Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 58–73°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers73°F Kerrville8 AM CDT Light rain showers likely67°F Junction8:45 AM CDT Light rain showers likely63°F Ozona9:45 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers63°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers64°F Marathon Gap11:45 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers58°F Marathon12 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers67°F Big Bend1:15 PM CDT Chance of light rain showers70°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 62–73°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers73°F Kerrville8 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers68°F Junction8:45 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers63°F Ozona9:45 AM CDT Mostly cloudy63°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers69°F Marathon Gap11:45 AM CDT Chance of light rain showers62°F Marathon12 PM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers69°F Big Bend1:15 PM CDT Mostly cloudy72°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 63–74°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Partly sunny71°F Kerrville8 AM CDT Partly sunny66°F Junction8:45 AM CDT Partly sunny63°F Ozona9:45 AM CDT Partly sunny65°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Partly sunny69°F Marathon Gap11:45 AM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers63°F Marathon12 PM CDT Slight chance of light rain showers69°F Big Bend1:15 PM CDT Partly sunny74°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 60–78°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Mostly sunny68°F Kerrville8 AM CDT Mostly sunny61°F Junction8:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny60°F Ozona9:45 AM CDT Sunny64°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny73°F Marathon Gap11:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny66°F Marathon12 PM CDT Mostly sunny73°F Big Bend1:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny78°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 61–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Mostly sunny67°F Kerrville8 AM CDT Mostly sunny61°F Junction8:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny61°F Ozona9:45 AM CDT Sunny65°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny76°F Marathon Gap11:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny70°F Marathon12 PM CDT Mostly sunny76°F Big Bend1:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny82°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 60–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Mostly sunny69°F Kerrville8 AM CDT Mostly sunny61°F Junction8:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny60°F Ozona9:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny65°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny74°F Marathon Gap11:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny69°F Marathon12 PM CDT Mostly sunny76°F Big Bend1:15 PM CDT Sunny81°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 61–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Antonio7 AM CDT Mostly sunny69°F Kerrville8 AM CDT Mostly sunny62°F Junction8:45 AM CDT Mostly sunny61°F Ozona9:45 AM CDT Sunny65°F Fort Stockton11:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny75°F Marathon Gap11:45 AM CDT Sunny69°F Marathon12 PM CDT Mostly sunny75°F Big Bend1:15 PM CDT Sunny81°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from San Antonio (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- San Antonio, TXStart 645 ftelevation
- Kerrville, TXMile 64 · 57 min 1,640 ftelevation
- Junction, TXMile 114 · 1 h 38 min 1,710 ftelevation
- Ozona, TXMile 205 · 2 h 50 min 2,336 ftelevation
- Fort Stockton, TXMile 312 · 4 h 15 min 2,983 ftelevation
- Marathon Gap, TXMountain pass · Mile 345 · 4 h 44 min 4,572 ftelevation
- Marathon, TXMile 369 · 5 h 4 min 4,044 ftelevation
- Big Bend, TXMile 436 · 6 h 18 min 3,743 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at San Antonio, Marathon and Big Bend.
| Month | San Antonio 789 ft | Marathon 3,989 ft | Big Bend Panther Junction station · 3,740 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 63° / 41° | 0 | 62° / 27° | 0 | 61° / 37° | 0 |
| Feb | 68° / 45° | 0 | 66° / 30° | 0 | 66° / 41° | 0 |
| Mar | 74° / 52° | 0 | 73° / 38° | 0 | 74° / 47° | 0 |
| Apr | 80° / 58° | 0 | 81° / 44° | 0 | 82° / 54° | 0 |
| May | 87° / 66° | 0 | 87° / 53° | 0 | 89° / 62° | 0 |
| Jun | 92° / 73° | 0 | 92° / 60° | 0 | 94° / 68° | 0 |
| Jul | 95° / 75° | 0 | 91° / 62° | 0 | 92° / 70° | 0 |
| Aug | 96° / 75° | 0 | 91° / 62° | 0 | 91° / 69° | 0 |
| Sep | 90° / 70° | 0 | 85° / 57° | 0 | 86° / 63° | 0 |
| Oct | 82° / 60° | 0 | 79° / 47° | 0 | 80° / 55° | 0 |
| Nov | 72° / 50° | 0 | 69° / 34° | 0 | 69° / 45° | 0 |
| Dec | 65° / 42° | 0 | 62° / 27° | 0 | 62° / 38° | 0.1 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: SAN ANTONIO INTL AP (USW00012921, 789 ft); MARATHON (USC00415579, 3,989 ft); PANTHER JUNCTION (USC00416792, 3,740 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Texas rather than repeat them.
- Texas · TxDOTDriveTexas road conditions
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from San Antonio to Big Bend with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from San Antonio to Big Bend?
436 miles, about 6½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-10 and US-385. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Marathon Gap, at 4,572 ft. It comes at mile 345, about 4 h 44 min of driving after you leave San Antonio.
How cold is Big Bend in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Panther Junction (3,740 ft), averages a high of 61°F and a low of 37°F in January (1991–2020 normals).