Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from San Antonio, TX to Paducah, TX

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

7h 15m

Distance

381.3 mi

614 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$58

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
7h 5m ★
6 AM
7h 16m
8 AM
7h 37m
10 AM
7h 23m
12 PM
7h 21m
3 PM
7h 24m
5 PM
7h 36m
8 PM
7h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

town in and county seat of Cottle County, Texas, United States

Paducah, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 381.3-mile journey from San Antonio, TX, to Paducah, TX, is designed for a single day of driving, taking approximately 7 hours and 15 minutes. Primarily a highway-focused experience, you'll spend about 76% of your time on major roads, including US 83 and I-10, before transitioning to Frisco Avenue. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is $58. Given its duration and distance, it's a manageable, albeit long, day trip, traversing the Great Plains region throughout. This route offers a straightforward path for those looking to cover ground efficiently within Texas.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

190.7 miles from San Antonio, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 19m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 15m. Total distance: 381.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with 76% of the mileage spent on major thoroughfares like US 83 and I-10. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of driving, 176.5 miles, along US 83. While the majority of the trip involves higher speeds, the transition to Frisco Avenue near the end suggests a slight shift in road character. This route is less about winding scenic byways and more about covering distance effectively on established roadways.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 83 is the longest continuous segment at about 176.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 83 and I 10. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near West Cypress Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 381.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.6 miles (West Cypress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 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
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
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
6
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.

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 Paducah, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Menard along the way.

Menard

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 83 176.5 mi 3h 40m
I 10 98.7 mi 1h 37m
Frisco Avenue 41.9 mi 44m
North Main Street 29.3 mi 30m
Roberts Avenue 16.5 mi 18m
McDermott Freeway 12.8 mi 14m
Commercial Avenue 1.4 mi 1m
East Fredericksburg Road 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 83 — 176.5 mi, about 3h 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

99 mi · 1 hr 37 min · I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12

Take the exit onto US 83

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 83
Exit 456 Toward US 83 North, US 377: Junction, Menard
13

Turn right onto US 83; US 377

29 mi · 30 min · North Main Street
Use the right lane.
14

Continue on US 83

42 mi · 44 min · Frisco Avenue
15

Continue on US 83

17 mi · 18 min · Roberts Avenue
16

Turn right onto US 67; US 83

0.9 mi · 1 min · Hutchings Avenue
Use the right lane.
17

Turn straight onto US 83

79 mi · 1 hr 27 min · US 83
Toward US 83 North
18

Turn slight right onto US 83; US 277

0.1 mi · 7 sec · East Court Plaza
19

Continue on US 83; US 277

1.4 mi · 1 min · Commercial Avenue
20

Take the exit onto US 83

38 mi · 56 min · US 83
21

Keep slight right at fork onto US 83

60 mi · 1 hr 16 min · US 83
22

Arrive at destination

US 83

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 7-hour, 15-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from San Antonio to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With two planned stops, you can break up the 381.3 miles into manageable segments. The longest stretch of 176.5 miles on US 83 means you'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that section. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the latter half of the drive, to avoid any unnecessary delays.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 190.7 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.5 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 84 miles or 1h 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 190.7 miles or 3h 19m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 58m

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Antonio, TX

This is one driving day of about 381.3 miles and 7h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from San Antonio, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 83 for about 176.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 190.7 mi from San Antonio, TX · 3h 19m into the drive

Downtown Live Oak, TX, TX

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Live Oak, TX

191 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

Kerrville, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Eden, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 190.7 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 US 83 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 176.5 miles.

Arriving in Paducah, TX

The final approach into Paducah, 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 Paducah, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

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...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park

National Historical Park

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...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour Free near mile 52.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$57.62 one way

$115.23 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 133 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $63.06 $126.13
premium $4.54 $68.08 $136.16
diesel $5.61 $84.19 $168.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$58

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$83–$108

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 133.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 114.4 1 $40.04 $18.30
Efficient EV 95.3 1 $33.36 $15.25
EV Truck/SUV 152.5 1 $53.38 $24.40

Gas CO2

133 kg

EV CO2

45 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

San Antonio, TX

Late night in San Antonio on Friday

Local time

1:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Paducah, TX

Late night in Paducah on Friday

Local time

1:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

84°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

7 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

7h 15m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Paducah, TX covers 381.3 miles and takes about 7h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 83, I 10, Frisco Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 190.7 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 $57.62 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 381.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 1.6 miles (West Cypress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles (I 10; US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from San Antonio, TX to Paducah, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Menard along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Paducah, TX to San Antonio, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

381.2 mi 7h 14m

Continue From Paducah, TX

Houston, TX 496.6 mi · 9h 16m Rhode Island, TX 340.1 mi · 6h 31m Austin, TX 339.4 mi · 5h 40m

More from San Antonio, TX

Spearman, TX 613.3 mi · 10h 43m Gruver, TX 610.6 mi · 10h 42m El Paso, TX 552.1 mi · 8h 56m Amarillo, TX 506.9 mi · 8h 52m Hereford, TX 485.7 mi · 8h 42m Farwell, TX 475.3 mi · 8h 19m

More trips to Paducah, TX

Houston, TX 496.5 mi El Paso, TX 455.7 mi Austin, TX 344.6 mi Rhode Island, TX 340 mi
Overnight trips from San Antonio, TX Scenic drives in TX

Explore more options from San Antonio, TX or browse trips ending in Paducah, TX.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TX road trips.