How far is South Padre Island, TX from Waco, TX?
The driving distance from South Padre Island, TX to Waco, TX is about 453.7 miles (730.2 km), with a travel time of about 08h 42m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 376.2 miles (605.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CST.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 08h 42m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Texas, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between South Padre Island and Waco.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Padre Island and Waco.
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1
Start on the route
24 m · 8 sec
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2
Turn right
27 m · 12 sec
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3
Turn left onto Gulf Boulevard
2881 ft · 1 min · Gulf Boulevard
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4
Turn right onto East Harbor Street
554 ft · 25 sec · East Harbor Street
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5
Turn left onto Padre Boulevard
1 km · 2 min · Padre Boulevard
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6
Turn slight right
632 ft · 22 sec
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7
Turn straight onto Queen Isabella Causeway
2.6 mi · 4 min · Queen Isabella Causeway
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8
Continue on East Queen Isabella Boulevard
2423 ft · 1 min · East Queen Isabella Boulevard
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9
Turn straight onto State Highway 100
1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 100
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10
Turn left
14.1 mi · 15 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward TX 550
936 ft · 23 sec
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12
Keep slight right to continue on TX 550
14 m · 1 sec
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13
Turn right onto State Highway 550
3.6 mi · 4 min · State Highway 550
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14
Continue straight
1.9 mi · 2 min
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15
Continue on I-169, TX 550 Toll
1.5 km · 59 sec · I-169, TX 550 Toll
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16
Continue on Interstate 169
3.6 mi · 4 min · Interstate 169
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17
Merge slight left onto North Expressway
2.2 mi · 2 min · North Expressway
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18
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
102 mi · 1 hr 53 min · U.S. Highway 77
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19
Keep slight left
1157 ft · 14 sec
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20
Merge slight right
1.2 mi · 1 min
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21
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
11.6 mi · 13 min · U.S. Highway 77
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22
Take the exit slight right
1410 ft · 34 sec
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23
Turn straight onto US Highway 77 Frontage Road
148 m · 18 sec · US Highway 77 Frontage Road
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24
Turn right onto County Road 10
1 mi · 4 min · County Road 10
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25
Turn left onto County Road 79
4 mi · 16 min · County Road 79
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26
Turn left onto County Road 18
848 ft · 44 sec · County Road 18
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27
Turn sharp right
1.1 mi · 3 min
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28
Take the ramp straight
2351 ft · 57 sec
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29
Merge slight left onto Driscoll Bypass
2.3 mi · 2 min · Driscoll Bypass
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30
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
13.2 mi · 14 min · U.S. Highway 77
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31
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 1 min
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32
Keep slight left
1.3 mi · 1 min
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33
Continue straight
18.3 mi · 18 min
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34
Take the exit slight right toward TX 359: Mathis, Skidmore
1275 ft · 33 sec
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35
Turn right onto State Highway 359
12.4 mi · 17 min · State Highway 359
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36
At the end of the road, turn left onto South 8th Street
1.3 km · 56 sec · South 8th Street
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37
Continue on US Highway 181 South
40.2 mi · 46 min · US Highway 181 South
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38
Continue on South Sunset Strip Drive
1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
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39
Turn right onto West Main Street
1.2 km · 1 min · West Main Street
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40
Keep slight left to continue on East Main Street
71 m · 4 sec · East Main Street
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41
Continue on Helena Road
8.4 mi · 11 min · Helena Road
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42
Turn straight onto State Highway 80
23.6 mi · 26 min · State Highway 80
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43
Continue on South Nixon Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · South Nixon Avenue
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44
Continue on State Highway 80 North
30.8 mi · 35 min · State Highway 80 North
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45
Continue on US 183
10.1 mi · 12 min · US 183
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46
Continue on South Colorado Street
4.9 mi · 9 min · South Colorado Street
-
47
Continue on United States Highway 183
1282 ft · 17 sec · United States Highway 183
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48
Keep slight left to continue on TX 130 Toll North: Austin, Waco
2447 ft · 35 sec
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49
Merge slight left onto Pickle Parkway
58.5 mi · 55 min · Pickle Parkway
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50
Keep slight left to continue on I 35 North: Waco
2045 ft · 50 sec
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51
Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Trail
64.7 mi · 1 hr 6 min · Purple Heart Trail
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52
Continue on South Jack Kultgen Expressway
2.5 mi · 3 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
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53
Take the exit slight right toward 18th - 17th Streets
1380 ft · 34 sec
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54
Turn straight onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
759 ft · 21 sec · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
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55
Turn left onto South 17th Street
1.4 mi · 4 min · South 17th Street
-
56
Turn left onto West Waco Drive
143 m · 26 sec · West Waco Drive
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57
Continue on West Waco Drive
34 m · 8 sec · West Waco Drive
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58
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Waco Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South Padre Island and Waco.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
U.S. Highway 77
Continue on U.S. Highway 77
102 mi · 01h 53m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Cloudy leaving South Padre Island and Sunny near Waco.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from South Padre Island to Waco?
The road trip is about 453.7 miles (730.2 km) and usually takes 08h 42m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Beeville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 227.4 miles from South Padre Island and 226.4 miles from Waco.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 376.2 miles (605.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 77.5 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 7:30 AM CST. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $55.23 one way or $110.47 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 142.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around South Padre Island and Sunny near Waco.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South Padre Island and Waco. Straight-line distance: 376.26 mi (605.53 km).
#1 South Padre Island
Town in Texas, United States
| Population | 2,752 |
| Coordinates | 26.1036900, -97.1646900 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Waco
The 11th most populous city in Texas.
| Population | 141,377 |
| Coordinates | 31.5493300, -97.1466700 |
| Altitude | 143 |
| Country | United States |
End: Waco (-97.14667, 31.54933)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 730 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 07m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 20m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 33m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 39m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.45 | $55.23 | $110.47 |
| Mid-grade | $3.95 | $63.29 | $126.58 |
| Premium | $4.33 | $69.36 | $138.71 |
| Diesel | $5.57 | $89.11 | $178.22 |
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 · Nov 11, 2026