5 Best Summer Road Trip Destinations In and Around San Antonio, TX

Summer is the ideal time to gather your friends or family together and go on a road trip. If you’re looking for interesting landmarks, activities, or attractions to visit in the San Antonio, Texas, area, you have plenty of options. Start with the following five when planning a day or weekend getaway.

Note: Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, please verify the current state of operations by contacting the attractions directly. 

1. San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden

Start your trip in the heart of town at the San Antonio Japanese Tea Garden, at 3853 N. St. Mary’s St. Once a rock quarry, the 90-year-old attraction features intricate walkways, stone bridges, exotic gardens, lily ponds, an island, and a Japanese pavilion. Admire the 60-foot waterfall and the koi pond. Cap off your visit with a bite to eat at the Jingu House Cafe, which serves sandwiches, salads, sushi, and bento boxes in a lush and picturesque garden setting.

2. Cascade Caverns

Cascade Caverns is about 30 miles from San Antonio at 226 Cascade Caverns Road in Boerne. Enjoy the beautiful views as you drive through the scenic Texas Hill Country. Take a guided tour of the dark, cool, and, at times, watery underground caves to learn about their history and geology. Tour options include the one-hour Downunder Tour suitable for all ages, the 1 1/2-hour Flashlight Tour at dusk, and the 2 1/2-hour Adventure Tour that allows you to go spelunking in the lower caves.

Cascade Caverns also has 1 1/2 miles of nature trails and more than 100 campsites if you want to park an RV or pitch a tent and spend a weekend at this 105-acre park.

3. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Drive 1 1/2 hours north of San Antonio to visit Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, at 16710 Ranch Road in Fredericksburg, to see incredible views, rock formations, and archaeological sites. Climb to the top of the massive granite rock that rises 425 feet and covers 640 acres. The park includes 11 miles of hiking trails, including the popular 1.3-mile out-and-back summit trail, as well as opportunities for rock climbing and bouldering, stargazing, birdwatching, and camping.

4. Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

Take a quick 30-minute drive to Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, at 26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, to see more than 500 animals up close. The drive-through zoo is the ideal road trip destination that allows you to experience nature from the comfort of your car. At this 450-acre African safari-style attraction, you’ll get to see ostrich, zebra, buffalo, and nearly 40 other species. Don’t be surprised if friendly animals wander up to your vehicle’s windows.

5. Gruene Hall

The famed Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas, is just over 36 miles from San Antonio at 1281 Gruene Road in New Braunfels. The 6,000-square-foot building hasn’t changed much since it was built in 1878; it still sports the same pitched roof and open-air design. Since 1975, under its current ownership, Gruene Hall has hosted a who’s who of country, folk, rock, and Americana music performers. Spend a day in the town of Gruene browsing antique shops and sampling Tex-Mex cuisine, then dance the night away to exceptional live music.

From exotic wildlife to geologic wonders, the areas around San Antonio are home to a variety of attractions. Incorporate one or all of the above stops on your next road trip.

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