Phoenix to San Antonio drive: Best stops, time & distance
The best road trip stops on the Phoenix to San Antonio drive are El Paso TX, Balmorhea State Park and the Caverns of Sonora. The distance from Phoenix to San Antonio by car is 983 miles, with a 13h54m driving time.
Planning a Phoenix to San Antonio road trip itinerary
The Phoenix to San Antonio drive connects the capital of Arizona to arguably the most historic city in Texas.
A stay in Phoenix is at its best when you explore the surrounding Sonoran Desert. That might be in a hot air balloon flight, on an ATV tour or on a guided sunset hiking adventure. You can also do day tours along the Apache Trail.
For other Phoenix experiences, try a downtown food tour, a street art tour or a spooky nighttime ghost walk.
Attractions that you might wish to buy advance include cell phone-friendly tickets for include Phoenix Zoo, the Sea Life aquarium or a drunk Shakespeare performance.
For Phoenix accommodation options with a bit of character, try the art-splashed Foundre or the resort-like Raintree at Phoenix South Mountain Preserve.
San Antonio’s most famous site is the Alamo, a fortified Spanish mission that played host to a critical battle in the Texas Revolution. It’s far from the only historic building in the city, though – the San Fernando Cathedral and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park are both visually impressive. It’s worth taking a guided tour of the missions for better understanding.
Further attractions include San Antonio Zoo, the Sea Life aquarium, the magic show at the Magicians Agency Theater and the Hopscotch Immersive Art Experience.
Other San Antonio experiences worth considering are the haunted ghost bus tour, downtown food tours, hop-on hop-off buses and Segway tours.
Book ahead for San Antonio accommodation deals. But try the Hotel Emma for five star opulence and the Canopy by Hilton for youthful energy on the Riverwalk.
Phoenix to San Antonio distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Phoenix to San Antonio is 983 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 13 hours and 54 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-10.
The best stops to add to a Phoenix to San Antonio road trip itinerary are El Paso TX, Balmorhea State Park and the Caverns of Sonora.
For more suggestions, check out the guides to the Phoenix to El Paso drive and El Paso to San Antonio drive.
Best stops between Phoenix and San Antonio: El Paso TX
El Paso has plenty of stories behind it, some of which are covered on the Ghosts, Haunted Cowboys and Outlaws tour. You can also explore the surrounding landscape on a UTV adventure tour, or going biking, hiking and rock-climbing in Franklin Mountains State Park.
As for other El Paso attractions, the National Border Patrol Museum looks at the work of those who monitor the US’ borders, with a little bit too much emphasis on weaponry. The El Paso Museum of Archaeology, meanwhile, looks at the prehistory of the South West.
To track down the best El Paso hotel deals, head here.
You may well want to add in an extra section during this leg of the Phoenix to San Antonio road trip. Check out the guides to the Phoenix to Tucson drive and Tucson to El Paso drive if so.
Phoenix to San Antonio drive: Balmorhea State Park
Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale TX is home to the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool. More than 15 million gallons of water flow through this 1.3 million acre pool on a daily basis, fed by the San Solomon Springs. It’s naturally heated, too, with the water temperature at a steady 72 to 76 degrees all year. It’s also possible to go Scuba diving here.
Phoenix to San Antonio road trip attractions: Caverns of Sonora
Sonora TX is where the Texas Hill Country rubs up against the Chihuahuan Desert. The unusual geography here throws up a few oddities, with the Caverns of Sonora being a case in point.
The Caverns of Sonora is essentially a corridor of crystal, 155ft below the earth’s surface. The guided tours last one hour and 45 minutes, showing off the extensive cave decorations. Expect to navigate 360 stairs on the way.
More Phoenix road trips
Albuquerque to Phoenix | Phoenix to Colorado Springs | Dallas to Phoenix | Denver to Phoenix | El Paso to Phoenix | Phoenix to Flagstaff | Phoenix to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Houston to Phoenix | Phoenix to Kingman | Las Cruces to Phoenix | Phoenix to Prescott | Omaha to Phoenix | Phoenix to Santa Fe | Phoenix to Sedona | Phoenix to Tombstone | Phoenix to Tucson | Phoenix to Williams AZ | Winslow to Phoenix | Phoenix to Yuma.
More San Antonio road trips
Abilene to San Antonio | Albuquerque to San Antonio | Amarillo to San Antonio | Arlington to San Antonio | Austin to San Antonio | San Antonio to Baton Rouge | Chicago to San Antonio | Colorado Springs to San Antonio | Dallas to San Antonio | Denver to San Antonio | San Antonio to El Paso | Fort Worth to San Antonio | San Antonio to Galveston | Houston to San Antonio | Katy TX to San Antonio | Las Cruces to San Antonio | Memphis to San Antonio | Nashville to San Antonio | New Orleans to San Antonio | Oklahoma City to San Antonio | San Antonio to Salt Lake City | Tulsa to San Antonio.