In a state known for its transportation network and affinity for big trucks, San Antonio, Texas, proves to be surprisingly bikeable. I visited in September, but the city’s year-round manageable weather with rare freezing temperatures makes any season bike-worthy. Bring your own bike, rent a bike from the many bike shops around town, or take advantage of San Antonio’s network of BCycle docking stations, where you can pick up an electric pedal-assist bike to get from one point to another. Then hit the road on this self-guided San Antonio bike tour.
Photo: Felipe Sanchez/Shutterstock
From the River Walk to the Missions, San Antonio Is Surprisingly Bikeable. Here’s Where to Go on Two Wheels.
Things to see and do on your San Antonio bike tour
Tower of the Americas
Photos: Devin Reese
To start your San Antonio experience with a perspective of the entire city, head to the Tower of the Americas (which, by the way, has a BCycle docking station). At 750 feet tall, it’s the highest view you’ll find in San Antonio. When the Tower was built in 1968 for the HemisFair World’s Fair, it had the tallest observation tower in the US, and it’s still impressive.
The elevator has a clear glass wall, giving you a view all the way up. Even without paying for the extras (such as the revolving restaurant and 4-D Theater Ride), your $19.50 general admission includes the unforgettable experience of walking around the 360-degree Flags Over Texas Observation Deck. Wind whips and whistles through high vents, reinforcing how far off the ground you are and giving you a taste of the outside air.
From the observation walkway, I found myself stunned at the city’s immense footprint, made up of famous landmarks like The Alamo dwarfed by larger, modern buildings. Note: You can also visit the Tower on a San Antonio CityPASS ($62 includes four San Antonio attractions of your choice).
Tower of the Americas: 739 Cesar E. Chavez Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78205
Downtown San Antonio
Photos: Devin Reese
The World Population Review ranks San Antonio as the sixth-largest city in the US by population, but it feels remarkably uncrowded from the ground. Just biking around downtown, you’re visually rewarded by the city’s lively urban art culture. Wall murals are common, typically with cultural and/or historical themes. Design-centered gates and bridges give the city a fanciful feel. You’re sharing the roads with cars and occasional horse-driven carriages for tourists, but the wide streets, many with bike lanes, make it reasonable.
From downtown, you’re also a short bike ride to the San Antonio River, an ideal corridor for accessing a variety of attractions, including restaurants and museums.
Downtown San Antonio: Various, San Antonio, TX 78205
San Antonio River Trails
Photo: f11photo/Shutterstock
San Antonio may win the prize for the best riverside trail system. The paved trails on both banks extend for 15 miles, inviting pedestrians and bicycles to the River Walk. Although you have to be careful riding a bike through the central, most visited portions (including a couple of spots with signage to “walk bikes”), the River Walk is a fabulous corridor to access a range of San Antonio neighborhoods by bicycle.
Head north from downtown to access Museum Reach, where you’ll find the San Antonio Museum of Art and many public art installations. I loved the school of iridescent sunfish crafted by artist Donald Lipski that dangle from what would otherwise be just another interstate overpass. I didn’t have the chance to see them lit up at night, but apparently they sparkle. And, if you visit in December, expect to find the entire Museum Reach resplendent in lights.
In the Museum Reach, there are also pockets of lush, restored native vegetation. The natural spaces invite people to hang out on benches and under trees. If you continue north on the River Walk, you come to a long section through Brackenridge Park, from where you can visit the San Antonio Zoo, the Witte Museum, and other popular attractions.
Thanks to a collaboration of organizations (including City Parks and the River Authority), San Antonio has a trail system of just more than 100 miles that links up multiple greenways. The Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails wind along streams and through parks connected by marked trails in neighborhoods where needed. You can pick up the trail downtown near The Alamo, then take it south to a circuit around the entire city. The Greenway trails are paved and wide enough for a mix of walkers, joggers, and cyclists. Compared to what I’m used to in other cities, the Greenway is a safe, relaxing option for getting around.
In a commitment to recreation and sustainable transportation, San Antonio is in the process of expanding the Greenway. Planned expansions include a network of trails connecting San Antonio for approximately 100 miles to Austin, Texas, via a series of four natural, aquifer-fed springs. See the plan, targeted for completion by the 2036 Texas Centennial here.
Museum Reach: Various, San Antonio, TX 78215
Annual Tour de Las Misiones
Photo: Devin Reese
San Antonio’s Hike & Bike Trail connects The Alamo, downtown, to the other four Spanish Missions: Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada.
I was lucky to visit in early September and catch a group bike ride, hosted by the World Heritage Festival, to all the Spanish Colonial Missions. Because the festival honors the region’s cultural heritage, it was preceded by a celebration at Mission Park that included Native Payaya Peoples (original San Antonio inhabitants) in traditional clothes, people of Spanish origin mounted on horseback, and a mariachi band to see us off in style.
For the “Tour de las Misiones,” you could choose from 7-mile, 14-mile, and 22-mile options. For this “slow and social bike ride,” you can either bring your own bike or rent a bike. I chose the 22-mile option on a San Antonio BCycle pedal-assist bike at a special price of $10 for the entire event. Usually, you’d dock a bike every hour to avoid extra charges, but all charges were waived for the Tour de las Misiones. If you cycled the route on your own, you could use the BCycle docking stations at each of the Missions.
As BCycle’s Marketing and Communications Manager Alicia Spence-Schlesinger explained, “the San Antonio BCycle network is especially configured to support the Mission-Mission visits and trail system.”
The ride is on a combination of trails, plus several streets that were closed for the event. It’s a festive event, with several hundred participants (apparently this year’s total was about 550 people) chatting and riding. We stopped at each Spanish Mission for a brief description of its history from a local. With 5-10 minutes at each stop, we had just enough time to take a few photos and catch our breath. The organizers provided snacks and drinks to keep us all ride-worthy. Although I was on the electric-assist bike, many people were on regular bikes, and the terrain was mostly flat. All in all, the ride took our group about 2.5 hours and concluded with free rice and beans, plus local Alamo beer.
Hike & Bike Trail: Various, San Antonio, TX 78215
Where to eat and drink on your San Antonio bike tour
Mi Tierra
Just a mile west of downtown — an eight-minute bike ride — is a restaurant that will leave you smiling. Mi Tierra Café y Panadería was founded 75 years ago by Pedro Cortes and his wife, Cruz, after they immigrated from Mexico. It prospered and grew from a small place that reminded Mexicans of home to a huge, colorful gathering place that celebrates Mexican cuisine, culture, folklore, and history.
Cruz became the chef, while Pedro managed the business, and now — several generations later — it’s still family-run. The Cortez family also owns a handful of other San Antonio restaurants. I was warmly greeted by the staff, the lively décor, and the sound of mariachis singing romantic songs. The menu is typical Tex-Mex, with large portions of dishes like nachos and fajitas. But it also serves some special plates like the Michoacan — “tender young goat baked to perfection.”
My favorite part about Mi Tierra was the ambience. After dinner, I admired a wall-sized painted mural of a Mexican street scene. In one of the sprawling restaurant’s several dining areas, I found a shrine to those who have passed away, highlighting this family restaurant’s deep community connections.
Mi Tierra Café y Panadería: 218 Produce Row, San Antonio, TX 78207
Rita’s
If you want to have a happy hour or meal right on the river, you can’t beat Rita’s. Just a three-minute ride from downtown, Rita’s is a well-known margarita bar with an airy patio a stone’s throw from the water. While you sip one of its many margarita options (in my sampling, I liked La Fresa and La Piña Picante), you can watch the riverboats go by. Or, right down the way is one of the GO RIO Cruise docks, where you can catch either a narrated history tour or a shuttle to another dock.
Rita’s food menu represents the ubiquitous San Antonio Tex-Mex, such as guacamole, tortilla soup, and burgers. As a vegetarian, I really appreciated the spicy red enchiladas, bathed in a rich, roasted red pepper sauce and accompanied by black beans and an ear of elote (street corn) sprinkled with the traditional garlicky cheese.
Rita’s on the River: River Level, 245 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Boudro’s
Photo: Devin Reese
Just a couple of minutes from downtown by bike (0.4 miles) is another riverfront gem: Boudro’s Texas Bistro on the Riverwalk. A bit more upscale in price and menu, it serves a range of fish and meat dishes, using local ingredients such as Gulf of Mexico crab. I savored the well-seasoned blackened Gulf fish fillet, eager to try something caught locally. The black and white soup — a duo of black beans and cheddar — was a delicious combination. And the wild field mushrooms, sitting atop goat cheese polenta, were something to write home about. I even found room for a Louisiana bread pudding with a whiskey sauce.
Boudro’s: 421 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Where to stay in San Antonio on a bike-centric trip
Photo: University of College/Shutterstock
The good news for travelers exploring San Antonio by bike is that many of the areas where you’ll want to spend your time are also the most convenient places to stay. Downtown and the River Walk put you within easy pedaling distance of major attractions, BCycle docking stations, and wide streets with bike lanes. From there, it’s simple to ride north along the river toward the Museum Reach and the Pearl District — another bike-friendly hub with protected river paths, excellent dining, and a dense cluster of BCycle stations — or head south on mostly car-free paths to the Missions, never straying far from food, shade, or a place to take a break. Just south of downtown, the King William and Southtown neighborhoods appeal to cyclists with quieter residential streets, a strong café and gallery scene, and direct access to the Mission Reach trail system.
Plenty of centrally located hotels make things extra easy by offering complimentary bikes for guests. Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk and Kimpton Santo San Antonio – Riverwalk both provide comfortable bikes for city riding, while Hotel Emma in the Pearl District loans out complimentary Electra bikes. Visiting cyclists have also said that the Drury Inn & Suites San Antonio Riverwalk is a great option owing to its location next to the Valero Park Trailhead, making it an easy jump onto the city’s trail network.
Tips and tricks for biking around San Antonio
Photo: Devin Reese
- Use the river as your navigation tool. San Antonio’s river trail system is one of the easiest ways to move through the city by bike. When in doubt, aim for the river — north leads toward museums and the Pearl District, while south takes you directly to the Missions on mostly car-free paths.
- Share the trails. When biking San Antonio’s trails, it’s important to remember that you’re sharing them and conduct yourself accordingly. Slow down around pedestrians. Signal when passing on mixed-use trails. Stay to the right unless passing. You can brush up on more trail etiquette here.
- Mind the weather. San Antonio gets hot in the summer. Aim for early morning or late afternoon rides to avoid peak heat, and bring plenty of water — hydration stops are available along the Greenway and River Walk trails, but it’s always a good idea to carry extra for longer days on the bike. On that note, sunscreen and breathable clothing also make a big difference under the Texas sun.
- Be prepared for festivals and events. San Antonio is a festive city. Expect to encounter parades, fiestas, and other cultural events that draw crowds, especially downtown and near the Missions. Streets may close unexpectedly, but this often works in cyclists’ favor — just be prepared for detours and slower riding through busy areas.
