How far is San Antonio, TX from Balch Springs, TX?

The driving distance from San Antonio, TX to Balch Springs, TX is about 277.6 miles (446.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253.8 miles (408.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 57m 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
277.61 mi
04h 58m
Flight
253.74 mi
408.35 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
253.74 mi
Kilometers
408.35 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
277.61 mi
Kilometers
446.77 km
Drive Time
04h 58m

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 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Balch Springs
Sun, May 31, 4:39 AM CDT
Return by in San Antonio
Sun, May 31, 9:38 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Antonio
2026-05-30T23:41
Arrive Balch Springs
Sun, May 31, 4:39 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:59 AM to 12:59 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
7:02 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
Belton
TX

City in Texas, USA

From San Antonio
139 mi
02h 29m
To Balch Springs
138.6 mi
02h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
91°F
Today

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sat, May 30 11:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
90°F
This Afternoon

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Antonio and Balch Springs.

  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 · 46 sec · East Market Street

  4. 4

    Turn left

    111 m · 13 sec

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto East Commerce Street

    66 m · 13 sec · East Commerce Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp sharp left toward US 281 North, I 37 North

    1159 ft · 28 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto William J Bordelon Freeway

    1.3 km · 56 sec · William J Bordelon Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35 North: Austin

    2907 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto North Pan Am Expressway

    8.2 mi · 10 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on North Pan Am Expressway

    7.4 mi · 8 min · North Pan Am Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Purple Heart Trail

  12. 12

    Continue on Interstate Highway 35

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Interstate Highway 35

  13. 13

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    47.8 mi · 52 min · Purple Heart Trail

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail

    95.6 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Purple Heart Trail

  15. 15

    Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway

  16. 16

    Continue on Purple Heart Trail

    33 mi · 33 min · Purple Heart Trail

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35E: Dallas

    47.5 mi · 49 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East: Shreveport

    2359 ft · 57 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

    11.9 mi · 13 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Elam Road

    1279 ft · 24 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Elam Road

    2155 ft · 1 min · Elam Road

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Hickory Tree Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Hickory Tree Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Terry Drive

    14 m · 2 sec · Terry Drive

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Terry Drive

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
25 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
188 mi · 68%
I 35E
47.5 mi · 17%
North Pan Am Expressway
15.6 mi · 6%
Lyndon B Johnson Freeway
13.5 mi · 5%
South Jack Kultgen Expressway
6.63 mi · 2%
Interstate Highway 35
1.93 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Purple Heart Trail

Keep slight right to continue on Purple Heart Trail

95.6 mi · 01h 40m

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 58m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.8 mi
253.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Belton
02h 29m from San Antonio
Leave By
7:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving San Antonio and Partly Sunny near Balch Springs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Antonio to Balch Springs?

The road trip is about 277.6 miles (446.8 km) and usually takes 04h 58m 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?

Belton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139 miles from San Antonio and 138.6 miles from Balch Springs.

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

The direct path is about 253.8 miles (408.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.8 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 7:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.03 one way or $74.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around San Antonio and Partly Sunny near Balch Springs.

Stop Ideas Near Belton

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Belton, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Belton.

RAIL

Temple

12 mi away
315 West Ave B
BUS

Killeen, Texas

26 mi away
200 East Avenue C
BUS

Fort Hood, Texas

30 mi away
Hood Road & Old Ironsides Ave.
RAIL

McGregor

43 mi away
1 Amtrak Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Antonio and Balch Springs. Straight-line distance: 253.74 mi (408.35 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
Balch Springs

#2 Balch Springs

City in Dallas County, Texas, United States

Population24,831
Coordinates32.7287400, -96.6227700
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Start: San Antonio (-98.49363, 29.42412)
End: Balch Springs (-96.62277, 32.72874)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 447 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 33m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.8 gal
37.08 L · about $37.03
Round trip
$74.07
19.6 gal · 74.16 L
Estimated CO2
87.1 kg one way
Round trip: 174.2 kg / 384 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $37.03 $74.07
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.67 $83.34
Premium $4.59 $44.99 $89.98
Diesel $3.99 $39.13 $78.26

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between San Antonio and Balch Springs. The current time is 23:41:13.

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.