Origin
San Antonio, TX
Afternoon in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
3:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
2h 16m
Distance
125.1 mi
201 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
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.
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Alice, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Traveling from San Antonio to Alice covers 125.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel. Because this route stays entirely within the Great Plains region of Texas, you won't experience significant changes in terrain or climate. This trip is best suited as a straightforward day trip, as the duration is manageable for a single outing without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $19 for fuel to complete the journey. Since there are no mandatory stops included in this route, you have the flexibility to plan your own pace. It is a practical, direct connection between these two South Texas locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.6 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway travel. You will navigate through city streets including West Market Street, East Market Street, and Tower of the Americas Way to begin your departure. Because the path relies on local roads, you should stay alert for frequent turns and changing traffic conditions. The lack of high-speed highway stretches means you will experience a more granular, hands-on driving experience throughout the entire 125.1-mile journey. Be prepared to focus on local navigation from start to finish.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Lucian Adams Freeway and South Nueces Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Tower of the Americas Way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 16m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Tower of the Americas Way): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.2 miles (I 37; US 281 / William J Bordelon Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 37 South, US 281 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 37; US 281 / William J Bordelon Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 281 South toward US 281 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto East 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lucian Adams Freeway | 66.8 mi | 1h 8m |
| South Nueces Street | 36.1 mi | 36m |
| US 281 South | 15.2 mi | 19m |
| US 281 Business | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| William J Bordelon Freeway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| West 3rd Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Market Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Alice, TX.
Start on Dolorosa Street
Continue on West Market Street
Continue on East Market Street
Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 37; US 281
Continue on I 37; US 281
Take the exit onto US 281 South
Keep slight left at fork onto US 281
Take the exit
Continue on US 281 Business
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
Turn right onto North Cameron Street
Turn left onto East 2nd Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 2 hour and 16 minute drive time, departing in the morning will give you plenty of flexibility to reach your destination before lunch. Since you aren't tied to a specific highway schedule, feel free to build in your own rest breaks whenever you need to stretch your legs. Keep that $19 fuel budget in mind when you head out, and ensure your tank is ready for the local road conditions. Because this is a turn-heavy route, double-check your GPS settings before leaving San Antonio to ensure you are comfortable with the local road directions. Prioritizing a steady pace will make the 125.1-mile trip feel much more manageable.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.6 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alice, TX than in the middle of the route.
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 125.1 miles and 2h 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.6 mi from San Antonio, TX · 1h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 62.6 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Lucian Adams Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.8 miles.
The final approach into Alice, 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 Alice, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$19.11 one way
$38.22 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $20.94 | $41.88 |
| premium | $4.59 | $22.61 | $45.22 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.79 | $55.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.14 | $6.00 |
| Efficient EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.95 | $5.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50 | 0 | $17.51 | $8.01 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
3:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Alice on Sunday
Local time
3:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
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.
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