Smoke, spice & southern charm
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Texas BBQ Trail
Austin to San Antonio
Austin and San Antonio sit about 118 km (74 mi) apart in a straight line, with San Antonio to the south-west. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Texas BBQ Trail itinerary, a 5-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 118 km · 74 mi
- Est. road distance
- 142–166 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 30 min – 2 h 30 min
- Direction
- Heading south-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Texas BBQ Trail itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 142–166 km (88–103 mi) of road and 1 h 30 min – 2 h 30 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Austin, San Antonio and Dallas are linked by major highways, and most groups drive between them in a rental or shared car. Buses and flights are alternatives for certain legs. Inside each city, ride shares and walking cover the downtown areas.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in San Antonio
Spend a day: Alamo and River Walk in the morning, a mission by bike, then the Pearl at night.
The Alamo
1718 mission and site of the 1836 battle, with the church and Long Barrack.
San Antonio River Walk
Below-street paths along the river; take a GO RIO boat for an overview.
Mi Tierra Café y Panadería
24-hour Tex-Mex restaurant and bakery in Market Square since 1941.
Historic Market Square
Mexican-style marketplace with crafts, food stalls and weekend music.
Sternewirth
Hotel Emma's bar in the old brewhouse, with intimate booths in vintage tanks.
Hotel Emma
Hotel in the Pearl's 1894 brewhouse, keeping the old machinery in its lobby, with a library bar and rooms on the river.
Before you leave Austin
Give it two days to fit a Franklin line, a Lockhart side trip, a Barton Springs swim and live music.
On this curated route
Where Austin → San Antonio sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? San Antonio to Austin is the same 118 km in a straight line, heading north-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in February, when San Antonio averages highs 2°C warmer than Austin.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin high | 16° | 18° | 23° | 27° | 31° | 34° | 36° | 37° | 32° | 28° | 22° | 17° |
| San Antonio high | 17° | 20° | 24° | 29° | 32° | 35° | 36° | 36° | 32° | 28° | 23° | 18° |
| Austin rain | 58 | 45 | 73 | 63 | 111 | 78 | 60 | 63 | 87 | 95 | 59 | 49 |
| San Antonio rain | 49 | 36 | 61 | 62 | 100 | 71 | 71 | 62 | 95 | 78 | 49 | 45 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to San Antonio month guides.
Austin to San Antonio: questions travelers ask
How far is Austin from San Antonio?
Austin is about 118 km (74 mi) from San Antonio in a straight line, with San Antonio to the south-west. By road, we estimate 142–166 km (88–103 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Austin to San Antonio?
An estimated 1 h 30 min – 2 h 30 min, assuming 142–166 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Austin to San Antonio?
Our Texas BBQ Trail itinerary includes this leg. Texas BBQ Trail runs about 5 days across 3 stops, best in Oct – Apr.
Onward from San Antonio
Getting to Austin
- Dallas to Austin 293 km
Guides for both ends
- Austin travel guide
- Austin weather best time to visit
- San Antonio travel guide
- San Antonio weather best time to visit
San Antonio by month
Plan Austin → San Antonio with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.