San Antonio is famous for its five Spanish mission sites built along the San Antonio River. Part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, the names of the missions are San Jose, Concepcion, San Juan Capistrano, Espada and San Antonio de Valero. When in the city, check out these mission sites that are set up like mini-cities with cattle, farming grounds and ornamented churches. The park tour takes about 3-4 hours, perfect for a day trip with your family and friends. Experience the Spanish colonial culture and visit the historic churches in San Antonio.
Timings & Ticket Info
The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is open seven days a week, and the operating hours are between 9 AM to 5 PM. The outside ground of the park is open for visitors from sunrise to sunset. The park is closed on holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The visitor centres operate between 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM.
Entry to San Antonio National Park is free for everyone. You can take your whole family for a day in the park at no cost. Moreover, the park film and the ranger-led programs are free to avail. However, photography and videography need special permission from the National Park authorities. Though the entry is free, you need to buy passes to secure a parking spot and avoid waiting lines near the entrance. The tokens are available online at the official site. Additionally, you can purchase passes in nearby parks such as Padre Island National Seashore and Amistad National Recreation Area. Though the availability is subject to change, check out the official website before your visit.
You can order ‘America the Beautiful’ interagency passes from the visitor centre of special missions or online for a military or veteran or someone with a permanent disability. The passes allow admissions to national parks and other federal recreational lands.
How to Reach
The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is located in the state of Texas and the city of San Antonio. A drive from Texas to San Antonio Park takes about 3.5 hours. The cheapest way to reach is hiring a taxi, which costs around $30. A bus service takes about 6 hours from Texas to San Antonio. The quickest way to reach San Antonio is to take a direct flight from the Texas airport. It takes about an hour or two to get to San Antonio, and the airport is only a 20 minutes drive to the National Park.
Things to Do in and Around
The best way to explore the famous missions of San Antonio is by hiking or biking through the trails to connect more to the culture. The trail is 15 miles long and connects the missions along the San Antonio River. You can rent a bike for a day and visit the viewpoints to watch native plants, migratory birds and other wildlife. Apart from that, you can also opt for the San Antonio River Walk and catch a glimpse of historical missions and other significant attractions.
You can also book a ticket to the Tower of America to get the best aerial view of San Antonio. Here you can also have a delightful dining experience at the Chart House restaurant. Other nearby significant attractions include the Spanish Governor’s Palace, San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio Zoo and Hot Wells of Bexar County.
How to Contact
The national park is located at 6701 San Jose Dr, San Antonio, TX 78214, United States. For queries or feedback, you can reach the staff by dialing 210 932-1001 or writing to saan_interpretation@nps.gov.
