Things to Do Under an Hour from San Antonio with Kids

21 kid-friendly adventures under an hour from San Antonio, nearest first.

About these times. Each estimate is a straight-line measurement from downtown San Antonio, padded by 17% for winding roads and divided by a 55 mph average — so “under an hour” means roughly that, not a routed time. Traffic, where in San Antonio you start, and the last few miles of park road can all move it by half an hour. Check a map before you load the car.

about 10 min drive

Briscoe Western Art Museum

San Antonio, TX

Museum
Ages 5–18+ Paid

Compact Western art museum on the San Antonio River Walk with a stagecoach, saddles, historic …

about 10 min drive

Eisenhower Park

San Antonio, TX

Hiking
Ages 3–18+ Free

Observation tower and six miles of trails with playground. Free. Best from about age 3. About two …

about 10 min drive

Friedrich Wilderness Park

San Antonio, TX

Hiking
Ages 4–18+ Free

Free 600-acre Hill Country hiking on the edge of San Antonio. Free. Best from about age 4. About two …

about 10 min drive

Government Canyon State Natural Area

San Antonio, TX

Hiking
Ages 5–18+ Paid

40 miles of trails with dinosaur tracks in the limestone. Paid entry. Best from about age 5. A …

about 10 min drive

Natural Bridge Caverns

San Antonio, TX

Nature
Ages 4–18+ Paid

Largest Texas cavern with ropes course and outdoor maze above ground. Paid entry. Best from about …

about 10 min drive

Phil Hardberger Park

San Antonio, TX

Hiking
Ages 2–18+ Free

Land bridge and world-class nature playscape in San Antonio. Free. Works from toddler age. About two …

about 10 min drive

SEA LIFE San Antonio Aquarium

San Antonio, TX

Aquarium
Ages 1–12+ Paid

Small River Walk aquarium in San Antonio with a walk-through ray and shark tunnel plus supervised …

about 10 min drive

San Antonio Museum of Art

San Antonio, TX

Museum
Ages 4–18+ Paid

Art museum in a castle-like former brewery on San Antonio's Museum Reach, holding mummies, Roman …

about 10 min drive

about 10 min drive

about 35 min drive

Enchanted Springs Ranch

Boerne, TX

Nature
Ages 2–18+ Paid

Old West ranch with pony rides and rescued exotic animals. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. About …

about 40 min drive

Comal River Tubing

New Braunfels, TX

Tubing
Ages 4–18+ Paid

Gentle spring-fed tubing on the 2.5-mile Comal River in New Braunfels TX - tube rentals with shuttle …

about 40 min drive

Guadalupe River State Park

Spring Branch, TX

Swimming
Ages 3–18+ Paid

Cypress-lined Guadalupe River swimming with guided paddles and hikes. Paid entry. Best from about …

about 40 min drive

Guadalupe River State Park Camping

Spring Branch, TX

Camping
Ages 2–18+ Paid

Four miles of cypress-lined Guadalupe River frontage with drive-up and walk-in campsites, forty-five …

about 45 min drive

Canyon Lake Gorge

Canyon Lake, TX

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Guided tours through a limestone gorge with dinosaur tracks and fossils. Paid entry. Better for ages …

about 1 hr drive

Guadalupe River at Horseshoe Falls

Comfort, TX

Swimming
Ages 3–18+ Free

Natural horseshoe waterfall on the Guadalupe River near Comfort. Free. Best from about age 3. About …

about 1 hr drive

Blue Hole Regional Park

Wimberley, TX

Swimming
Ages 3–18+ Paid

Spring-fed swimming hole with a famous rope swing under bald cypress trees in Wimberley TX - summer …

about 1 hr drive

Jacob's Well Natural Area

Wimberley, TX

Swimming
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Crystal-clear artesian spring swimming hole in Wimberley TX - swimming requires advance online …

about 1 hr drive

Rio Vista Park

San Marcos, TX

Swimming
Ages 4–18+ Free

Crystal-clear spring-fed river with natural falls for floating and swimming. Free. Best from about …

about 1 hr drive

Blanco State Park

Blanco, TX

Swimming
Ages 2–18+ Paid

Small-town river swimming and tubing perfect for young children. Paid entry. Works from toddler age. …

about 1 hr drive

Blanco State Park Camping

Blanco, TX

Camping
Ages 1–18+ Paid

Compact CCC-era campground under pecan trees on the Blanco River, one of the gentlest first camping …

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