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Trip from San Antonio, TX to University Park, TX

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h

Distance

278.7 mi

449 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 47m ★
6 AM
5h 1m
8 AM
5h 28m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 8m
3 PM
5h 12m
5 PM
5h 27m
8 PM
4h 53m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown San Antonio, TX, TX

San Antonio, TX

Wikimedia Commons

city in Dallas County, Texas, United States

University Park, TX

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from San Antonio, TX to University Park, TX covers 278.7 miles and takes about 5h 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, I 35E, North Pan Am Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 188.3 miles on Purple Heart Trail. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.11 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

139.4 miles from San Antonio, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 278.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from San Antonio, TX to University Park, TX covers 278.7 miles and takes about 5h, 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 25 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 188.3 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 0.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 15 significant decision points across 278.7 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 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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
7
214.9 mi into trip | ~3h 51m in | I 35E

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E toward I 35E: Dallas

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 35E: Dallas
7
274.2 mi into trip | ~4h 53m in

Take the exit toward Oak Lawn Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 430A Toward Oak Lawn Avenue

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Purple Heart Trail 188.3 mi 3h 18m
I 35E 59.2 mi 1h 2m
North Pan Am Expressway 15.6 mi 18m
South Jack Kultgen Expressway 6.6 mi 7m
Dallas North Tollway 3.1 mi 3m
Interstate Highway 35 1.9 mi 2m
William J Bordelon Freeway 0.8 mi <1m
Lovers Lane 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Purple Heart Trail — 188.3 mi, about 3h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

48 mi · 52 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35; US 290

96 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on I 35

6.6 mi · 7 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 35; US 77

33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35E

59 mi · 1 hr 2 min · I 35E
Toward I 35E: Dallas Use the slight right lane.
18

Take the exit

411 ft · 7 sec
Exit 430A Toward Oak Lawn Avenue Use the slight right lane.
19

Keep slight right at fork

468 ft · 9 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Turn right onto Oak Lawn Avenue

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Oak Lawn Avenue
21

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward DNT North
22

Merge onto DNT

3.1 mi · 3 min · Dallas North Tollway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 21 sec
Toward Lovers Lane Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Turn right onto Lovers Lane

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lovers Lane
Use the straight lane.
25

Arrive at destination

Lovers Lane

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 139.4 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.3 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 61 miles or 1h 9m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 139.4 miles or 2h 32m 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 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near University Park, 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 278.7 miles and 5h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 Purple Heart Trail for about 188.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 139.4 mi from San Antonio, TX · 2h 32m into the drive

city in Bell County, Texas, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Temple, TX

139 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

Kyle, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Temple, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.4 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 Purple Heart Trail if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 188.3 miles.

Arriving in University Park, TX

The final approach into University Park, 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 University Park, 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.

Waco Mammoth National Monument

Waco Mammoth National Monument

National Monument

Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation's first and...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 182.6
View on nps.gov
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

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.11 one way

$84.22 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.20 $46.10 $92.19
premium $4.54 $49.76 $99.52
diesel $5.61 $61.53 $123.07

Estimated Tolls: $0.24

Dallas North Tollway (3.1 mi) $0.24

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 83.6 1 $29.26 $13.38
Efficient EV 69.7 0 $24.39 $11.15
EV Truck/SUV 111.5 1 $39.02 $17.84

Gas CO2

98 kg

EV CO2

33 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 Friday

Local time

1:56 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

University Park, TX

Afternoon in University Park on Friday

Local time

1:56 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°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

17 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

5h on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 University Park, TX covers 278.7 miles and takes about 5h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Purple Heart Trail, I 35E, North Pan Am Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 139.4 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 $42.11 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 278.7 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 0.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles (North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from San Antonio, TX to University Park, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Waco Mammoth National Monument and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

University Park, TX to San Antonio, TX

Plan the drive back the other way.

278.7 mi 5h

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