Origin
San Antonio, TX
Night in San Antonio on Wednesday
Local time
9:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Antonio, TX to Waelder, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
77.4 mi
125 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
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
Waelder, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are heading out from San Antonio, TX, to Waelder, TX, you are looking at a compact 77.4-mile journey across the Great Plains. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 24 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $12 for fuel covers the trip comfortably. Since the entire route stays within the state of Texas and the same geographic region, the transition between these two points is seamless. Whether you are running errands or just getting out of the city, this route offers a straightforward, manageable drive that fits easily into a single afternoon or morning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from San Antonio, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate grind. With 0% of the route designated as highway, you will be navigating local roads for the entirety of the 77.4-mile trek. This lack of highway travel means you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience compared to a standard freeway sprint. The road’s personality is defined by these frequent curves and local connections, keeping you engaged from start to finish. Because there are no designated long, uninterrupted stretches, you will find the pace remains steady but requires constant adjustment as you move across the plains.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 46.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and 90th Infantry Division Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 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 10 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.
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
5
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 10; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway
Merge onto I 10; US 90 / Jose Lopez Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
75.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TX 97: Waelder
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward TX 97: Waelder
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 Waelder, 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 | 46.2 mi | 46m |
| 90th Infantry Division Highway | 22.2 mi | 23m |
| East Commerce Street | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| TX 97 | 2 mi | 3m |
| Jose Lopez Freeway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East Market Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Market Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Houston Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 46.2 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio, TX and Waelder, 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 East
Use 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
46 mi
·
46 min
·
I 10; TX 130
Toward I 10 East: Houston, Austin, Waco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward TX 97: Waelder
14
Keep slight left at fork
187 ft
·
4 sec
Toward TX 97: Waelder
15
Continue on Interstate 10 Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Interstate 10 Frontage Road
16
Turn left onto TX 97
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
TX 97
17
Turn left onto Northwest 2nd Street
86 ft
·
3 sec
·
Northwest 2nd Street
18
Arrive at destination
Northwest 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of total flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning complex stops, as the 1 hour and 24 minute duration is short enough to drive in one go without a designated rest break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave San Antonio, as the $12 estimate is based on typical consumption for a drive of this length. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, try to avoid making this drive during heavy rain or late at night when visibility on local roads is reduced. Enjoy the freedom of a quick, direct trip that gets you to your destination without the need for extensive logistical planning.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.7 miles from San Antonio, TX, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.2 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waelder, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Antonio, TX
This is one driving day of about 77.4 miles and 1h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from San Antonio, TX.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 46.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.7 mi from San Antonio, TX · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.7 miles from San Antonio, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waelder, TX
The final approach into Waelder, 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
$11.70 one way
$23.39 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $12.80 | $25.60 |
| premium | $4.54 | $13.82 | $27.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.09 | $34.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.13 | $3.72 |
| Efficient EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.77 | $3.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31 | 0 | $10.84 | $4.95 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
Waelder, TX
Night in Waelder on Wednesday
Local time
9:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
1 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 Waelder, TX covers 77.4 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 I 10, 90th Infantry Division Highway, East Commerce Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.7 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 $11.70 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 77.4 miles you will encounter 10 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 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 Waelder, TX, road signs point toward Austin and Waco.
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