Getting around · San Antonio · United States
Getting around San Antonio
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Downtown San Antonio is compact: the Alamo, River Walk, La Villita, Hemisfair and Market Square are within about 1.5 km of each other. The missions, Brackenridge Park and the Pearl are reachable by river path, bus or a short ride, but the wider city is built for cars. Not for a downtown-focused stay: the River Walk, buses and ride-hailing cover the main sights.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- SAT
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- VIA day pass
Ways to get around
Walking
The River Walk is the most pleasant way to move around downtown and continues north to the Pearl and south to King William and the missions.
Boat
River boats run narrated cruises around the downtown loop, and some operate as hop-on, hop-off river taxis between downtown and the Pearl.
Bus
VIA Metropolitan Transit runs buses across the city, including routes from downtown to the missions, Brackenridge Park and the airport.
Cycling
The Mission Reach trail is a flat, paved riverside path of about 13 km linking downtown with all four missions; bike rentals and bike-share docks are available downtown.
Ride-hailing
Uber and Lyft are widely available and the simplest way to reach the Pearl, Alamo Heights and the West Side food spots.
Car
A car is needed for the Hill Country, theme parks and suburban areas; downtown hotel parking is costly.
Tickets and passes
VIA day pass
An unlimited-ride day pass for VIA buses, sold through VIA's app and ticket outlets.
From the airport
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is about 13 km north of downtown, around 15–20 minutes by car or ride-hail outside rush hour. VIA buses connect the airport with downtown for a much lower fare but take longer.
Do you need a car?
Not for a downtown-focused stay: the River Walk, buses and ride-hailing cover the main sights. Rent a car for the Hill Country, the theme parks and day trips.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Fredericksburg | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car |
| Gruene and New Braunfels | About 40 minutes by car | Car |
| Natural Bridge Caverns | About 30 minutes by car | Car |
| Austin | About 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours by car | Car or intercity bus |
| Bandera | About 1 hour by car | Car |
| Enchanted Rock | About 1 hour 45 minutes by car | Car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in San Antonio?
Not for a downtown-focused stay: the River Walk, buses and ride-hailing cover the main sights. Rent a car for the Hill Country, the theme parks and day trips.
+How do you get from the airport to San Antonio?
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is about 13 km north of downtown, around 15–20 minutes by car or ride-hail outside rush hour. VIA buses connect the airport with downtown for a much lower fare but take longer.
+What is the best way to get around San Antonio?
Walking: The River Walk is the most pleasant way to move around downtown and continues north to the Pearl and south to King William and the missions.