I-35 Frontage Road
17
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Central Avenue
18
Turn right onto North Main Street
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North Main Street
19
Continue on State Highway 317
13 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 317
20
Continue on South Lone Star Parkway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lone Star Parkway
21
Continue on Avenue D
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Avenue D
22
Continue on State Highway 317
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 317
23
Continue on South Main Street
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
24
Continue on North Lone Star Parkway
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
North Lone Star Parkway
25
Continue on Avenue G
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Avenue G
26
Continue on North Lone Star Parkway
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
North Lone Star Parkway
27
Continue on South 7th Street
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
South 7th Street
28
Turn left onto Avenue C
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Avenue C
29
Turn right onto North 4th Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 4th Street
30
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 91.4 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 1h 46m 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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.4 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Valley Mills, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Antonio, 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 San Antonio, TX
This is one driving day of about 182.9 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from San Antonio, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 91.4 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.64 one way
$55.27 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $30.25 | $60.50 |
| premium | $4.54 | $32.66 | $65.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.38 | $80.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.9 | 0 | $19.20 | $8.78 |
| Efficient EV | 45.7 | 0 | $16.00 | $7.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.2 | 0 | $25.61 | $11.71 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Valley Mills, TX
Afternoon in Valley Mills on Saturday
Local time
3:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
17 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
3h 33m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
182.9 mi in 3h 33m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: West Market Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from San Antonio, TX to Valley Mills, TX is easy. At 3h 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Antonio, TX to Valley Mills, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
About the Cities
Starting 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 3h 33m. Total distance: 182.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Antonio, TX to Valley Mills, TX is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Valley Mills, TX, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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