HomeGuide's national figures put an installed gravel driveway at $4 to $10 per square foot, or about $4,000 to $10,000 for a 100 by 10 foot drive. On Hill Country acreage, the base and the drainage last longer than the top layer if they are built right.
All prices on this page are national ranges from HomeGuide, not quotes from us. In San Antonio, limestone, caliche, black clay, access and haul distance decide where a job really lands. Figures checked in October 2026.
What does a gravel driveway cost to excavate and install?
HomeGuide's gravel driveway page lists an installed gravel drive at $4 to $10 per square foot and grading for it at $1 to $3 per square foot. Excavating a driveway pad costs $1,000 to $2,500 on the excavation page.
| Driveway area | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $2,000 to $5,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $4,000 to $10,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $6,000 to $15,000 |
How deep do you dig for a new driveway?
We dig past the topsoil and roots to firm ground, then build back up with compacted base. On caliche or rock, firm ground may be only inches down. On clay, it can be deeper, and the drive often needs more base to stay firm. For a paved drive, the concrete or asphalt contractor's spec sets the depth.
How thick should the base be, and how much gravel does a 100-foot drive need?
The base should be thick enough that loaded trucks do not rut it after rain, and we set the depth at the site. To estimate gravel, multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27. A drive 100 feet long, 10 feet wide and 4 inches deep is 100 x 10 x 0.33 = about 333 cubic feet, or roughly 12.3 cubic yards.
What kind of gravel is best for a driveway?
Crushed limestone base or crusher run is the best choice here, because the sharp pieces lock together and limestone is quarried nearby. By the ton, HomeGuide shows crusher run at $25 to $50 and crushed stone at $30 to $60. Round river rock and pea gravel roll under tires and wander off the drive.
My gravel driveway washes out every rain. How do I fix it?
A drive that washes out is carrying water down its middle. Regrade it with a crown so water sheds off both edges, add base where it has thinned, and cut a ditch or swale along the side. On steep Hill Country drives, low diagonal humps turn water off the drive before it picks up speed.
Do I need a culvert at the road?
If the road has a ditch, you probably need one, and the city or county that owns the road sets the size and permit. The gravel driveway page lists $500 to $2,000 for culverts or drains. A drive that crosses a draw on your own land may need one too, sized for the water it will carry in a big storm.
How much does it cost to build a long driveway?
HomeGuide has no single price for a long driveway, so we add up the parts: clearing the route at $1,200 to $8,000 per acre, grading at $1 to $3 per square foot, gravel by the ton and any culverts. A long ranch drive near Boerne or Helotes often needs rock cuts as well.
What does it cost to break out an old concrete driveway?
Our HomeGuide price list has no figure for breaking out a concrete or asphalt driveway. We usually price removal together with the new base, since the machines and trucks are already there. Clean concrete can be crushed and reused as base in some cases.
To get a number for your own site, have us walk it first; the price comes in a written quote. Call or text (210) 796-2675.