How far is San Antonio, TX from Alton, TX?

The driving distance from San Antonio, TX to Alton, TX is about 238.4 miles (383.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 217 miles (349.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
238.42 mi
04h 21m
Flight
217.01 mi
349.25 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Antonio.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
217.01 mi
Kilometers
349.25 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
238.42 mi
Kilometers
383.7 km
Drive Time
04h 21m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alton
Sun, Apr 12, 5:45 PM CDT
Return by in San Antonio
Sun, Apr 12, 10:06 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Antonio
2026-04-12T13:24
Arrive Alton
Sun, Apr 12, 5:45 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Antonio
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Alice
TX

City in Texas

From San Antonio
119.6 mi
02h 10m
To Alton
118.9 mi
02h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SSE
Destination
88°F
Sunday

Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 18 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Antonio and Alton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio and Alton.

  1. 1

    Start on Dolorosa Street

    44 m · 5 sec · Dolorosa Street

  2. 2

    Continue on West Market Street

    1893 ft · 42 sec · West Market Street

  3. 3

    Continue on East Market Street

    2143 ft · 41 sec · East Market Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Tower of the Americas Way

    957 ft · 21 sec · Tower of the Americas Way

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 37 South, US 281 South

    1374 ft · 34 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto William J Bordelon Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · William J Bordelon Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Lucian Adams Freeway

    66.8 mi · 1 hr 8 min · Lucian Adams Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 281 South

    15.2 mi · 19 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on South Nueces Street

    66.2 mi · 1 hr 10 min · South Nueces Street

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    9.5 mi · 10 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Falfurrias Expressway

    55.8 mi · 59 min · Falfurrias Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    7.2 mi · 8 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 281 Business South: Edinburg

    1507 ft · 23 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on North Expressway 281

    2291 ft · 39 sec · North Expressway 281

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    3 mi · 5 min

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West McIntyre Street

    115 m · 14 sec · West McIntyre Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North 10th Avenue

    110 m · 10 sec · North 10th Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West University Drive

    9.1 mi · 13 min · West University Drive

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Conway Street

    2 mi · 3 min · Conway Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Main Avenue

    31 m · 2 sec · Main Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Antonio and Alton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Nueces Street
75.7 mi · 32%
Lucian Adams Freeway
66.8 mi · 28%
Falfurrias Expressway
63 mi · 26%
US 281 South
15.2 mi · 6%
West University Drive
9.11 mi · 4%
North Expressway 281
3.48 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Lucian Adams Freeway

Continue on Lucian Adams Freeway

66.8 mi · 01h 08m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 21m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.4 mi
217 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Alice
02h 10m from San Antonio
Leave By
8:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving San Antonio and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Alton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Antonio to Alton?

The road trip is about 238.4 miles (383.7 km) and usually takes 04h 21m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Alice is a useful midpoint, sitting about 119.6 miles from San Antonio and 118.9 miles from Alton.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 217 miles (349.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.78 one way or $63.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around San Antonio and Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Alton.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Antonio and Alton. Straight-line distance: 217.01 mi (349.25 km).

San Antonio

#1 San Antonio

The seventh most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Antonio metropolitan area.

Population1,567,118
Coordinates29.4241200, -98.4936300
Altitude198
CountryUnited States
Alton

#2 Alton

City in Texas

Population18,785
Coordinates26.2872900, -98.3133500
Altitude49
CountryUnited States
Start: San Antonio (-98.49363, 29.42412)
End: Alton (-98.31335, 26.28729)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 384 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.41 gal
31.85 L · about $31.78
Round trip
$63.56
16.82 gal · 63.7 L
Estimated CO2
74.7 kg one way
Round trip: 149.5 kg / 330 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $31.78 $63.56
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.76 $71.52
Premium $4.59 $38.61 $77.22
Diesel $3.99 $33.58 $67.16

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Texas · Apr 12, 2026

There is no time difference between San Antonio and Alton. The current time is 13:24:07.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.