A road trip from San Antonio to Houston is wrapped in both beauty and history.
Start with an Adventure Through Time
While the drive from San Antonio to Houston only takes 3 hours, it’s possible to travel 300 years into the past. The stories left behind in the missions, ruins and museums are itching to be discovered by travelers like you. So buckle up and get ready for a road trip through time.
San Antonio
Let’s start in San Antonio, where we’ll have plenty of things to see and do right off the bat! Between the Alamo and the River Walk, you already have lots to explore. The Alamo is free but requires online reservations, but you should have no trouble snagging yours.
For lunch, either head to the Historic Pearl District or over to Southtown. Dating back to a brewery founded in 1883, The Pearl is a small, trendy district with tons of history and charm. With a boutique hotel, breweries, coffee spots and a myriad of photo-ops, Southtown is organic and artsy, with many local galleries and restaurants.
Continue your exploration with the four other impressive missions that make up San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Don’t be afraid to rent bikes if you’re up for the 2.5-mile ride between the sites. The bike trail is gorgeous, and each site is unique.
Whether you biked or not, a dip in the pool at San Pedro Springs will perk you right up. The surrounding park is the oldest in Texas and is full of historical tidbits. A walk around La Villita and you’ll find artisan after artisan selling beautiful, handmade goods heavily influenced by a thriving Mexican culture.
Gonzales
Now it’s time to head south to the little town of Gonzales. As the site of the first battle of the Texas Revolution and its famous “Come and Take It” flag, you'll uncover a diverse culinary scene and unparalleled shopping experiences. There are also tours you can take around town to dive even deeper into its rich history.
If you’re still up for one more mission site, learn all about the ruins of Mission Nuestra Señora del Rosario. On the way out of town, make a pass through Fannin Battleground State Historic Site to take in the impressive obelisk and to learn more about the site’s significance in Texas’s fight for independence.
From there, head to Goliad State Park. With bass to fish and trails to hike, make sure to take time and see the towering white walls of the Mission Espiritu Santo. Just south of the park, you can rent a room and take a siesta inside the historic Presidio La Bahia, the Spanish fortress around which Goliad sprang up.
Houston
Now on to Houston! With a thriving foodie scene, The New York Times says, “Houston is America’s most exciting place to eat because it has one of the country’s most diverse populations.” For a unique twist on seafood, head to 88 Boiling Crawfish and Seafood that offers a fusion of Thai and Cajun cuisines. The Barbecue Inn is a favorite among Houston locals for its deliciously battered, deep-fried comfort food. Whatever you’re craving, you’ll find it in Houston.
Be sure to visit the Museum District in central Houston. With everything from contemporary arts to the Czech Center, there’s a multitude of cultural experiences to learn about in downtown H-town.
For an out-of-this-world adventure, check out Space Center Houston. Offering extensive science education programs and over 400 space artifacts, exhibits and experiences, the center is designed to educate and engage adults and children of all ages.
If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure with big-city vibes, you’re in luck! Houston has 52,912 acres of outdoor park space, making it the ideal place to get outside. Need to cool off? Head to Pirates Bay water park in Baytown. Or if you’re looking for scenic hikes in nature, The Lone Star Hiking Trail offers 140 miles of trails through the Sam Houston National Forest. Houston has plenty of options for the whole family to enjoy the great outdoors.
We started this trip as history buffs, so let’s finish the same way. East Houston is home to The San Jacinto Monument and Museum. The museum is a rich and vivid experience taking you back to the birth of the Republic, making it a must-see.
In fact, it’s hard for us to cut much from our must-see list in Texas. The stories of this state are often surprising and exciting, and they leave behind stunning time capsules on the face of the land. We recommend you linger and meander through the traces of the wild frontier that once was, visualizing the lives that took place on the very ground on which you stand. Take your time, take it all in, and don’t forget to drive friendly, the Texas way.
