When is the San Antonio to Houston route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

SAT to IAH Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the San Antonio to Houston flight turbulent?

The SAT–IAH route typically experiences smooth turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on SAT to IAH?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A320 · Boeing 737, that's rows 10–20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from SAT to IAH?

The SAT to IAH flight takes approximately 1h 05m, covering 190 miles at 29,000 feet.

Is the San Antonio to Houston flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

SAT

→

IAH

San Antonio · Houston · 1h 05m

11.4

Turb Score

1h 05m

Duration

165 nm

Distance

29,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for SAT–IAH

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h 05m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the SAT–IAH route

The San Antonio to Houston domestic route is generally one of the smoother flights in the US network, covering 190 miles at around 29,000 feet. Turbulence is most common when weather systems cross the Midwest or when the flight path skirts the Rocky Mountains. Short duration means any rough patches pass quickly.

The route is served by Southwest, United, American Airlines on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 29,000 feet over a distance of 190 miles (165 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source.

San Antonio to Houston Flight Time

How long is the flight from SAT to IAH?

1h 05m

Flight Time

190 mi

Distance

29,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The San Antonio (SAT) to Houston (IAH) flight takes approximately 1h 05m, covering 190 miles (165 nautical miles) at 29,000 feet. The route is operated by Southwest, United, American Airlines. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on SAT–IAH

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly SAT–IAH

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on SAT–IAH

Airbus A320

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10–20

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 21+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

IAH → SAT

Houston → San Antonio

Smooth

SAT → ATL

San Antonio → Atlanta

Smooth

SAT → LAX

San Antonio → Los Angeles

Smooth

SAT → ORD

San Antonio → Chicago

Smooth

See all us domestic flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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When Does Turbulence Happen?

Phases of flight explained

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Did San Antonio to Houston last January and it was genuinely one of the smoothest long-haul flights I've had. Barely any movement the whole way.

Frequent flyer · January

Was nervous about this flight but honestly didn't need to be. Smooth the whole way, the 1h 05m went by fast.

First-time passenger · December

Totally smooth January flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly over the plains but nothing actually happened. Great trip.

Leisure traveler · January

All SAT routes→ All IAH routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the San Antonio to Houston flight turbulent?

The SAT–IAH route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 11.4/100.

When is turbulence worst on SAT to IAH?

Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on SAT to IAH?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from SAT to IAH?

The SAT to IAH flight takes approximately 1h 05m, covering 190 miles (165 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly SAT to IAH?

The main airlines operating this route are Southwest, United, American Airlines, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data