San Antonio to Galveston drive: Distance, time & best stops

The distance from San Antonio to Galveston by car is 250 miles, with a 3h48m driving time. The best road trip stops on the San Antonio to Galveston drive are Palmetto State Park, Stephen F Austin State Park and Houston.

Planning a San Antonio to Galveston road trip itinerary

The San Antonio to Galveston drive connects one of the biggest cities in Texas to the coast.

San Antonio’s most famous site is the Alamo, a fortified Spanish mission that played host to a critical battle in the Texas Revolution. It’s far from the only historic building in the city, though – the San Fernando Cathedral and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park are both visually impressive. It’s worth taking a guided tour of the missions for better understanding.

Further attractions include San Antonio Zoo, the Sea Life aquarium, the magic show at the Magicians Agency Theater and the Hopscotch Immersive Art Experience.

Other San Antonio experiences worth considering are the haunted ghost bus tour, downtown food tours, hop-on hop-off buses and Segway tours.

Book ahead for San Antonio accommodation deals. But try the Hotel Emma for five star opulence and the Canopy by Hilton for youthful energy on the Riverwalk.

Galveston TX has a dual personality. It is a serious port city, in particular serving the oil industry. On the other hand, it is a beach city, crammed with holiday-friendly attractions such as the Moody Gardens amusement park.

On the museum front, there’s the Wild West history-focused Bryan Museum, the pirate-centric Legends of the Gulf Coast Museum and the Moody Mansion.

Top things to do in Galveston include ghostly history tours, dolphin-watching cruises and e-bike adventure tours. There are also haunted pub crawls, thrill rides on a jet boat and Segway tours.

Great Galveston accommodation options include the gorgeously cool Tremont House and the beachside Best Western Plus Galveston Suites.

San Antonio to Galveston distance and driving time

By car, the distance from San Antonio to Galveston is 250 miles. Expect a driving time of around three hours and 48 minutes.

The best stops to add to a San Antonio to Galveston road trip itinerary are Palmetto State Park, Stephen F Austin State Park and Houston.

San Antonio to Galveston road trip attractions: Palmetto State Park

The dwarf palmettos and other tropical plants of Palmetto State Park make you feel further south than you really are. The Palmetto Trail is the best bet for hiking, but the highlight here is the San Marcos River. Swimming, fishing, tubing and canoeing are all permitted, while kayaks and paddleboards are available for hire.

San Antonio to Galveston drive: Stephen F Austin State Park

The Stephen F Austin State Park on the Brazos River is a popular hangout for campers, but it can also be enjoyed by travelers just passing through. There are five miles of hiking trails that veer from hardwood trees to swampland. The Nature Trail is the best bet if picking just one walk,

Nearby, you can visit the San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, which tells the tale of early settlers in Texas.

Best stops between San Antonio and Galveston: Houston

The top Houston attraction is unquestionably the NASA Space Center, which takes you behind the scenes of the Johnson Space Center. This includes the Mission Briefing Center, and a vast array of high tech exhibitions.

Other attractions include the Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Children’s Museum,

For more Houston experiences, try hip hop party bike tours, foodie walks in the Montrose neighbourhood and quirky tours of Houston’s tunnel system.

Top Houston accommodation options include the superb value Club Quarters Houston Downtown and the upscale but boutique Magnolia.