Origin
Windcrest, TX
Morning in Windcrest on Friday
Local time
10:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Windcrest, TX to San Antonio, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
11.6 mi
19 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Windcrest, TX
Tomás Asurmendi
San Antonio, TX
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Windcrest and San Antonio, you will find this 11.6-mile trip highly efficient. Expect to spend about 17 minutes behind the wheel, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight planning. You will primarily navigate via the North Pan Am Expressway, Walzem Road, and North Main Avenue. With a modest fuel budget of just $2, this commute is as economical as it is brief. Both the origin and destination sit firmly within the Great Plains region of Texas, ensuring a consistent landscape throughout your short journey.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 11.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This highway-focused drive relies heavily on major thoroughfares, with approximately 74% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will find yourself settling into the flow of traffic for an 8.1-mile stretch along the North Pan Am Expressway, which serves as the backbone of the route. While the drive is short, the transition from the expressway to local arteries like Walzem Road and North Main Avenue keeps the experience from feeling entirely monotonous. It is a straightforward, functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, scenic detours.
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 8.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
788 ft
649 ft
Total Climb
81 ft
Total Descent
220 ft
Highest Point
788 ft
Elevation Range
139 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North Pan Am Expressway and Walzem Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
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 11.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 35 South, I 410
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 35 South, I 410
7
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m 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
9.8 mi into trip
|
~14m 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
10.4 mi into trip
|
~15m 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...
6
10.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
North Main Avenue
Turn left onto North Main Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
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 Windcrest, TX to San Antonio, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Laredo along the way.
Laredo
9.8 mi in
|
~14m
|
via I 35
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Pan Am Expressway | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| Walzem Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North Main Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Interstate 35 North | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Midcrown Drive | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North Flores Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Elmira Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Military Plaza | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Pan Am Expressway
— 8.1 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Windcrest, TX and San Antonio, TX.
1
Start on Midcrown Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Midcrown Drive
2
Turn right onto FM 1976
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Walzem Road
3
Turn left onto Interstate 35 North
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Interstate 35 North
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 35 South, I 410
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Merge onto I 35; I 410
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pan Am Expressway
Use the left / straight lanes.
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
$1.75 one way
$3.51 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $1.92 | $3.84 |
| premium | $4.54 | $2.07 | $4.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.56 | $5.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Morning in San Antonio on Friday
Local time
10:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Patchy Drizzle
SSE 10 to 15 mph
17% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 3:29PM CDT until April 14 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS Norman OK
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 14 at 3:26PM CDT until April 14 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Amarillo TX
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
12 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
17m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Windcrest, TX to San Antonio, TX covers 11.6 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Pan Am Expressway, Walzem 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 5.8 miles from Windcrest, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.75 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 11.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 17m.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.4 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles (I 35 / North Pan Am Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Windcrest, TX to San Antonio, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Laredo along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 649 ft to 788 ft elevation with about 81 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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