Let’s face it: a weekend getaway to San Antonio makes for a fabulous trip!
Don’t wait to start the party when you get there, though. There are so many fun things to do when driving from Dallas to San Antonio, too!
The state of Texas is big on everything, including Texas road trips!
Looking at the map, you probably assume driving from Dallas to San Antonio will be pretty easy and relatively uneventful.
While that could be true, we are here to tell you that you are missing out on some awesome Texas small towns if you don’t take advantage of the stops during your drive between these two cities.
A San Antonio road trip from Dallas allows you to see some of TX’s natural wonders, check out a new city or two, and maybe even visit a state park if you so desire!
Of course, we will give you all the great tips and great stops on this Dallas to San Antonio road trip guide, so add an extra hour or two to your Dallas and San Antonio trip!
Keep reading about this fun road trip to get more details and to start planning your drive from Dallas to San Antonio!
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Dallas to San Antonio Road Trip Distance
A road trip from Dallas to San Antonio (or vice versa) is about 275 miles long.
If there aren’t any traffic problems along the way, the direct drive from city to city would take about 5.5 hours.
Of course, this will vary slightly depending on your exact starting point in Dallas-Fort Worth and your direct ending point in San Antonio.
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Dallas to San Antonio Drive Time
If you drove straight from Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, to San Antonio, your driving time would be approximately 4-4.5 hours in normal traffic on the main route (heading south on I-35).
Of course, this does not account for traffic delays or stops (which is why you are here).
You can always count on at least some of the traffic on the main route, so we add an extra half hour or so just for this.
Another important thing to note is that if you leave on Friday after work (during rush hour), you can usually add 1.5-2 hours extra to your road trip.
If you have ever driven in Dallas traffic, this is a no-brainer. LOL!
Since we are stopping along the way and not just driving straight to San Antonio, you will want to allot more time!
You can also take other, more scenic routes when visiting Dallas and San Antonio, but they don’t contain these popular stops.
So, if you want to take the more scenic drive through the back roads of Central Texas, consider driving that way from San Antonio to Dallas when you return home.
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Stops When Driving From Dallas to San Antonio, Texas
Grab Some Texas Kolaches
West, Texas, is one of the fun small towns in Texas.
This little town is proud of its Czech heritage.
Thankfully, this town’s Czech heritage means it serves delicious food, especially kolaches!
This is one of the TX towns that you must stop in when driving from Dallas to San Antonio.
Take your pick of the stops here and dive into your favorite flavor of kolache.
My favorite stores serving kolaches (and more) include Gerik’s Ole’s Czech Bakery & Deli, Czech Stop, and Slovacek’s West.
Local Texans each have their favorite for different reasons, but most people stop at Czech Stop or Slovacek’s because of their convenient location right off the freeway.
If you have time, check out our favorite, Gerik’s.
Gerik’s is located just a few blocks off the highway so that it won’t interfere with your travel time too much!
Not only that, but this is a great, authentic Czech bakery.
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Waco-The Silos or the Mammoth
Making a stop in Waco when driving from Dallas to San Antonio is always fun.
You could spend a whole weekend in Waco, but we will choose a couple of things for our Dallas to San Antonio road trip.
The Waco Mammoth archaeological site is a unique stop.
Discovered by two archeologists in 1978, the Waco Mammoth site is now a National Park and a great roadside attraction.
Another popular attraction in Waco is the Waco Silos.
Put on the map by the hit HGTV series Fixer Upper, the Waco Silos now draw visitors from all over the United States!
Chip and Joanna Gaines, the stars of Fixer Upper, have created a fabulous outdoor shopping and dining space all around the Silos.
While here, shop and grab one of their delicious cupcakes!
If you want to spend more time exploring Waco, you can visit the Dr. Pepper Museum, tour some historic homes, and even add some shopping to your road trip itinerary.
Stops like these help to break up the drive time in the car!
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Inner Space Cavern
After leaving Waco, you might want to stop and take a tour of one of the area’s many caverns.
One that is quick and easy to get to on your way to San Antonio is Inner Space Cavern.
Inner Space is located near Georgetown, right off the highway!
Here, you can take a tour to learn all about this amazing cavern and its beautiful formations.
Inner Space Cavern offers several tours, ranging from a beginner’s adventure tour to a more advanced wild cave tour.
In addition to the cave tours, Inner Space Cavern offers gemstone panning, a zip ride, a gift shop, and more.
This is a great place to explore from Dallas to San Antonio on your road trip!
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Texas State Capitol Building in Austin, TX
While on your San Antonio, TX road trip, you might as well stop and see the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin.
A visit to the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin will show you that we support the motto “Everything is bigger in Texas.”
The Texas Capitol Building is bigger than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Learn this and many other fun facts when you take a free tour!
If you don’t want to stop on the way down, include this Austin stop on the return trip from San Antonio to Dallas!
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Mount Bonnell-Fabulous Views
As you continue, don’t miss a chance to stop and stretch your legs at one of the most scenic hills in the park-like setting at Mount Bonnell.
Located right off of the highway in Austin, Texas, Mount Bonnell has welcomed visitors for years.
After climbing about 800 steps, you are rewarded with a beautiful view of Lake Austin.
During summer, you are treated to boats and people enjoying the lake.
This is a great place to enjoy a breath of fresh air, especially after braving the I-35 traffic.
Just be sure you have your walking shoes!
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Explore San Marcos
The college town of San Marcos is located in the Austin/Round Rock area and is another great place to explore during your San Antonio road trip.
We love browsing around San Marcos Square. The fun little boutique shops and coffee houses are the key to my heart!
Try paddle boarding or tubing on the San Marcos River in this Texas Hill Country town in the summer.
You can enjoy stretching your legs in the local park at any time of the year just to get out of the car.
The San Marcos Premium Outlets might also be of interest to you.
This is a popular stop on the road from Dallas to San Antonio, as there are numerous designer stores at this huge outlet mall!
This is also a great area to see the bluebonnets in Texas if you visit during springtime!
World’s Largest Pecan
If you are into quirky roadside attractions, don’t miss this one!
Stop into the town of Seguin and snap a photo with the World’s Largest Pecan.
This is fitting since Sequin is nicknamed the ‘Pecan Capital of Texas.’
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Make a Stop at Bucc-ee’s
Any good Texan will tell you you aren’t on a Texas road trip if you don’t stop at Bucc-ee’s.
At first glance, you might think that Bucc-ee’s is just a big gas station.
But trust us when we tell you, this is another but a normal gas station!
You will find a store full of delicious treats, home décor, and more.
Not only that, but Bucc-ee’s is also known for its spotless restrooms!
Don’t forget to stop here again when returning from San Antonio to Dallas!
This is one of the best stops on the San Antonio drive to find fun souvenirs from Texas!
New Braunfels
New Braunfels is a great little city just north of San Antonio.
If you stopped at Bucc-ee’s, you have arrived in New Braunfels.
The Guadalupe River State Park is nearby, so if you want to spend more time in New Braunfels, this is a great park to consider.
The park has some gorgeous natural areas and is a great place to snack and exercise.
If you are passing through in the summer, make time on your way home from San Antonio to Dallas to spend some time here and float the river!
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Natural Bridge Caverns
If you are near the Natural Bridge Caverns, that is a good sign that your drive from Dallas to San Antonio, TX, is ending.
The Natural Bridge Caverns is another classic stop on this route.
The guided tours of the caverns offer guests the opportunity to learn more about this piece of Texas history.
A maze, ropes course, and a great little gift shop are also on-site!
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Bracken Cave Preserve
Another cool stop on this route from Dallas to San Antonio is Bracken Cave Preserve, which houses the largest bat colony in the world!
If you are heading to San Antonio between March and October, time your stop to Bracken Cave just before dusk so that you can witness the bats exit the cave for their nightly feeding.
Tips for Driving from Dallas to San Antonio
Avoid Rush Hour in the Big Cities
On your San Antonio road trip, you will pass through several big cities, so try your hardest to avoid hitting rush hour in any of them.
These include Dallas, Austin, Waco, and San Antonio.
Try to leave during non-peak hours and time your stops so that you don’t pass through one of the big cities during the prime driving times.
Plan Your Meal Stops
I know this sounds silly, but try to plan your meal stops in advance.
This will not only help ensure that you enjoy your meals but also allow you to take some time to break up the monotony of being on the road.
There are several great places along this route to consider.
We generally like to stop in Waco or in/close to Austin.
Twisted Root burgers in Waco are delicious, as is Chuy’s outside of Austin, in Round Rock.
Don’t Underestimate the Toll Road
Consider taking the toll road if you are in a lot of traffic.
Granted, you have to pay, and you might miss some of the stops we mentioned, but paying the tolls may well be worth it to avoid the stress.
Take the Scenic Route
As mentioned above, you might want to take the scenic route to or from San Antonio.
Highway 281 offers a beautiful drive through the Hill Country. It crosses over the Brazos River, winds through the Hill Country, and takes you through several fabulous little towns like Glen Rose (including Dinosaur Valley State Park), Marble Falls, and Johnson City.
You can even take a little side trip to Fredericksburg if you choose this route.
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About the Author
Michelle Snell-Founder/Writer
Born and raised in Texas, Michelle Snell graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and her Master’s Degree from Texas Wesleyan University. Her passion for travel has taken her all over the world. She has received multiple awards for her writing. She has been featured in numerous publications, including Travel Awaits, Fort Worth Magazine, Fort Worth Weekly, NewsBreak, Voyage Dallas, Ella Inspires Magazine, and more. You can view her complete profile on MuckRacks.
Christy S.
Sunday 25th of February 2024
The two caverns definitely caught my attention as my brothers and I love visiting caves. I had no idea there was so much to stop and see between Dallas and San Antonio.
texasonly
Monday 26th of February 2024
There really is. You could make a whole day of it for sure. Thanks for reading, Christy!