How far is Waco, TX from South Padre Island, TX?
The driving distance from Waco, TX to South Padre Island, TX is about 451.6 miles (726.7 km), with a travel time of about 08h 24m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 376.2 miles (605.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 49m 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 24m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
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 Waco and South Padre Island.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waco and South Padre Island.
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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
525 ft · 26 sec · West Waco Drive
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3
Turn left onto North 18th Street
1.4 mi · 4 min · North 18th Street
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4
Turn right onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
60 m · 4 sec · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
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5
Take the ramp straight toward I 35 South
1605 ft · 39 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto South Jack Kultgen Expressway
2.5 mi · 3 min · South Jack Kultgen Expressway
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7
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
37.9 mi · 39 min · Purple Heart Trail
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8
Keep slight left
26.5 mi · 27 min
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9
Take the exit slight right toward TX 130 Toll South: San Antonio
1.1 km · 56 sec
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10
Continue straight
58.5 mi · 55 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward US 183 South: Lockhart
1219 ft · 30 sec
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12
Continue on United States Highway 183
2699 ft · 35 sec · United States Highway 183
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13
Continue on North Colorado Street
4.9 mi · 9 min · North Colorado Street
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14
Continue on US 183
10.1 mi · 12 min · US 183
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15
Continue on North Magnolia Avenue
4.2 mi · 7 min · North Magnolia Avenue
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16
Continue straight
51.2 mi · 57 min
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17
Turn slight left onto Farm-to-Market Road 792
8.4 mi · 11 min · Farm-to-Market Road 792
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18
Continue on East Main Street
1.3 km · 1 min · East Main Street
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19
Turn left onto South Sunset Strip Drive
1.2 mi · 1 min · South Sunset Strip Drive
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20
Continue on South US Highway 181
40.2 mi · 46 min · South US Highway 181
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21
Continue on North 8th Street
1.3 km · 56 sec · North 8th Street
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22
Continue on US Highway 181 South
16.1 mi · 18 min · US Highway 181 South
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23
Take the exit slight right
1648 ft · 45 sec
-
24
Keep slight right to continue on US Route 181
65 m · 6 sec · US Route 181
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25
Turn straight onto US Highway 181
1.1 km · 1 min · US Highway 181
-
26
Take the ramp right
1926 ft · 47 sec
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27
Merge slight left
11.9 mi · 14 min
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28
Take the exit straight toward I 37, US 77, I 69E
538 ft · 13 sec
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29
Keep slight left
1965 ft · 48 sec
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30
Merge slight right
2.5 mi · 2 min
-
31
Take the exit slight right toward I 69E, US 77: Kingsville, Brownsville
31.3 mi · 34 min
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32
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
61.3 mi · 1 hr 9 min · U.S. Highway 77
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33
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
43.7 mi · 47 min · U.S. Highway 77
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34
Continue on North Expressway
2.1 mi · 2 min · North Expressway
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35
Keep slight right to continue on Interstate 169
3.7 mi · 4 min · Interstate 169
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36
Continue on I-169, TX 550 Toll
1.3 km · 52 sec · I-169, TX 550 Toll
-
37
Continue straight
2 mi · 2 min
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38
Continue on State Highway 550
3.7 mi · 4 min · State Highway 550
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39
Turn left
1123 ft · 27 sec
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40
Merge slight left onto Brownsville-Port Isabel Highway
14.1 mi · 16 min · Brownsville-Port Isabel Highway
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41
Turn right onto State Highway 100
1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 100
-
42
Turn slight right onto West Queen Isabella Boulevard
2460 ft · 1 min · West Queen Isabella Boulevard
-
43
Continue on Queen Isabella Causeway
2.7 mi · 5 min · Queen Isabella Causeway
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44
Turn left onto Padre Boulevard
1.1 km · 2 min · Padre Boulevard
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45
Turn right onto East Haas Street
155 m · 20 sec · East Haas Street
-
46
Turn left onto Gulf Boulevard
3129 ft · 2 min · Gulf Boulevard
-
47
Turn right
27 m · 12 sec
-
48
Turn left
24 m · 6 sec
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49
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Waco and South Padre Island.
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
Keep slight left to continue on U.S. Highway 77
61.3 mi · 01h 10m
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.
Sunny leaving Waco and Mostly Cloudy near South Padre Island.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Waco to South Padre Island?
The road trip is about 451.6 miles (726.7 km) and usually takes 08h 24m 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 226.2 miles from Waco and 225.4 miles from South Padre Island.
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 75.4 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 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 $54.96 one way or $109.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 141.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Waco and Mostly Cloudy near South Padre Island.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Waco and South Padre Island. Straight-line distance: 376.26 mi (605.53 km).
#1 Waco
The 11th most populous city in Texas.
| Population | 141,377 |
| Coordinates | 31.5493300, -97.1466700 |
| Altitude | 143 |
| Country | United States |
#2 South Padre Island
Town in Texas, United States
| Population | 2,752 |
| Coordinates | 26.1036900, -97.1646900 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Padre Island (-97.16469, 26.10369)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 727 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 02m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 17m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 01m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 31m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 27m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 37m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.45 | $54.96 | $109.92 |
| Mid-grade | $3.95 | $62.97 | $125.94 |
| Premium | $4.33 | $69.01 | $138.02 |
| Diesel | $5.57 | $88.67 | $177.33 |
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