You can make Houston to San Antonio in about 3 hours, but the people who love this drive never do it in one straight shot. At around 200 miles on I-10, it is short enough to start after breakfast and long enough to earn a night somewhere memorable close to the park gates.
Open this route in XCRSNLeaving Houston
Aim to clear Houston before the morning rush, or after it, never in it. Fill the tank on the edge of town where prices usually drop, set the playlist, and settle in for the first 74 miles to Columbus.
The headline stop on this route is Painted churches near Schulenburg. Leave real time for it; it sets the tone for the whole trip.
Columbus
Columbus sits about 74 miles in. It makes a good spot to stretch, eat something that is not from a gas station, and swap drivers.
Nearby, Buc-ee's in Luling is worth the short detour if the day is going well.
Seguin, the last stretch
Seguin sits about 165 miles in. It is the natural place to stop for the night: hotels are plentiful, rates beat the big-city ends of the route, and you wake up with the hardest miles already behind you.
Rolling into San Antonio
The final 35 miles always go faster than you expect. Save a little energy for The River Walk and the Alamo; it is a fitting finish.
By the end you will have seen Painted churches near Schulenburg, Buc-ee's in Luling and The River Walk and the Alamo, and you will understand why this corridor is a classic.
When to go and how to pace it
One night is the sweet spot. Seguin or San Antonio, TX is where most people stay, so book ahead on summer weekends.
Check live gas prices along I-10 before you go; they can swing a lot from one state or county to the next. XCRSN prices every leg for your exact car.
