San Antonio is an adventurous city full of population, culture, and many exploration areas for any tourist. But if you’re looking to have more fun and venture further than the city limits, then I can bet you, you’re about to have a memorable trip. It is especially adventurous for anyone that loves spending time outdoors in nature.
There are many adventurous places to discover near San Antonio. Here, you’ll find something that you will do and always use as a conversation starter at family dinners. These activities do not leave anyone out. You can enjoy them if you’re a solo traveler, a couple, or a large group traveling together.
We know that San Antonio hosts many fun activities, amazingly delicious food, and many cultures. But when you’re a tourist, I’m sure you’d love to explore every other place there is to go. So, below, we give the top places we know you’ll enjoy near San Antonio.
What's there to do outside San Antonio?
It might always seem like it’s summer in Texas, and that’s why everyone goes on vacation there. Since you might be looking to squeeze in adventurous on your vacation or just need to breathe the fresh air away from San Antonio, we have the best activities we are sure you’ll enjoy. First off, remember to hydrate, as you will be outdoors the entire time. Activities you will get to participate in near San Antonio include:
- Swimming
- Picnics
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Biking
Which is the best place for a one-day trip?
You must not leave San Antonio before making a day trip that explores Old Town Helotes, followed by a Hill Country drive to Medina Lake. Exploring Old Town Helotes will be quite a charming time no matter what you love doing. The place is less crowded, and you’ll find excellent meals.
You can hop into one of the coffee houses for a quick boost or grab yourself and your company some great barbecue. If you love art, you can check out some galleries in the area.
After leaving Old Town Helotes, you can move on to Hill Country. Here, you can visit Medina Lake. This lake was first created for local irrigation purposes. You will notice how clear the lake water is, and that’s why most people go scuba diving there. You can also have a picnic, fish, swim, or do water sports. You can go kayaking, jet skiing, water skiing, or boating. It is never a dull moment at Medina Lake. If you love camping, you can set up a camp in the nearby camping areas near the lake.
7 Fun and Outdoorsy Things to do Near San Antonio
There are many activities you can prepare yourself for that aren’t far from San Antonio. If you are up for more adventures than what the city offers, then going out of it is the best thing you can do.
1. Swimming
If you’re a lover of water or would love to cool off from the hot Texas heat, you can drive off to Hill Country. It is full of unique and unexpected watering holes where you can swim in clear water provided to you by nature.
The watering holes include:
- Jacob’s Well– To reach this amazing swimming hole, you’ll drive an hour to Wimberly. The only way to access it is by calling ahead of time and making a reservation. When calling, you should also inquire about park rules.
- Blue Hole– The swimming hours at Blue Hole vary depending on the season, so check online. It is also located in Wimberly, so you’ll have to drive for an hour.
- Krause Springs– These amazing springs are located in Spicewood, an hour and a half drive away from San Antonio. There’s a fee, so check online for updates or call them.
- Schumacher Crossing– Located in Hunt, this clean water is an hour and a half drive away from San Antonio. You’ll be sure to enjoy the clear waters. This area is pretty popular, so avoid visiting it over the weekends as it will be crowded.
- Landa Park– Located in New Braunfels, this park has a lot of fun activities that you can be a part of. You will only have to drive forty minutes, then you’ll be able to swim, fish, and hike. If you’ve come along with kids, there’s a wading pool for them to enjoy.
- Blanco State Park– Just an hour away from San Antonio, you can visit this park to enjoy yourself in the natural water. You’ll need to keep in mind that there’s a fee charged daily for adults.
- Guadalupe River State Park– If you drive less than an hour from San Antonio, you’ll get the chance to hike, fish, camp, and swim, among other outdoor activities.
- McKinney Falls State Park– You’ll find that this park is filled with swimming holes, waterfalls, and camping areas. The only trick is to drive further from San Antonio as it is closer to Austin.
- Hamilton Pool Reserve– This famous swimming hole is over an hour’s drive from San Antonio. You’ll have to make a reservation before visiting. Also, you won’t find it open at all times as it sometimes closes due to high bacteria levels. You’ll need to pay in advance.
2. Picnics
There are many picnic spots with a view near San Antonio. Of course, coming on vacation means that you’re looking for time away from daily stresses and connecting more with nature. The most scenic and famous picnic spot is a short drive from the city to Hill Country. You can find yourself a perfect picnic spot in Hill Country as you enjoy the view and fresh air and disengage from all external stressors.
Other places you can go for a picnic include:
- Johnson Park– You will only need to drive for 21 minutes before arriving at this majestic and quiet spot. Shaded by oak and pecan trees, Johnson park offers the best environment to relax, catch up with others, and connect with mother nature. You’ll find tables all around the park, and you can choose the perfect one for your company.
- The Kingsland Slab– This spot is perfect for people who love swimming and picnics. This swimming hole is over an hour and thirty minutes from San Antonio. You can swim in the swimming holes, have a seat in the various places around the swimming holes, and have a picnic.
- Pace Bend Park- Drive over an hour to this amazing place with rocky cliffs and nine miles of shoreline. Beside the lake, you can set up your picnic and spend the rest of your day enjoying the sun, feasting, and swimming. You’ll pay for admission.
- Krause Springs– You can drive over an hour from the city to visit these springs. You can easily make your picnic spot under the canopy trees and swim or listen to the natural sounds of the waterfall. You’ll pay for admission.
3. Hiking
Spending time in nature while getting a good sweat session is every outdoorsy person’s dream. If you’ve already explored the options in San Antonio or just want something away from the city, you can check out these other great areas where you can hike. They include:
- McAllister Park– Drive 20 minutes from San Antonio, and you’ll find this gem. Here, you can find trails to follow and even bring your dog along for the journey. You can also get gym equipment here to turn your hike into a full-on workout session.
- Comanche Lookout Park– Visit the Lookout tower by driving 20 minutes from San Antonio. You can hike in the vast greenery of this park on its beautiful trails. It is kid and dog friendly too.
- Friedrich Wilderness Park– If you want to get the feel of Hill Country, this is the park you need to visit 25 minutes from San Antonio. You’ll find wheelchair-friendly trails here, but no pets or children are allowed. You can also keep a lookout for two endangered songbirds.
4. Kayaking
If you love kayaking, you should know that there are many spots to kayak in San Antonio and the areas surrounding it. If you’d like to go out of the norm and kayak outside San Antonio, here are some great places to visit:
- Hippie Hollow Park– Located an hour from San Antonio, this park is a favorite for most kayakers. The park only allows individuals over 18 to paddle. This place has steep and rocky cliffs over the shoreline, allowing for a beautiful and sheltered place for kayakers to explore.
- Komal River– Only forty minutes away from San Antonio, you can visit the shortest river in Texas. Its Tube Chute provides a very challenging experience for beginner kayakers. If you don’t have a lot of time to kayak, this river is your best friend. It only takes an hour to paddle its entirety, giving you enough time to appreciate it.
- San Marcos River– Set out for an hour’s drive to reach this fantastic river. The clear waters of this river are a sight to delight in. The river sustains many endangered species and will be a delight for any kayaker to experience the scenic views.
5. Camping
If your dream is to sleep under the stars, you can squeeze in a campout in the scenic areas around San Antonio. These places include:
- Blanco State Park– Drive an hour from San Antonio to only camp but also to fish, swim, and hike in this amazing park. It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to camping or not; Blanco State Park offers options suitable for both.
- Lost Maples State Natural Area– Drive over an hour away from the city to experience thirty campsites, one of which has water and electricity. You can also visit the other ones if you want to rough it up.
- Palmetto State Park– Drive an hour away to enjoy fishing, tubing, swimming, and canoeing in this park. There are campsites, RV sites, and cabins to pick your favorite camping place.
6. Fishing
Fishing is a great sport, and you can find some amazing places to do that or teach your young one fishing. Fishing areas near San Antonio include:
- Medina Lake is only 40 miles from San Antonio.
- Canyon lake is one hour from San Antonio.
- Calaveras lake is only twenty miles from the city.
- Braunig lake can be found seventeen miles south of San Antonio.
7. Biking
Biking is a fun outdoor activity to put in a sweat session while still spending some good time in nature. There are many places to bike near San Antonio, and we’ll list them and state the level of expertise required.
- Blue Loop, Hollywood Park for intermediate bikers.
- Leon Creek Greenway Trail, Leon Valley, is for beginners and intermediates.
- Sleeper Trail, Leon Valley, is for beginners as it’s super easy.
- Monkey Loop Trail, Leon Valley, is challenging and best for experts.
- Far Reaches Trail, Helotes, is for intermediate and experts.
- Dances with Trees Trail, Alamo Heights, is for beginners and intermediates.
Final Thoughts
If you want to explore the feeling of Texas while visiting San Antonio fully, the above areas have the greatest outdoorsy activities you can do near San Antonio. You will surely enjoy the sun, water, and nature.
