Getting to San Antonio, Getting Around

San Antonio lies at the gateway to South Texas but the city is tied by interstate highways to all areas of the state and beyond. Drive to San Antonio from other regions in the state and you'll quickly get an understanding of the term "Texas sized." East of the city, Houston lies about under three hours away. Looking north, Austin awaits to the north just over an hour's drive, while Dallas and Fort Worth represent over a five-hour haul up I-35. To the south of San Antonio lies a the promise of the Gulf coast, in getaways like Corpus Christi, jsut over two hours away, and South Padre Island, located in the far southern reach of the state at over a four-hour drive.

West of San Antonio lies Mexico, separated from the city by miles of sparsely developed land known as the brush country. For all its lack of growth, however, the stretch of road from San Antonio to Laredo is more popular than ever thanks to increased commerce between the U.S. and Mexico. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has resulted in not only increased business for San Antonio and Mexico but also increased traffic along I-35.

San Antonio doesn't rank as a hub airport (Dallas and Houston both serve as Texas hubs) but getting to the city is fairly simple, whether your chosen mode is airplane, car, bus, or train. The city is home to an international airport and, thanks to its close ties with Mexico, offers many flights to and from destinations south of the border.

Flight Times to San Antonio
From Seattle 4.5 hours
From San Francisco 4 hours
From Los Angeles 2.75 hours
From Las Vegas 2.3 hours
From Chicago 2 hours
From New York 3 hours
From Washington DC 5 hours
From Atlanta 2.5 hours
From Orlando 2.75 hours
From Miami 3.5 hours
From New Orleans 2.5 hours
From Nashville 2.5 hours
From St. Louis 2.3 hours

Getting Around

Once you are in San Antonio there are many transportation options ranging from cars to carriages. The city also offers excellent bus and trolley service, a great way to see the downtown area without the headache of finding a parking place.

Driving in San Antonio can be a challenge, especially in the downtown area thanks to the numerous one way streets. With some of the oldest streets in the state, San Antonio doesn't follow a grid system, but instead a meandering collection of streets that trace the river's passage through the city. Add to this mix an assortment of high-rise buildings and sometimes your destination is just a block away but lies out of sight and out of reach without circling the block to come in on a one way street.

What's the solution? Park and walk. Pay parking lots are sprinkled downtown; rates are sometimes by the day and sometimes by the hour. Don't plan to just park "for a few minutes" without paying; you will be towed.

Covered parking garages are a blessing during the hot summer months. These are more expensive but help prevent "skillet steering wheel" when your car sits in that blazing sun for a few hours. (A quick look around uncovered parking lots and you'll see that local residents use cardboard windshield shades religiously to prevent being in the literal hot seat upon their return.) You'll find covered parking garages at many of the downtown hotels (they are available for non-guests for a fee) and at sites like Rivercenter Mall.

Once you've parked, you'll find much of the downtown is easily accessible on foot. Strolling the River Walk is a real San Antonio pleasure; temperatures on the River Walk are several degrees below those found at street level. Walking the River Walk, you'll be able to reach the Alamo and many of the attractions found nearby.When it's time to branch out, trolley service aboard the VIA San Antonio streetcars link the main tourist sites.

For all its major highways (and, occasionally, major traffic), touring San Antonio is easily accomplished because, although the city is vast, most attractions are grouped in a few areas. Downtown sightseeing starts at Alamo Plaza, home of the Alamo and birthplace not only of Texas liberty but also of San Antonio tourism. Here you can take guided tours, a city bus or trolley, or just enjoy a pedestrian look at the area. Behind Alamo Plaza lies the Paseo del Rio or River Walk, one of the most visited spots in Texas. Located below street level, the river banks are lined with sidewalk cafes and specialty shops.

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