Day trips · San Antonio · United States
6 best day trips from San Antonio
Where to go when you want a day away from San Antonio, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
The classic day trip from San Antonio is Fredericksburg (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car). The closest option is Natural Bridge Caverns, about 30 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 6
- Closest
- Natural Bridge Caverns (30 km)
- Most popular
- Fredericksburg
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericksburg | 110 km | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car | Couples, Food lovers, Culture |
| Gruene and New Braunfels | 50 km | About 40 minutes by car | Car | Families, Couples, Nightlife |
| Natural Bridge Caverns | 30 km | About 30 minutes by car | Car | Families, First-timers |
| Austin | 130 km | About 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours by car | Car or intercity bus | Nightlife, Food lovers, Culture |
| Bandera | 80 km | About 1 hour by car | Car | Families, Couples |
| Enchanted Rock | 150 km | About 1 hour 45 minutes by car | Car | Couples, Families, Quiet stays |
The day trips
110 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car
1.Fredericksburg
A Hill Country town founded by German settlers in 1846, with a long Main Street of shops, German bakeries and beer gardens. The National Museum of the Pacific War honours local-born Admiral Nimitz, and wineries line US 290 east of town.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Couples, Food lovers, Culture
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50 km · About 40 minutes by car
2.Gruene and New Braunfels
Gruene is a historic hamlet with Gruene Hall, one of the oldest dance halls in Texas, and riverside restaurants. Next door, New Braunfels is known for tubing on the Comal and Guadalupe rivers in summer and its large water park.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Families, Couples, Nightlife
30 km · About 30 minutes by car
3.Natural Bridge Caverns
A large show cave north-east of the city with guided walks through chambers of stalactites and flowstone, named after the limestone bridge at its entrance. The site also has above-ground ropes courses and mining activities for children.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Families, First-timers
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130 km · About 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours by car
4.Austin
The Texas capital has the Texas State Capitol, Lady Bird Lake, live music on Sixth Street and South Congress Avenue's shops. Traffic on I-35 can add a lot of time, so leave early.
- Getting there
- Car or intercity bus
- Best for
- Nightlife, Food lovers, Culture
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80 km · About 1 hour by car
5.Bandera
Billing itself as the 'Cowboy Capital of the World', Bandera has dude ranches offering trail rides, old-time honky-tonks on Main Street and the Medina River for swimming and kayaking.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Families, Couples
150 km · About 1 hour 45 minutes by car
6.Enchanted Rock
A huge pink granite dome north of Fredericksburg with a steep summit trail of about 1 km and views over the Hill Country. Parking is limited, so book a day pass with Texas State Parks in advance.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Couples, Families, Quiet stays
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- VIA Metropolitan Transit runs buses across the city, including routes from downtown to the missions, Brackenridge Park and the airport.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from San Antonio?
Fredericksburg. A Hill Country town founded by German settlers in 1846, with a long Main Street of shops, German bakeries and beer gardens.
+How long does it take to get from San Antonio to Fredericksburg?
About 1 hour 15 minutes by car — Car, about 110 km.
+How long does it take to get from San Antonio to Gruene and New Braunfels?
About 40 minutes by car — Car, about 50 km.