The drive from San Antonio, TX to Buffalo, TX covers 195.6 miles and takes about 3h 59m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North US Highway 87, US 283, I 10 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53 miles on North US Highway 87.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.56 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
97.8 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 195.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 59m highway drive covering 195.6 miles, with most of the trip on North US Highway 87 and US 283. The longest continuous stretch is about 53 miles on North US Highway 87.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North US Highway 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 53 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North US Highway 87 and US 283. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near West Cypress Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 195.6 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 1.6 miles (West Cypress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|West Cypress Street
Turn left onto West Cypress Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.1 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West, US 87 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North
5
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in|I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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 lanes.
6
47.8 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward US 87 North: Fredericksburg, San Angelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 523
Toward US 87 North: Fredericksburg, San Angelo
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from San Antonio, TX to Buffalo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward San Angelo along the way.
San Angelo
47.8 mi in|~53m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North US Highway 87
53 mi
59m
US 283
40.5 mi
46m
I 10
31.7 mi
32m
US Highway 87
20.1 mi
22m
United States Highway 87
17.8 mi
20m
McDermott Freeway
12.8 mi
14m
Wallis Avenue
5.5 mi
6m
County Road 108
2.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
North US Highway 87
— 53 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Buffalo, TX.
1
Start on Dolorosa Street
143 ft·4 sec·Dolorosa Street
2
Continue on West Market Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·West Market Street
3
Turn left onto Navarro Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Navarro Street
4
Enter roundabout onto San Pedro Avenue
85 ft·1 sec·San Pedro Avenue
5
Continue on San Pedro Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·San Pedro Avenue
6
Turn left onto West Cypress Street
0.1 mi·10 sec·West Cypress Street
Use the left lane.
7
Turn straight onto East Fredericksburg Road
1.2 mi·2 min·East Fredericksburg Road
8
Turn right onto Interstate 10 West
0.1 mi·13 sec·Interstate 10 West
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward I 10 West, US 87 North
10
Merge onto I 10; US 87
13 mi·14 min·McDermott Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10; US 87
32 mi·32 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 523Toward US 87 North: Fredericksburg, San Angelo
13
Turn right onto US 87
20 mi·22 min·US Highway 87
14
Continue on US 87
1.1 mi·2 min·South Washington Street
15
Turn left onto US 87; US 290
1.5 mi·3 min·East Main Street
16
Take the exit onto US 87
0.1 mi·10 sec·North US Highway 87
17
Merge onto US 87
40 mi·44 min·North US Highway 87
18
Continue on US 87
1.1 mi·1 min·San Antonio Street
19
Turn left onto US 87; TX 29
0.9 mi·1 min·Fort McKavitt Street
20
Continue on US 87; TX 29
13 mi·15 min·North US Highway 87
21
Continue on US 87; US 377
15 mi·16 min·United States Highway 87; United States Highway 377
22
At end of road, turn left onto US 87; US 190; US 377
0.3 mi·19 sec·Commerce Street
23
Turn straight onto US 87
3.3 mi·3 min·United States Highway 87
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
25
Merge onto US 283
40 mi·46 min·US 283
26
Turn right onto US 67; US 84
5.5 mi·6 min·Wallis Avenue
27
Turn left onto County Road 102
1.1 mi·4 min·County Road 102
28
Turn left
287 ft·12 sec
29
Turn slight right
421 ft·20 sec
30
Turn left
0.1 mi·28 sec
31
Turn right
0.8 mi·3 min
32
Turn right
118 ft·5 sec
33
Turn left onto County Road 102
1.1 mi·4 min·County Road 102
34
Turn right onto County Road 108
1.1 mi·4 min·County Road 108
35
Continue on County Road 108
1.3 mi·4 min·County Road 108
36
Arrive at destination
County Road 108
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 97.8 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53 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 43 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.8 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo, 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 195.6 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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.
The longest stretch is on North US Highway 87 for about 53 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 97.8 mi from San Antonio, TX
· 1h 52m into the drive
The midpoint is around 97.8 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Buffalo, TX
The final approach into Buffalo, 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 Buffalo, TX.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to San Antonio Missions, a National Park Service site and the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas. Each mission in the park is a center of community and has been since the early 1700s. Th...
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park tells the story of our 36th president beginning with his ancestors until his final resting place on his beloved LBJ Ranch. This entire "circle of life" gives...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 67.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.56 one way
$59.11 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$32.35
$64.70
premium
$4.54
$34.92
$69.85
diesel
$5.61
$43.19
$86.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.7
0
$20.54
$9.39
Efficient EV
48.9
0
$17.12
$7.82
EV Truck/SUV
78.2
0
$27.38
$12.52
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Night
in San Antonio on Thursday
Local time
10:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Buffalo, TX
Night
in Buffalo on Thursday
Local time
10:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Fredericksburg, TX
98 mi in
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
33 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 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Buffalo, TX covers 195.6 miles and takes about 3h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North US Highway 87, US 283, I 10. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.8 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 $29.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 195.6 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 1.6 miles (West Cypress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from San Antonio, TX to Buffalo, TX, road signs begin pointing toward San Angelo along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park.
