How far is Waco, TX from San Marcos, CA?
The driving distance from Waco, TX to San Marcos, CA is about 1359.1 miles (2187.3 km), with a travel time of about 23h 52m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 1172 miles (1886.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 47h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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 23h 52m.
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 Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Clear
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Waco and San Marcos.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waco and San Marcos.
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1
Start on West Waco Drive
110 m · 15 sec · West Waco Drive
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2
Continue on West Waco Drive
10.7 mi · 16 min · West Waco Drive
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3
Continue on West US Highway 84
5.2 mi · 6 min · West US Highway 84
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4
Continue on East McGregor Drive
2.8 mi · 4 min · East McGregor Drive
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5
Continue on West US Highway 84
98.3 mi · 1 hr 49 min · West US Highway 84
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6
Continue on Garmon Drive
1.2 mi · 2 min · Garmon Drive
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7
Turn left onto Early Boulevard
1.7 mi · 2 min · Early Boulevard
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8
Continue on East Commerce Street
22 mi · 25 min · East Commerce Street
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9
Keep slight left to continue on US 67
22 mi · 24 min · US 67
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10
Continue on 2nd Street
1.1 mi · 1 min · 2nd Street
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11
Continue on US 67
14.8 mi · 16 min · US 67
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12
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
24 mi · 26 min · North Broadway Street
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13
Turn left onto West Main Street
11.8 mi · 13 min · West Main Street
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14
Continue on Commerce Street
34.6 mi · 36 min · Commerce Street
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15
Turn right onto 4th Street
1.2 mi · 2 min · 4th Street
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16
Turn straight onto US Highway 87 North
2.6 mi · 3 min · US Highway 87 North
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17
Take the exit slight left toward SH 158 West: Midland
62.7 mi · 1 hr 12 min
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18
Turn left onto East Interstate 20
1400 ft · 30 sec · East Interstate 20
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19
Take the ramp slight left toward I 20 West: Odessa
997 ft · 24 sec
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20
Merge slight left
5.9 mi · 6 min
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21
Continue straight
132.2 mi · 2 hr 8 min
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22
Merge slight left
175.6 mi · 2 hr 54 min
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
11 mi · 13 min · Camino Real de Tierra Adentro
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24
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
164.4 mi · 2 hr 48 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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25
Continue on Benson-Steins Pass Highway
88.4 mi · 1 hr 29 min · Benson-Steins Pass Highway
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26
Continue on Tucson-Benson Highway
42.9 mi · 45 min · Tucson-Benson Highway
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27
Continue on South Freeway
6 mi · 7 min · South Freeway
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28
Continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
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29
Keep slight left to continue on Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
50.7 mi · 51 min · Casa Grande-Tucson Highway
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30
Take the exit slight right toward I 8 West: San Diego
2316 ft · 36 sec
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31
Continue on Phoenix Bypass Route
58.9 mi · 59 min · Phoenix Bypass Route
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32
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
119.9 mi · 2 hr 3 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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33
Continue on Kumeyaay Highway
7.5 mi · 8 min · Kumeyaay Highway
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34
Keep slight left to continue on Kumeyaay Highway
140.7 mi · 2 hr 32 min · Kumeyaay Highway
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35
Take the exit slight right toward Lake Jennings Park Road
1450 ft · 39 sec
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36
Turn right onto Lake Jennings Park Road
2.3 mi · 4 min · Lake Jennings Park Road
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37
Continue on Mapleview Street
1.1 km · 1 min · Mapleview Street
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38
Turn right onto Main Street
9.2 mi · 13 min · Main Street
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39
Turn left onto Poway Road
2.6 mi · 4 min · Poway Road
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40
Turn right onto Espola Road
1.3 km · 1 min · Espola Road
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41
Turn left onto Twin Peaks Road
2.6 mi · 5 min · Twin Peaks Road
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42
Continue on Camino del Norte
1.6 mi · 2 min · Camino del Norte
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43
Take the ramp right toward I 15 North
1131 ft · 30 sec
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44
Merge slight left onto Escondido Freeway
5.4 mi · 6 min · Escondido Freeway
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45
Keep slight left to continue on Escondido Freeway
3.7 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
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46
Take the exit slight right toward CA 78: Oceanside, Ramona
562 ft · 14 sec
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47
Keep slight left to continue on CA 78 West: Oceanside
1.1 km · 2 min
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48
Continue on Ronald Packard Parkway
2.8 mi · 3 min · Ronald Packard Parkway
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49
Take the exit slight right toward Twin Oaks Valley Road
1669 ft · 45 sec
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50
Turn right onto North Twin Oaks Valley Road
957 ft · 22 sec · North Twin Oaks Valley Road
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51
Turn left onto West San Marcos Boulevard
158 m · 20 sec · West San Marcos Boulevard
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52
Turn right onto Pico Avenue
922 ft · 33 sec · Pico Avenue
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53
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Pico Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waco and San Marcos.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 20 West
Merge slight left
176 mi · 02h 54m
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 Clear leaving Waco and Partly Sunny near San Marcos.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Waco to San Marcos?
The road trip is about 1359.1 miles (2187.3 km) and usually takes 23h 52m 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?
Mesilla is a useful midpoint, sitting about 678.8 miles from Waco and 680.3 miles from San Marcos.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 1172 miles (1886.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 187.1 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 CDT. 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 $181.24 one way or $362.48 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 426.2 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 2 hour time difference between Waco and San Marcos, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Waco and Partly Sunny near San Marcos.
Stop Ideas Near Mesilla
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Mesilla.
Las Cruces, New Mexico
El Paso (Bus Station), Texas
Union Depot
Deming station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waco and San Marcos. Straight-line distance: 1171.97 mi (1886.1 km).
#1 Waco
The 11th most populous city in Texas.
| Population | 141,377 |
| Coordinates | 31.5493300, -97.1466700 |
| Altitude | 143 |
| Country | United States |
#2 San Marcos
The second most populous city in San Diego County, California.
| Population | 97,477 |
| Coordinates | 33.1433700, -117.1661400 |
| Altitude | 177 |
| Country | United States |
End: San Marcos (-117.16614, 33.14337)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 2187 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 45h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 33h 58m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 27h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 22h 39m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 19h 25m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 16h 57m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.78 | $181.24 | $362.48 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $203.93 | $407.85 |
| Premium | $4.59 | $220.18 | $440.37 |
| Diesel | $3.99 | $191.50 | $383.01 |
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 · Jul 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.