Origin
San Antonio, TX
Afternoon in San Antonio on Sunday
Local time
4:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Antonio, TX to Katy, TX
Drive Time
2h 53m
Distance
166.6 mi
268 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Katy, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from San Antonio to Katy, expect a journey covering 166.6 miles that typically takes about 2 hours and 53 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the distance is manageable without needing an overnight stop. Budget approximately $25 for fuel to cover the entire trek. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent geographical landscape throughout your travels. Navigating this route involves a heavy focus on local roads rather than major interstates, providing a different pace than typical highway driving. It is a straightforward, practical connection between the two points that keeps your travel time under three hours.
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
83.3 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive, as this route relies on streets like West Market, East Market, and East Commerce rather than standard interstate corridors. With a highway share of 0%, you should anticipate a journey defined by local traffic rather than the monotonous rhythm of high-speed lanes. The road requires more active attention behind the wheel due to the frequency of turns and local intersections. Because there is no extended highway stretch, your driving style will shift toward navigating urban and suburban road segments. Expect a consistent, hands-on driving experience from start to finish that prioritizes local connectivity over rapid transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 136.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and 90th Infantry Division Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 166.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (East Commerce Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (Interstate 10 East): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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.
6
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East Commerce Street
Keep slight left at fork onto East Commerce Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
4.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Interstate 10 East
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 East, US 90 East
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East
7
165.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward FM 1463
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 740
Toward FM 1463
Towns Along This Route
Between San Antonio, TX and Katy, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Waco.
Austin
28.8 mi in
|
~33m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Waco
28.8 mi in
|
~33m
|
via I 10; TX 130
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 136.4 mi | 2h 17m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 22.2 mi | 23m |
| East Commerce Street | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Jose Lopez Freeway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| FM 1463 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Market Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Highway Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 136.4 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Katy, 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
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Commerce Street
6
Keep slight left at fork onto East Commerce Street
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
East Commerce Street
Use the none lane.
7
Turn slight right onto East Houston Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Houston Street
Use the none lane.
8
Turn left onto Interstate 10 East
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Interstate 10 East
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 10 East, US 90 East
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10; US 90
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10; US 90
22 mi
·
23 min
·
90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the none / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 10; TX 130
136 mi
·
2 hr 17 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 740
Toward FM 1463
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto Katy Freeway Frontage Road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Katy Freeway Frontage Road
15
Turn left onto FM 1463
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
FM 1463
Use the none lane.
16
Turn right onto US 90
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Highway Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
US 90
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy drive, give yourself plenty of time to navigate local intersections rather than expecting to set your cruise control. Plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 166.6-mile journey to stretch your legs and break up the local driving segments. Because fuel costs are estimated at $25, you might consider filling up before you leave San Antonio to avoid searching for stations along the more localized sections of the route. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so monitor traffic patterns on your local roads before departing to ensure a smooth transition between cities. As a specific tip, keep your GPS active to help you manage the frequent turns on Market and Commerce streets without missing your navigation cues.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83.3 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.4 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 80 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.3 miles or 1h 28m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Katy, 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 166.6 miles and 2h 53m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 136.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.3 mi from San Antonio, TX · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
83 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.3 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 I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 136.4 miles.
Arriving in Katy, TX
The final approach into Katy, 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 Katy, TX.
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
$25.45 one way
$50.90 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $27.89 | $55.78 |
| premium | $4.59 | $30.11 | $60.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.01 | $74.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50 | 0 | $17.49 | $8.00 |
| Efficient EV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.58 | $6.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.6 | 0 | $23.32 | $10.66 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Katy, TX
Afternoon in Katy on Sunday
Local time
4:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
12 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
2h 53m 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 Katy, TX covers 166.6 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, 90th Infantry Division Highway, East Commerce Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.3 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 $25.45 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 166.6 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (East Commerce Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (Interstate 10 East): Lane positioning matters here.
Between San Antonio, TX and Katy, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Waco.
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