Day Trippin' › Texas › From San Antonio › Best history spots
Our picks for the best history spots within 3 hours of San Antonio: 19 places, 2 under an hour away, 6 between 1 and 2 hours and 11 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 78205.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Landmark Inn State Historic Site, 26 min west of San Antonio.
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Photo: Renelibrary, CC BY-SA 4.0
#1 · Town · 38 min northeast
A 15-acre historic district on the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, with old township buildings, local shops, food and free live music daily.
Heads-up: Some shows are ticketed. Parking fills on weekends. Pair with tubing on the Guadalupe or Comal.
Photo: Hot Furnace, CC BY-SA 4.0
#2 · Town · 1 hr 7 min north
A Hill Country town founded in 1846 by German settlers, known for German food, history museums, more than 150 shops and nearly 100 wineries nearby.
Heads-up: Hosts hundreds of festivals a year, so book rooms early. Pair with Enchanted Rock or Luckenbach.
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
#3 · Historic site · 26 min west
A historic inn on five shady acres by the Medina River in Castroville, the Little Alsace of Texas, with an exhibit hall and rooms for overnight stays.
Heads-up: Open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk around old Castroville after.
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0
#4 · Museum · 1 hr 15 min northeast
Three floors of exhibits on Texas history near the State Capitol in Austin, with an IMAX theater.
Heads-up: Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free on the first Sunday of each month. IMAX costs extra.
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
#5 · Historic site · 1 hr 15 min north
Across the river from the LBJ Ranch, this free park has the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, where rangers in period dress run a farm from about 1918. Bison and longhorns graze along the Pedernales.
Heads-up: Easy 1.2 miles of trails. Stop here for the free LBJ Ranch driving permit. Check whether the summer pool is open.
Photo: Jim Evans, CC BY-SA 4.0
#6 · Museum · 2 hr 4 min southeast
A World War II aircraft carrier docked on Corpus Christi Bay, with planes on the flight deck, a flight simulator and a 3D theater.
Heads-up: General admission sold only at the ship on the day you visit. Lots of steep ladders inside, call about access. Next door to the Texas State Aquarium.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#7 · State park · 2 hr 11 min east
Shady park on the Brazos River about 50 minutes west of Houston, with five miles of hiking and biking trails near historic San Felipe.
Heads-up: Trails close when muddy. San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site and its museum are a short drive away. Reserve on busy days.
Photo: Not home at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
#8 · Town · 2 hr 11 min southwest
A border city on the Rio Grande with a historic downtown of Spanish colonial buildings, murals and San Agustin Plaza.
Heads-up: Visitor center on Salinas Ave. Pair with Lake Casa Blanca. Big Washington's Birthday Celebration each year.
Photo: Wolfgang Manousek from Dormagen, Germany, CC BY 2.0
#9 · Museum · 2 hr 51 min east
Four floors of natural science exhibits in the Museum District, plus the Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and a giant-screen theater.
Heads-up: Open Monday to Thursday 9 to 5, Friday to Sunday 9 to 6. The gems and minerals hall and the entomology hall were closed in late 2026.
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
#10 · Historic site · 2 hr 28 min southeast
An 1877 Victorian mansion in Fulton with a mansard roof and gas lights and flush toilets that were new for the time.
Heads-up: Last ticket 3:15 p.m. Start at the education center behind the house.
Photo: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 3.0
#11 · Museum · 2 hr 38 min northeast
Waco museum on the history of the Texas Rangers law-enforcement agency.
Heads-up: Open daily 9 to 5, last guest in at 4:30. Plan about 2 hours. Free parking. Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Photo: Bry0909, CC BY-SA 4.0
#12 · Bike trail · 2 hr 47 min east
Houston bayou park with trails for walking and biking, the historic Cistern, kayak and bike rentals and the Johnny Steele Dog Park.
Heads-up: Bikes under 10 mph with a helmet; some asphalt sections are walkers only. Part of the Kinder Trail is closed with a detour. Lit areas 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Cistern open Wednesday to Sunday 10 to 6.…
Photo: Vami IV, CC BY-SA 4.0
#13 · Historic site · 2 hr 58 min northwest
A well-preserved frontier Army fort in downtown San Angelo with restored and reconstructed barracks and other buildings.
Heads-up: Self-guided tours Mon-Sat 9 to 4:30 and Sun 1 to 4:30. Kids 6 and under free. Closed on major holidays. Tours may be cancelled in bad weather.
Photo: Ernest Mettendorf, Public domain
#14 · Museum · 1 hr 6 min north
A large museum in Fredericksburg about the Pacific War of World War II, with galleries across a campus and a Pacific Combat Zone area.
Heads-up: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Monday. Pacific Combat Zone closes at 3 p.m. Check the accessibility page.
Photo: LoneStarMike, CC BY 3.0
#15 · Historic site · 1 hr 16 min northeast
The grand state capitol in Austin, a National Historic Landmark, with free guided tours and grounds to explore.
Heads-up: Free guided tours leave from the South Foyer about every 15-30 minutes. Building open daily. Closed on some holidays.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park (1 hr 17 min), King Ranch (2 hr 16 min), Dr Pepper Museum (2 hr 39 min), Museum of Fine Arts Houston (2 hr 50 min)
Our top picks are Gruene Historic District (38 min), Fredericksburg (1 hr 7 min), Landmark Inn State Historic Site (26 min), Bullock Texas State History Museum (1 hr 15 min) and Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site (1 hr 15 min). The page lists 19 places in all.
19: 2 under an hour away, 6 between 1 and 2 hours and 11 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 78205.
Landmark Inn State Historic Site, about 26 min west of San Antonio.
7 need no pass or fee, including Fredericksburg, Gruene Historic District and Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. Fees change, so check each place.
19 of the 19 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.