Roadtrip with RVshare Houston to San Antonio

Traveling between NASA’s Space Center mission headquarters and San Antonio’s facility is a beautiful adventure. While most people will zip down Interstate 10, there are many wonderful state parks, like Brazos Bend and Stephen F. Austin, that you will want to stop and explore. On your way, make a note to pay a visit to the San Antonio Zoo, or marvel at the Houston Space Center. Don't forget to explore small towns like Columbus and Seguin while you're at it!

Nearby National Parks

While there are no national parks on the Houston to San Antonio road trip route directly, check out RVshare's national parks guide to explore choices for future adventures. 

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park  

Built during the 1700s, the four missions making up San Antonio Missions National Historical Park allowed residents to survive drought, enemy attack, and diseases. Hike, bike, or drive your car to the sites that are about 2.5 miles apart from each other. Start your adventure at San Francisco de la Espada as it is the southern-most mission. This community was formed in 1690, and the church was completed in 1756. While you're here, you can also see the ancient loom where the wool from sheep raised by the residents was made into clothes. The next mission is Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded in 1716, with the church being completed in 1756. Be sure to view the living history garden with its water coming from the historic acequia. The third mission to the north is Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo. This mission, which is over 300 years old, was the largest in the San Antonio area. The last mission that is part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is Mission Conception. Built in 1755, it is the oldest unrestored church in America.

Nearby State Parks

  Brazos Bend State Park  

While on Texas Highway 36 near Sealy, head south about 50 miles to explore Brazos Bend State Park near Needville, Texas. This park contains over 37 miles of trails that are perfect for hiking, biking, or horseback riding. Grab your fishing pole to see what you can catch in this park’s three lakes. Stop at the nature center to learn about the three ecosystems found in this park. In the evening, Brazos Bend is a fantastic place to study the night sky due to a lack of light pollution.

Stephen F. Austin State Park  

Get off Interstate 10 at the San Felipe exit and head north about three miles to reach Stephen F. Austin State Park. Hike or bike around the upland swamp and along the five miles of trails located under a large variety of foliage including cedar elm, hickory, green ash, cottonwood, sycamore, and hack­berry trees. At Stephen F. Austin State Park, you can catch glimpses of whitetail deer and other wildlife. This park’s dining hall is a great place to host a party. For more leisurely activities, the Brazos River running through the north end of this park is a terrific place to go fishing. 

Buescher State Park  

Get off Interstate 10 at Columbus and head northeast for about 48 miles to reachBuescher State Park near Smithville. This park is a fantastic place to go on a family bike ride. Hike along six miles of trails running under large oak and cedar trees. This state park is a wonderful place to go fishing for largemouth bass. The 30-acre lake is a favorite with many paddlers as well.

Lockhart State Park  

Get off the interstate at Luling and head about 16 miles north to reach Lockhart State Park. Play a round of golf on the historic nine-hole golf course. The group recreation hall with its outdoor dance floor is a fantastic place to dance under the starry night sky. To cool off, after a night of dancing take a dip in the swimming pool. Clear Fork Creek is a superb spot to go fishing if you're so inclined. As you walk around the hiking trails, be sure to keep an eye out for arrowheads. Throughout this park, you can see the work that was done by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) more than 80 years ago, including a stone water tower. 

Palmetto State Park  

About an hour before you get to San Antonio on your road trip, stop and pay a visit to Palmetto State Park. This park near Gonzales is a terrific place to go swimming or paddling on Oxbow Lake. You may also want to go canoeing or floating on the San Marcos River. Head to the Oxbow Lake Pier for some fishing fun. It is also a great place to go for a bike ride, and bikes can be rented from the park’s headquarters.

Along the Way

Space Center Houston  

Located about 30 miles southwest of downtown Houston, Space Center Houston is a fascinating place to explore. See one of two SpaceX Falcon 9 boosters on public display. Climb into shuttle replicas mounted on a NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft or troll past a comprehensive collection of spacesuits worn during historic flights. Tour the astronaut flight training program, watch an interactive show in the International Space Center Gallery, or try the motion and virtual reality simulators to experience what life is like on the space shuttle. 

Dewberry Farms  

The experience at Dewberry Farms near Brookshire varies throughout the year. You can always ride the 50 amusement rides. In the fall, see if you can find your way out of the 8-acre corn maze. Pick seasonal flowers, try your hand at gemstone mining, and take a ride on the boxcar train. Yummy fair-style food is always available at this farm, where you can also watch pig races and climb up the hay mountain. There are also plenty of fun family photo ops in the area to document all of the memories you make while you're here!

 Painted Churches of Schulenburg  

The Painted Churches of Schulenburg are in Schulenburg, Dubina, High Hill, Praha, and Ammannsville. Contact the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce to set up a tour of these facilities, which are open for tours every day except Sundays. While these churches built in the late 1800s and early 1900s by Czech and German immigrants look ordinary from the outside, you'll see artistic masterpieces once you are inside. Most have outstanding woodwork, intricate stonework, and beautiful stained-glass windows. Each church has its fascinating displays and history. For example, Saint Mary’s High Hill Church in Schulenburg features full-size biblical figures on top of tall columns while St. John’s Lutheran Church in Serbin features a pulpit that is 20 feet off the ground. 

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch  

The Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch is located about 30 miles from downtown San Antonio. See over 30 species of African animals on the six-mile drive-thru safari. Feed the animals as they approach your vehicle. Take a stroll through the giraffe barn, and watch the lemurs playing on their private island. Get up close to primates, birds, and other animals. This attraction is also a terrific place to dine during your Houston to San Antonio road trip because of its immense beauty. 

San Antonio Zoo  

The San Antonio Zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals from more than 750 different species. While you can have a lot of fun strolling through the zoo, consider some of the options to upgrade your experience. Get incredibly close to rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, tortoises, and okapi. Let butterflies land on you at the flight school, and feed the lorries at Lorry Landing, where the birds might even land on your head. No trip would be complete without a ride on the carousel.

Main Cities You Will Pass Through

Katy, Texas  

Katy is a great place to play at the waterpark, visit the local history museum, and go shopping. Campgrounds in Katy include Katy Lake RV Resort, Westlake RV Resort, and Cinco Ranch RV Park. You can find Katy RV dump stations at Washington County Fairgrounds, Houston West RV Park, and other Texas locations. 

Columbus, Texas  

Located along the Colorado River, Columbus offers many nearby outdoor recreation opportunities and shops in the historic downtown area. Columbus campground options include Columbus RV Park & Campground, Colorado River RV Campground, and Waldo’s Camp. Find RV dump stations in Columbus at Motorcoach RV Park, Columbus RV Park & Campground, and other Texas locations. 

Seguin, Texas  

Lake Dunlap and Son’s Island are excellent places to go canoeing near Seguin. Seguin Hilltop RV Park, Meadow Lake Resort, and River Shade RV Park are fantastic campgrounds in Seguin. RV dump stations in Seguin can be found at Leisure Resort, Hill Shade RV Park, and other Texas locations. Check the schedule at the fairgrounds as special events frequently happen there that you may want to include in your road trip from Houston to San Antonio.

Find Adventure from Houston to San Antonio

Find your One-Way Rental

When you follow this road trip itinerary from Houston to San Antonio, you will enjoy historic locations and beautiful scenery along the way. If you want to travel in comfort and style, consider an RV rental from RVshare. From large motorhomes to compact campervans, there is a rig that will meet your travel and budget needs. Once you hit the road, you are protected by our renter guarantee and 24/7 roadside assistance. Find the perfect vehicle for your travel needs in Houston or San Antonio.