Origin
Universal City, TX
Afternoon in Universal City on Thursday
Local time
12:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Universal City, TX to San Antonio, TX
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
27m
Distance
18.7 mi
30 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Universal City, TX
Wikimedia Commons
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Universal City to San Antonio, you are looking at a quick 21.7-mile journey that typically takes about 28 minutes. Because the distance is so short, this trip is easily completed in a single day, leaving you plenty of time to explore once you arrive. You will navigate primarily via Pat Booker Road and Interstate 35, moving entirely within the Great Plains region. With a fuel budget of just $3, this is an incredibly economical commute or visit. It is a straightforward route that functions perfectly as a quick day trip without the need for any overnight stays. Expect a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 18.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a long-distance highway cruise. You will spend your time navigating local roads like Pat Booker Road before transitioning onto I-35 North and South. Interestingly, the highway share for this trip is 0%, meaning you won't be dealing with long, monotonous interstate stretches. The longest uninterrupted section is 0 miles on Pat Booker Road, confirming that this is a stop-and-go experience rather than a high-speed sprint. Behind the wheel, you should be prepared for frequent turns and a driving environment that requires your full attention throughout the short 28-minute duration.
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.
North Pan Am Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.9 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
934 ft
645 ft
Total Climb
235 ft
Total Descent
353 ft
Highest Point
934 ft
~4 mi in
Elevation Range
289 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Pan Am Expressway and Pat Booker Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near Interstate 35 North.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 18.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (Interstate 35 North): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Interstate 35 North
Turn left onto Interstate 35 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 35 South
7
10.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South
8
17 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
8
17.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 157A
Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro...
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 Universal City, TX to San Antonio, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Laredo along the way.
Laredo
17 mi in
|
~23m
|
via I 35
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Pan Am Expressway | 13.9 mi | 17m |
| Pat Booker Road | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| North Main Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Interstate 35 North | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Flores Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Elmira Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Military Plaza | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Dolorosa Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Pan Am Expressway
— 13.9 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Universal City, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on this road
40 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto TX 218
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Pat Booker Road
3
Turn left onto Interstate 35 North
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Interstate 35 North
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 35 South
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 35
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Toward I 35 South: Lower Level, Laredo
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 157A
Toward Lexington Avenue, Main Avenue, San Pedro Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn straight onto East Elmira Street
526 ft
·
17 sec
·
East Elmira Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Enter roundabout onto Navarro Street
159 ft
·
3 sec
·
Navarro Street
12
Continue on Navarro Street
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
Navarro Street
13
Keep slight right at fork onto North Main Avenue
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Main Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto West Travis Street
222 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Travis Street
15
Turn left onto North Flores Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Flores Street
16
Continue on Military Plaza
392 ft
·
15 sec
·
Military Plaza
17
Turn left onto Dolorosa Street
327 ft
·
8 sec
·
Dolorosa Street
18
Arrive at destination
Dolorosa Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.83 one way
$5.65 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $3.09 | $6.19 |
| premium | $4.54 | $3.34 | $6.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.13 | $8.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.64 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.62 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
San Antonio, TX
Afternoon in San Antonio on Thursday
Local time
12:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
27m 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 Universal City, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 18.7 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Pan Am Expressway, Pat Booker Road, North Main 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 9.3 miles from Universal City, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.83 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 is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 18.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 27m.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (Interstate 35 North): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Universal City, TX to San Antonio, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Laredo along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 645 ft to 934 ft elevation with about 235 ft of total climbing.
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