The drive from San Antonio, TX to Van Horn, TX covers 431.2 miles and takes about 6h 55m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 10, McDermott Freeway, East Fredericksburg Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 414.1 miles on I 10.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $65.16 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
215.6 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 30m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 55m. Total distance: 431.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 6h 55m highway drive covering 431.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and McDermott Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 414.1 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 16 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 414.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and McDermott Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Navarro Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 55m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Navarro Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (West Cypress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Navarro Street
Turn left onto Navarro Street
Navigation decision point
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
5
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in|I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 87 / McDermott Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
414.1 mi
6h 32m
McDermott Freeway
12.8 mi
14m
East Fredericksburg Road
1.2 mi
2m
Navarro Street
0.8 mi
1m
East Broadway Street
0.6 mi
1m
San Pedro Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
West Market Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Ross Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 414.1 mi, about 6h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Van Horn, 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
414 mi·6 hr 32 min·I 10; US 87
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 10 Business
13
Turn right onto I 10 Bus
0.2 mi·19 sec·Ross Drive
14
Continue on I 10 Bus
0.6 mi·1 min·East Broadway Street
15
Turn right onto TX 54
156 ft·2 sec·La Caverna Street
16
Arrive at destination
TX 54
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 215.6 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 414.1 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 95 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 215.6 miles or 3h 30m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Van Horn, 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 431.2 miles and 6h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 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 414.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 215.6 mi from San Antonio, TX
· 3h 30m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
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 44.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.16 one way
$130.31 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg151 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$71.32
$142.64
premium
$4.54
$76.99
$153.98
diesel
$5.61
$95.20
$190.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 150.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
129.4
1
$45.28
$20.70
Efficient EV
107.8
1
$37.73
$17.25
EV Truck/SUV
172.5
2
$60.37
$27.60
Gas CO2
151 kg
EV CO2
50 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
San Antonio, TX
Afternoon
in San Antonio on Friday
Local time
3:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Van Horn, TX
Afternoon
in Van Horn on Friday
Local time
3:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Patchy Blowing Dust
W 15 mph0% chanceLive 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
4 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
6h 55m 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 Van Horn, TX covers 431.2 miles and takes about 6h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, McDermott Freeway, East Fredericksburg Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 215.6 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 $65.16 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 55m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 9 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Navarro Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (West Cypress Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from San Antonio, TX to Van Horn, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
