Origin
San Antonio, TX
Late night in San Antonio on Friday
Local time
12:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Antonio, TX to Manchaca, TX
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
70.4 mi
113 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Manchaca, TX
Vika Glitter
Trip Overview
The drive from San Antonio, TX to Manchaca, TX covers 70.4 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Purple Heart Trail, North Pan Am Expressway, South FM 1626 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.64 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 70.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from San Antonio, TX to Manchaca, TX covers 70.4 miles and takes about 1h 24m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 38 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.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35: Austin
6
59.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
FM 1626 / Kyle Parkway
Turn left onto FM 1626 / Kyle Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Trail | 38 mi | 40m |
| North Pan Am Expressway | 15.6 mi | 18m |
| South FM 1626 | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| North FM 1626 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Interstate Highway 35 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Interstate 35 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| William J Bordelon Freeway | 0.8 mi | <1m |
| East Market Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Trail
— 38 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Manchaca, 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
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 straight / slight right lanes.
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 straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 35
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Interstate Highway 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
15
Turn straight onto South Interstate 35
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Interstate 35
16
Turn left onto FM 1626
361 ft
·
8 sec
·
Kyle Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on FM 1626
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
South FM 1626
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on FM 1626
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North FM 1626
19
Turn left onto FM 2304
102 ft
·
2 sec
·
Menchaca Road
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
FM 2304
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.2 mi from San Antonio, TX · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.2 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Manchaca, TX
The final approach into Manchaca, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.64 one way
$21.28 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $11.64 | $23.29 |
| premium | $4.54 | $12.57 | $25.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.54 | $31.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.39 | $3.38 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.16 | $2.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.86 | $4.51 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Manchaca, TX
Late night in Manchaca on Friday
Local time
12:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
1h 24m 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 Manchaca, TX covers 70.4 miles and takes about 1h 24m 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, South FM 1626. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.2 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 $10.64 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.4 miles you will encounter 9 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 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 Manchaca, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
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