Origin
San Antonio, TX
Afternoon in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Antonio, TX to Buda, TX
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
66.2 mi
107 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Buda, TX
Thomas balabaud
Trip Overview
Traveling from San Antonio to Buda covers a modest 66.2 miles, typically taking about 1 hour and 17 minutes. Because this is a short trip within the Great Plains region, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via local streets like West Market, East Market, and East Commerce, keeping your fuel costs to a manageable $10. Given the straightforward nature of the journey, you don't need to worry about complex logistics or multi-day planning. This drive serves as an efficient connection between the two Texas locations, offering a practical alternative to major interstates.
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
33.1 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will be navigating city streets for the duration of the 66.2-mile journey, which keeps the pace consistent and interactive. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of open road, you should stay alert to the frequent turns and urban transitions. The personality of this drive is defined by its local character, requiring your full attention as you transition between the market streets of San Antonio toward Buda. It is a hands-on driving experience that avoids the monotony of a typical highway grind.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 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 43.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 66.2 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 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 281 North, I 37 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 281 North, I 37 North
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Austin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142A
Toward I 35 North: Austin
7
10.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35: Austin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Austin
8
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward FM 2001: Niederwald, Buda
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 220
Toward FM 2001: Niederwald, Buda
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 43.1 mi | 46m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 15.6 mi | 18m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Interstate 35 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| William J Bordelon Freeway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| Cabelas Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Market Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 43.1 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Buda, TX.
1
Start on Dolorosa Street
143 ft
·
4 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
·
45 sec
·
East Market Street
Use the none lane.
4
Turn left
363 ft
·
13 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Turn straight onto East Commerce Street
216 ft
·
12 sec
·
East Commerce Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 281 North, I 37 North
7
Merge onto I 37; US 281
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
William J Bordelon Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 142A
Toward I 35 North: Austin
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 35
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the none lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto North Pan Am Expressway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35: Austin
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
31 mi
·
33 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the none lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 220
Toward FM 2001: Niederwald, Buda
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto South Interstate 35
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Interstate 35
16
Turn left onto FM 2001
324 ft
·
8 sec
·
FM 2001
17
Continue on Cabelas Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Cabelas Drive
18
At end of road, turn left onto North Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
Use the none lane.
19
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With no scheduled stops required for a drive of only 1 hour and 17 minutes, you can easily complete the trip in one go without the need for extended breaks. Budgeting approximately $10 for fuel will cover your transit comfortably, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is topped off before navigating the turn-heavy local streets. Pay close attention to street signage as you exit San Antonio, as the reliance on local roads like East Commerce Street requires more navigational awareness than a standard highway route. Use the drive's brevity to your advantage by choosing a departure time that avoids local peak traffic hours.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.1 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.1 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 66.2 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.1 miles or 39m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buda, 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 66.2 miles and 1h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from San Antonio, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Trail for about 43.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.1 mi from San Antonio, TX · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 66.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.1 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Buda, TX
The final approach into Buda, 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 Buda, 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
$10.11 one way
$20.22 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $11.08 | $22.16 |
| premium | $4.59 | $11.97 | $23.93 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $14.71 | $29.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.95 | $3.18 |
| Efficient EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.79 | $2.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.27 | $4.24 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Buda, TX
Afternoon in Buda on Sunday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 17m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from San Antonio, TX to Buda, TX covers 66.2 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, North Pan Am Expressway, Interstate Highway 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.1 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 $10.11 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 66.2 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 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from San Antonio, TX to Buda, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Buda, TX
More trips to Buda, TX
Explore more options from San Antonio, TX or browse trips ending in Buda, TX.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.
Explore maps for San Antonio, TX or Buda, TX on MapSof.net.