Trip from San Antonio, TX to Amarillo, TX

Drive Time

8h 52m

Distance

506.9 mi

816 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$77

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Amarillo, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from San Antonio to Amarillo is a significant journey across Texas, covering 511.2 miles of the Great Plains. You should budget approximately 7 hours and 37 minutes of total drive time, making this a long-distance haul that is best tackled in a single, focused day. With an estimated fuel cost of $76, you will want to account for your vehicle's specific efficiency before heading out. While the trip remains within the same state and region, the scale of the drive demands careful planning. Expect to make at least two stops to keep yourself alert and comfortable throughout the trek. It is a straightforward route, but the sheer length means you should be prepared for a full day of travel.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

253.4 miles from San Antonio, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a unique experience as you depart San Antonio via city streets like West Market, Navarro, and San Pedro Avenue before transitioning to the open road. Because the route features 0% highway share according to the data, your drive will rely on a network of surface roads rather than the high-speed monotony of a major interstate. This structure changes the feel of the trip, requiring you to remain more engaged with navigation and road conditions. You will find that the journey lacks the typical long, uninterrupted interstate stretches, favoring a more localized driving experience. Prepare for a steady pace that keeps you focused on the road ahead as you traverse the expansive Texas landscape.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 45 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Marshall Formby Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 109.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 8h 52m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Navarro Street.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 506.9 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 0.2 miles (Navarro Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.7 miles (US 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 32 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Navarro Street

Turn left onto Navarro Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

16.1 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 10; US 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.

114.7 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | US 83

Take the exit onto US 83 toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 456 Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard

202.8 mi into trip | ~3h 32m in | US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue

Turn right onto US 67; US 83 / Hutchings Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

505.2 mi into trip | ~8h 48m in | US 87

Keep slight left at fork onto US 87 toward US 87 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward US 87 North

Towns Along This Route

Between San Antonio, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward Menard and Lubbock.

Menard

114.7 mi in | ~1h 58m | via US 83

Lubbock

268.3 mi in | ~4h 44m | via US 84

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Marshall Formby Memorial Highway	109.9 mi	1h 51m
I 10	98.7 mi	1h 37m
US 84	74.5 mi	1h 14m
Frisco Avenue	41.9 mi	44m
State Highway 153	29.5 mi	33m
North Main Street	29.3 mi	30m
Highway 84	20 mi	19m
Roberts Avenue	16.5 mi	18m

Longest stretch: Marshall Formby Memorial Highway — 109.9 mi, about 1h 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Dolorosa Street

143 ft · 4 sec · Dolorosa Street

Continue on West Market Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · West Market Street

Turn left onto Navarro Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Navarro Street

Use the none lane.

Enter roundabout onto San Pedro Avenue

85 ft · 1 sec · San Pedro Avenue

Continue on San Pedro Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · San Pedro Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto West Cypress Street

0.1 mi · 10 sec · West Cypress Street

Use the left lane.

Turn straight onto East Fredericksburg Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Fredericksburg Road

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto Interstate 10 West

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Interstate 10 West

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 13 sec

Toward I 10 West, US 87 North

Merge onto I 10; US 87

13 mi · 14 min · McDermott Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87

99 mi · 1 hr 37 min · I 10; US 87

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.

Take the exit onto US 83

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 83

Exit 456 Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard

Turn right onto US 83; US 377

29 mi · 30 min · North Main Street

Use the right lane.

Continue on US 83

42 mi · 44 min · Frisco Avenue

Continue on US 83

17 mi · 18 min · Roberts Avenue

Turn right onto US 67; US 83

387 ft · 18 sec · Hutchings Avenue

Use the right lane.

Turn left onto TX 158

6.3 mi · 7 min · North Broadway Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto FM 2111

12 mi · 13 min · FM 2111

Turn left onto TX 153

29 mi · 33 min · State Highway 153

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 153

19 ft · 0 sec · State Highway 153

Turn right onto TX 70

10 mi · 10 min · State Highway 70

Continue on TX 70

0.8 mi · 1 min · Lamar Street

Turn left onto Northwest Georgia Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Northwest Georgia Avenue

Take the ramp

340 ft · 8 sec

Toward I 20 West: Midland

Merge onto I 20; US 84

6.0 mi · 5 min · I 20; US 84

Take the exit onto US 84

0.3 mi · 19 sec · US 84

Exit 238A Toward US 84 West: Snyder, Lubbock

Keep slight left at fork onto US 84

74 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 84

Turn right onto Loop 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Avenue F

Keep slight left at fork onto TX 207

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Avenue F

Turn straight onto TX 207

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Ralls Road

Turn left onto Spur 575

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 15th Street

Turn right onto US 84

1.0 mi · 1 min · North US Highway 84

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 84

20 mi · 19 min · Highway 84

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 84

4.6 mi · 4 min · Trooper Jerry Don Davis Memorial Highway

Continue on US 84

6.8 mi · 6 min · East Highway 84

Continue on US 84

4.5 mi · 5 min · Slaton Road

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Turn slight right onto Interstate 27

321 ft · 6 sec · Interstate 27

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Merge onto I 27; US 87

110 mi · 1 hr 51 min · Marshall Formby Memorial Highway

Continue on I 27; US 60; US 87

13 mi · 15 min · Canyon Expressway

Use the none / straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 87

0.9 mi · 2 min · US 87

Toward US 87 North Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 87; Original US Route 66

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Fillmore Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60

105 ft · 1 sec · East Amarillo Boulevard

Arrive at destination

I 40 Business; Original US Route 66; US 60

Trip Plan

To manage this 511.2-mile trek effectively, aim for an early morning departure to ensure you reach Amarillo before nightfall. Since the route requires a significant time commitment, plan your two scheduled stops strategically to break up the monotony of the surface roads. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $76 estimate may fluctuate depending on your vehicle's performance and local pump prices. Given the nature of these local roads, staying alert at intersections and changing speed limits is essential. A great tip for this specific route is to double-check your navigation settings before leaving San Antonio, as the reliance on surface streets rather than highways means you will encounter more turns and road transitions than a standard interstate drive.

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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 253.4 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 4h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.9 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 112 miles or 1h 55m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 253.4 miles or 4h 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 253.4 miles or 4h 29m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amarillo, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Antonio, TX

Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Amarillo, TX

Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from San Antonio, TX.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Marshall Formby Memorial Highway for about 109.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 253.4 mi from San Antonio, TX · 4h 29m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Kerrville, TX

167 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Post, TX

335 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Post, TX

Overnight Options

Night 1

Sweetwater, TX

253 mi · about 4.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Sweetwater, TX after about 253 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Kerrville, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sweetwater, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 253.4 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Marshall Formby Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 253 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.

Arriving in Amarillo, TX

The final approach into Amarillo, 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 Amarillo, TX.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Amarillo, TX with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$77.43 one way

$154.86 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 177 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$84.86	$169.71
premium	$4.59	$91.62	$183.24
diesel	$5.64	$112.62	$225.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$77

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$207–$317

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 177.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	152.1	1	$53.22	$24.33
Efficient EV	126.7	1	$44.35	$20.28
EV Truck/SUV	202.8	2	$70.97	$32.44

Gas CO2

177 kg

EV CO2

59 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

San Antonio, TX

Afternoon in San Antonio on Sunday

Local time

2:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Amarillo, TX

Afternoon in Amarillo on Sunday

Local time

2:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

35 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

8h 52m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from San Antonio, TX to Amarillo, TX covers 506.9 miles and takes about 8h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Marshall Formby Memorial Highway, I 10, US 84. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 253 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 253.4 miles from San Antonio, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $77.43 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.

Between San Antonio, TX and Amarillo, TX, road signs point toward Menard and Lubbock.

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Trip from San Antonio, TX to Amarillo, TX

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Amarillo, TX

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

San Antonio, TX

Amarillo, TX

Same local time

35 degrees cooler at arrival

8h 52m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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