Outdoors · San Antonio · United States
7 best outdoor things to do in San Antonio
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zereshk, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Start with San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 22–29 hours across 6 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 22–29 hours
- Areas
- Downtown, Mission Reach and Hemisfair
Outdoors in San Antonio
Waterfront · Downtown
1.San Antonio River Walk
Take a narrated river boat first to get your bearings, then walk the quieter Museum Reach to the Pearl.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- After dark
- Outdoors
Historic site · Mission Reach
2.San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Rent a bike and ride the Mission Reach trail along the river between the missions, starting at Concepción.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Park · Hemisfair
3.Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair
Bring swimwear in summer for the splash pad and visit in the morning, before the heat builds.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
Garden · Brackenridge Park
4.Japanese Tea Garden
Visit in the morning when the light falls on the waterfall, then walk to the zoo next door.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Zoo · Brackenridge Park
5.San Antonio Zoo
Go at opening on summer days; animals are most active before the afternoon heat.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
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Theme park · Northwest
6.Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Go on a weekday outside school holidays and head to the biggest coasters first.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
- Outdoors
Theme park · Westover Hills
7.SeaWorld San Antonio
Check the show schedule on arrival and plan rides around it, as shows set the rhythm of the day.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | San Antonio River Walk | 2–3 hours |
| Mission Reach | San Antonio Missions National Historical Park | Half a day |
| Hemisfair | Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair | 1–2 hours |
| Brackenridge Park | Japanese Tea Garden and San Antonio Zoo | 45 minutes + 3 hours |
| Northwest | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | Full day |
| Westover Hills | SeaWorld San Antonio | Full day |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 4 free, 1 mid-priced, 2 expensive. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Six Flags Fiesta Texas; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 6 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Downtown): San Antonio River Walk, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Mission Reach): San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Hemisfair and Brackenridge Park): Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair → Japanese Tea Garden, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Brackenridge Park): San Antonio Zoo, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Northwest): Six Flags Fiesta Texas, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Westover Hills): SeaWorld San Antonio, at least 6 hours.
The best months to be outside
- March: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 7 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm and green, with wildflowers starting in the Hill Country; spring-break crowds on the River Walk.
- November: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 7 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm days and cool evenings; the River Walk lights switch on for the holidays.
- February: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 7 rainy days, moderate crowds. Pleasant sightseeing weather; the rodeo brings visitors and country music.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Alamo Heights — Leafy, affluent enclave near the McNay and Brackenridge Park
- Northwest and La Cantera — Resort hotels, outlet malls and Six Flags Fiesta Texas
More of San Antonio
All things to do in San Antonio · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in San Antonio?
San Antonio River Walk. A network of riverside paths one storey below street level, shaded by cypress trees and lined with restaurants, hotels and bridges.
+Which of these are free in San Antonio?
San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair and Japanese Tea Garden.