The drive from San Antonio, TX to Sam Rayburn, TX covers 340.5 miles and takes about 6h 8m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, West Grand Parkway North, US Highway 190 West for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 139.6 miles on I 10.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.45 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
170.2 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 8m. Total distance: 340.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 8m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 8m highway drive covering 340.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and West Grand Parkway North. The longest continuous stretch is about 139.6 miles on I 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 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 139.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and West Grand Parkway North. 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 Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 340.5 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 4.6 miles (Interstate 10 East): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These 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
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
8
168.5 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Take the exit toward TX 99 Toll North, TX 99 South: Grand Parkway
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 743B
Toward TX 99 Toll North, TX 99 South: Grand Par...
7
168.9 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 99 Toll North: Grand Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward TX 99 Toll North: Grand Parkway
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between San Antonio, TX and Sam Rayburn, 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
139.6 mi
2h 20m
West Grand Parkway North
51.5 mi
55m
US Highway 190 West
34.7 mi
39m
I-69
30.8 mi
32m
East Church Street
24.8 mi
27m
90th Infantry Division Highway
22.2 mi
23m
Eastex Freeway
11 mi
12m
North Wheeler Street
8.1 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 139.6 mi, about 2h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Sam Rayburn, 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
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
7
Turn slight right onto East Houston Street
0.3 mi·30 sec·East Houston Street
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 EastUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10; US 90
1.8 mi·2 min·Jose Lopez Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 10; US 90
22 mi·23 min·90th Infantry Division Highway
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on I 10; TX 130
140 mi·2 hr 20 min·I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, WacoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Exit 743BToward TX 99 Toll North, TX 99 South: Grand ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward TX 99 Toll North: Grand ParkwayUse the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward TX 99 Toll North
16
Merge onto TX 99 Toll
52 mi·55 min·West Grand Parkway North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 69 North: ClevelandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on TX 99 Toll
0.8 mi·1 min·TX 99 Toll
19
Merge onto I 69; US 59
11 mi·12 min·Eastex Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 69; US 59
0.7 mi·44 sec·I 69; US 59
21
Continue on I-69; US 59
31 mi·32 min·I-69; US 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
23
Continue on US 59 Business
1.3 mi·1 min·Pan American Drive
24
Continue on US 59 Business
0.6 mi·58 sec·South Washington Avenue
25
Turn right onto US 190
25 mi·27 min·East Church Street
26
Continue on US 190
35 mi·39 min·US Highway 190 West
27
Turn left onto South Main Street
2.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
28
Merge onto US 96
8.1 mi·8 min·North Wheeler Street
29
Turn left onto RE 255
3.3 mi·4 min·Sam Rayburn Parkway
Use the left lane.
30
Turn right onto FM 1007
214 ft·5 sec·FM 1007
31
Arrive at destination
FM 1007
Trip Plan
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170.2 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.6 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 75 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.2 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sam Rayburn, 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 340.5 miles and 6h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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 139.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 170.2 mi from San Antonio, TX
· 2h 57m into the drive
The midpoint is around 170.2 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 I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 139.6 miles.
Arriving in Sam Rayburn, TX
The final approach into Sam Rayburn, 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 Sam Rayburn, 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
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.45 one way
$102.90 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$56.32
$112.63
premium
$4.54
$60.79
$121.59
diesel
$5.61
$75.18
$150.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.1
1
$35.75
$16.34
Efficient EV
85.1
0
$29.79
$13.62
EV Truck/SUV
136.2
1
$47.67
$21.79
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 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
Afternoon
in San Antonio on Thursday
Local time
4:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sam Rayburn, TX
Afternoon
in Sam Rayburn on Thursday
Local time
4:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
13 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
6h 8m 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 Sam Rayburn, TX covers 340.5 miles and takes about 6h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, West Grand Parkway North, US Highway 190 West. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 170.2 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 $51.45 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 340.5 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 4.6 miles (Interstate 10 East): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between San Antonio, TX and Sam Rayburn, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Waco.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
