Comparison · Houston vs San Antonio · United States
Houston vs San Antonio
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Katie Haugland Brown, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Houston for NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District; choose San Antonio for The Alamo and River Walk. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 304 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 304 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Houston
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for San Antonio
- March–April and October–November
Side by side
| Houston | San Antonio | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | NASA and Space Center Houston, Museum District and Viet-Cajun crawfish | The Alamo, River Walk and Spanish missions |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | March–April and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $190–$330 | $180–$320 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 35°C (95°F) | August, 36°C (97°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 17°C (63°F) | January, 17°C (63°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | IAH, HOU | SAT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Houston for…
NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and one of its most diverse, which shows above all in its food: Viet-Cajun crawfish, Tex-Mex, Gulf seafood, Texas barbecue and the long strip-mall restaurant rows of Chinatown and the Mahatma Gandhi…
Choose San Antonio for…
The Alamo and River Walk. San Antonio grew around five 18th-century Spanish missions, and together they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Alamo downtown and four working mission churches strung along the San Antonio River to the south. The River Walk, a sunken path of…
Top sights compared
| # | Houston | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Space Center Houston | The Alamo |
| 2 | Museum of Fine Arts, Houston | San Antonio River Walk |
| 3 | Houston Museum of Natural Science | San Antonio Missions National Historical Park |
| 4 | Menil Collection | The Pearl |
| 5 | Rothko Chapel | Market Square (El Mercado) |
Food compared
| Houston | San Antonio |
|---|---|
| Viet-Cajun crawfish | Puffy taco |
| Fajitas | Breakfast tacos |
| Smoked brisket | Barbacoa and Big Red |
| Kolaches | Chili con carne |
Which is cheaper?
Houston and San Antonio cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $190–$330 in Houston and $180–$320 in San Antonio (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). San Antonio on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Houston and San Antonio are about 304 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Houston and 3 in San Antonio.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Houston or San Antonio cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $190–$330 in Houston and $180–$320 in San Antonio (estimates).
+Is Houston or San Antonio better for a first trip?
Pick Houston for NASA and Space Center Houston and Museum District, or San Antonio for The Alamo and River Walk.
+How far is Houston from San Antonio?
About 304 km in a straight line.