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

The driving distance from San Antonio, TX to Ponder, TX is about 297.9 miles (479.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 269.3 miles (433.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 49m 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
297.94 mi
05h 24m
Flight
269.29 mi
433.38 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
269.29 mi
Kilometers
433.38 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
297.94 mi
Kilometers
479.49 km
Drive Time
05h 24m

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 05h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ponder
Thu, Apr 23, 8:12 AM CDT
Return by in San Antonio
Thu, Apr 23, 1:36 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Antonio
2026-04-23T02:47
Arrive Ponder
Thu, Apr 23, 8:12 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:25 AM to 1:25 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
6:10 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
Temple
TX

The most populous city in Bell County, Texas.

From San Antonio
149.3 mi
02h 42m
To Ponder
148.7 mi
02h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
80°F
Thursday

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 left to continue on I 35W: Fort Worth

    51.5 mi · 54 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight left toward I 35W Express North: I 35W TEXpress North

    16.3 mi · 17 min · I 35W TEXpress

  19. 19

    Merge slight right onto North Freeway

    3063 ft · 37 sec · North Freeway

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward Eagle Parkway

    1746 ft · 50 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto North Freeway

    780 ft · 18 sec · North Freeway

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Eagle Parkway

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Eagle Parkway

  23. 23

    Continue on Old FM 156

    2278 ft · 32 sec · Old FM 156

  24. 24

    Continue on Blue Mound Road

    1154 ft · 18 sec · Blue Mound Road

  25. 25

    Turn right onto South FM 156

    11.6 mi · 17 min · South FM 156

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Farm-to-Market Road 156

Car Route Details

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

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
26 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Purple Heart Trail
188 mi · 63%
I 35W
51.5 mi · 17%
North Pan Am Expressway
15.6 mi · 5%
South FM 156
11.6 mi · 4%
I 35W TEXpress
8.16 mi · 3%
I 35W Express North
8.16 mi · 3%
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
05h 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.6 mi
269.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Temple
02h 42m from San Antonio
Leave By
6:10 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving San Antonio and Mostly Cloudy near Ponder.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 297.9 miles (479.5 km) and usually takes 05h 24m 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?

Temple is a useful midpoint, sitting about 149.3 miles from San Antonio and 148.7 miles from Ponder.

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

The direct path is about 269.3 miles (433.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.6 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 6:10 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.72 one way or $79.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 93.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around San Antonio and Mostly Cloudy near Ponder.

Stop Ideas Near Temple

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Temple, 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 Temple.

RAIL

Temple

315 West Ave B
BUS

Killeen, Texas

37 mi away
200 East Avenue C
RAIL

McGregor

38 mi away
1 Amtrak Blvd.
BUS

Fort Hood, Texas

40 mi away
Hood Road & Old Ironsides Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Antonio and Ponder. Straight-line distance: 269.29 mi (433.38 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
Ponder

#2 Ponder

Town of the United States

Population2,415
Coordinates33.1829000, -97.2872400
Altitude223
CountryUnited States
Start: San Antonio (-98.49363, 29.42412)
End: Ponder (-97.28724, 33.1829)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 479 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.51 gal
39.8 L · about $39.72
Round trip
$79.43
21.02 gal · 79.6 L
Estimated CO2
93.4 kg one way
Round trip: 186.8 kg / 412 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.78 $39.72 $79.43
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.69 $89.38
Premium $4.59 $48.25 $96.50
Diesel $3.99 $41.97 $83.93

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between San Antonio and Ponder. The current time is 02:47:25.

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.