landmark
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving four 18th-century Spanish frontier missions, including the iconic Alamo, along the San Antonio River.
11 km · about 20 min drive
North AmericaUnited StatesTexas
San Antonio
Texas, United States · North America
About San Antonio
San Antonio is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Olmos Park, 11km from San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
San Antonio is in Texas, United States, with about 1.5 million people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Olmos Park, about 6 km away.
San Antonio ( SAN an-TOH-nee-oh; Spanish for "Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the seventh-most populous city in the United States, the second-most populous city in Texas (after Houston), and the second-most populous city in the Southern U.S., with a population of 1.43 million at the 2020Read more
census. The Greater San Antonio metropolitan area, with an estimated 2.76 million residents, ranks as the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest in the nation. It is the county seat of Bexar County.
The area was named "San Antonio" in 1691 by a Spanish expedition in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua. A Spanish mission and colonial outpost was founded there in 1718, and San Antonio became the first chartered civil settlement in present-day Texas in 1731. It was part of the Spanish Empire, then the Mexican Republic from 1821 to 1836, before joining the United States after the annexation of the Republic of Texas in 1846. Straddling the regional divide between South and Central Texas, San Antonio anchors the southwestern corner of an urban megaregion colloquially known as the Texas Triangle. It lies about 80 miles (130 km) from Austin along the I-35 corridor, and together, the San Antonio–Austin metroplex is home to approximately 5 million people.
San Antonio is home to five 18th-century Spanish frontier missions, including The Alamo and those preserved in San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, which were collectively designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2015. Major attractions include the River Walk, Tower of the Americas, SeaWorld San Antonio, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and the Alamo Bowl. The city also hosts the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and is home to the five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio welcomes approximately 32 million visitors annually and is a key military hub, hosting several major U.S. Armed Forces facilities, including Fort Sam Houston and nearby bases such as Lackland and Randolph Air Force Bases. The city is also home to two Fortune 500 companies, the South Texas Medical Center, and the largest majority-Hispanic population in the U.S., with 64% of residents identifying as Hispanic.
Where to Stay in San Antonio
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in San Antonio.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near San Antonio.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near San Antonio?
Within an hour or so of San Antonio: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (11 km), SeaWorld San Antonio (20 km), Buc-ee's New Braunfels (52 km).
Where is San Antonio?
San Antonio is in Texas, United States, about 6 km from Olmos Park.
Road trip
Drive to San Antonio
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of San Antonio. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 1,526,656
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Region
- Texas
- Timezone
- America/Chicago
- Coordinates
- 29.4241, -98.4936
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United States
AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.
Full driving guide for United StatesTags
Worth the detour from San Antonio
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
SeaWorld San Antonio
Texas marine life park featuring aquatic animal shows, rides, and one of the world's largest zoological collections.
20 km · about 25 min drive
cafe
Buc-ee's New Braunfels
The world's largest convenience store and a Texas road trip institution, famous for its immaculate restrooms, beaver nuggets, and 120 fuel pumps.
52 km · about 60 min drive
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near San Antonio.
Plan a trip around San Antonio
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from San Antonio.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.