The San Antonio Missions

I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and it has always been a dream of mine to visit the historic San Antonio missions. In fact, completing this tour has been on my bucket list for the longest time! As much as I enjoy traveling around the world and learning about far away places, nothing has captured my heart more than learning the history of my hometown. I am thrilled to have experienced this tour. These historic churches were built during the 1700’s by the Spanish, and served as a fortress for the natives of South Texas who were trying to escape disease, drought, and hostility of other Native American tribes.

The Five Churches

Considered part of the National Park Service, the five missions are:

• Mission Espada
• Mission San Juan Capistrano
• Mission San José
• Mission Concepcíon
• Mission San Antonio De Valero (The Alamo)

With the exception of The Alamo, all of the missions still operate with regular services.

Click HERE to learn about mission service times and contact information.

Getting Around

There are several options for traveling the mission trail. You can drive, bike, walk, or take the bus. I chose to drive since my visit was during the winter. There is free parking at all of the missions except The Alamo.

If you drive to Alamo, I would suggest parking at the Rivercenter Mall garage. The parking is inexpensive ($5) and other parking lots around can charge as high as $20. The Riverwalk’s mission reach connects four of the missions and the river is also open for kayaking.

Maps and Tours

You can find a complete map of the hike and bike trail HERE. You can also find information on public transportation HERE.

Free guided tours are provided by Park Rangers and Volunteers. Contact the visitor center for information on scheduling a tour. The park also provides a free audio tour.

If you end your tour at the Alamo and get hungry, there are tons of restaurants along the Riverwalk that are delicious!

I’m so excited that I finally crossed this experience off of my Texas bucket list! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.