It is unlikely you will be thinking ‘seaside getaway’ when you hear of this city.
However, San Antonio does have beaches available, and they are very beautiful.
Sure, the ocean is several hours away, in fact, one of the closest beach locations would be near Corpus Christi.
However, San Antonio is blessed to have many non-oceanic bodies of water that surround it such as rivers, lakes, and natural springs.
So, you needn’t stay in San Antonio only to drive down to Corpus for a beach day!
Today, we will help you out and give you the intel on the best water features around San Antonio.
All the way from plunging pools to secluded shores, there are plenty of places on our list for adrenaline junkies, beach lovers, and those who just want to sit back and relax.
So, before you pack your bags check in on our information!
The Best Beaches In And Nearby San Antonio
Want to jump to a couple of beaches real quick, got some locations in mind but want more details, no problem.
Here are the locations we will be giving you the info about today:
Comal Park is only around an hour outside of San Antonio, and those who are ‘in the know’ can easily be greeted by the sandy beaches and blue waters found there, it is definitely one of our favorite places.
This location is found on the Southern shore of Canyon Lake, and is probably one of the closest and best beaches close to San Antonio that people can swim in.
It is maintained all year round and is super safe for those who wish to swim in it.
As well as there being a long area of real estate on the waterfront where you can lounge, you can also enjoy picnics, go out on the water on a boat, or play some beach volleyball here.
It could sound a bit too good to be true, and sure, the beach does draw in quite a crowd of visitors, especially during the summer, and there is a lack of shade along the lakefront, however, in exchange for a lovely day at the beach, this is not too bad!
You should show up early on in the day with some umbrellas to grab yourself a spot by the water. To enter the park you will need to pay $10 per non-country vehicle, it is open from March to October each year.
For 4 miles alongside the banks of the Guadalupe River, you will find a beach. This is one of the most popular go-to locations in all of Texas for paddling and tubing, and there is no surprise.
The river has a strong current that makes miles of leisurely floating with scenic visas on the sides a dream come true.
This is a really unique and very fun way to get familiar with the landscaping of Central Texas.
Here you will find 13 miles of biking trails and hiking trails too, so you can enjoy the land as much as the water.
If you want a true and full Southern experience, you could also take some of these trails on horseback too!
To enter this park you will need to pay $7 for adults, but children who are 13 and younger enter for free.
If you want a beach that can also double as a spot of nature watching, this is the location for you.
If you are heading to Overlook Park Beach, you will want to take your binoculars with you. This park is well known for birdwatching and for its wildlife.
If you have a dog, you can also bring them too, just make sure they are on a leash.
At this beach there is a very short 0.6 mile loop you can walk, and a rocky beach with very beautiful clear, cool waters.
One of the highlights of this park beach is a hike that takes you along a dam, providing you with gorgeous views of the lake and Guadalupe River.
If you want to come here, you can enter for free, and it is open year round!
While a majority of Canyon Lake’s destinations are known for often drawing in significant amounts of people, this location is often one of the quietest.
Off of this lake you can picnic, hike, and bike, if you choose to go out on the water, you can swim, fish, and go boating.
If you are a fan of shells, the bottom of this lake will fascinate you, as the bottom is covered in them, so do not forget to bring your goggles along to take a look!
This park also offers RV campsites and tent campsites, from where you can enjoy lakefront views to soothe your soul and visits from the local deer population too.
You can stay a single night or may, but whatever you choose you will get some peace, quiet and time in the great outdoors!
But, it also still has deeper areas that can be used for canoeing and kayaking!
Here, you will also find plenty of options for water sports, if you are into that kind of thing.
You could go jet skiing, kayaking, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, and even tubing. You can even go paramotoring, a truly awesome experience.
The lake is also really accessible, however, this is not a sandy beach, the beachfront is actually made from pebbles, so you may want to bring shoes. It is not a sunbathing beach.
To come here, it will cost you $5 for each vehicle.
So far we have only mentioned the classic San Antonio beaches, this one is a little different, and you will probably feel like you aren’t even in Texas, even though it’s only an hour away from downtown San Antonio.
You will find lush forests over your head and some beautiful waters that come out from under the shade.
The Wimberley Blue Hole is a great hideout on hot summer days.
The area for swimming is spring-fed, so the water temperature is always just below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, all year.
Find rope swings, jumping platforms and so on. It is the ideal spot for those who seek adventure, but if you have young children, there is a shallow area too.
If you fancy taking a walk here, or doing some more land-based activities and making a whole day of it, there are also 6.5 miles of trails, as well as an amphitheater, playgrounds, basketball courts and volleyball courts too.
From May to September, you should reserve a place to swim in advance.
You can get tickets for $12 if you are an adult, but if you want a ticket for a child under 13 then it is $6. There are 2 time slots available: 9M to 1PM, or 2PM to 6PM.
Everything else here, and all their facilities are free.
Sunbathing or sitting on the beach is not to everyone’s tastes. For those who want more adventure, or who are there for the adrenaline, North Park Beach is ideal.
It could sound a bit odd for a place in Central Texas, but it is actually a well known location for scuba diving.
It has clear and fresh waters, but more excitingly, there are sunken ships and more fascinating things to find below the water’s surface.
If a single day does not fulfill you, there are also 19 primitive-style campsites around the lake, with picnic tables, lake views and fire pits for the best experience.
North Park Beach is only open on weekends from April until September, and it is pretty affordable too, you pay a small fee to enter, or if you want to stay overnight it is just $12!
Only 2.5 hours from San Antonio is Mustang Island State park.
This area is really diverse and is home to a wide range of activities that you can enjoy and fill your time with.
This beach has five miles of shoreline that is ideal for beachcombing, or sunbathing.
Also, since it is a barrier island, its gorgeous powdery sand holds treasures from the sea such as fossils, shells, and more.
This is one of the best state parks around San Antonio for those who enjoy birdwatching, as there are hundreds of species for you to spot!
If you are more interested in outdoor activities and adrenaline seeking, you can try water sports here too, such as parasailing, windsurfing or even kiteboarding.
If you would rather enjoy water sports at a slower pace, you could try out one of their paddling trails.
9. Jamaica Beach
If the beaches near San Antonio that we have mentioned so far are not ticking your boxes, then you should head on over to Galveston.
Galveston, Texas is a 4-hour drive away, near Houston city. And it will provide you with plenty of new experiences, sights and sounds to enjoy.
While Jamaica Beach is on Galveston Island, it is actually its very own city, and used to be a location which had the main function of serving as a weekend fishing getaway.
You can enjoy the water, beachfront, and canal spots, as well as a public pool that is accessible for $5 for a day.
There are cute pastel stilt houses around here that give you a unique experience, gorgeous powdery sand, and a bit of peace and quiet far from the busier strip of Galveston.
It is a little known gem, but still a must-visit destination if you enjoy the beach!
Only an hour outside of San Antonio is a well-hidden enchanting hideout that is tucked neatly away within the rolling hills and limestone cliff of Central Texas.
This is the result of an outstanding phenomenon, Jacob’s Well is the 2nd biggest fully submerged cave in the state, it is a pool fed by water which runs through an underground system, which also keeps this swimming hole at a comfortable and cool 68 degrees Fahrenheit year round.
If you are a thrill seeker, enjoy cliff diving into the well, but if you fancy more of a relaxing day here, you can sunbathe on the rocky beach below, or even enjoy a picnic.
This swimming hole is only open from May until September, and you need to reserve a space online in advance for a time slot of 2 hours.
Galveston, Corpus Christi, and South Padre Island will all fill up with crowds very fast, but there is always a hidden, quiet spot to enjoy on a beach.
This is the case with Port Aransas’s six-mile stretch of beach.
It is a 3-hour drive, so while it is not as long as Galveston, It is a bit further than Corpus Christi, as it is a little further South.
However, it is worth it for a bit of peace and quiet by the sea.
Cars are also allowed on this beach, so feel free to stock up your trunk with some drinks, snacks, and even use your vehicle as a source of shade from the hot Texas sun.
Feel free to build a campfire here, pitch a tent, and even stay overnight.
The waters of Port Aransas are great for paddling, swimming, or surfing, and on the land nearby, you can explore in a golf cart!
If you are willing to take a 2.5 hour drive from San Antonio, you can enjoy Rockport beaches crisp, clean waters, and its silky white sands.
It is also a very shallow beach, still being shallow even 100 feet from the sand, so it is a brilliant place to go booking for water birds, crabs, and even dolphins!
If you fancy sticking to the land however, you will find a short cycling and walking path, galleries, restaurants, and a strip of shops.
Each month there is a day where you can enjoy Rockport Market Days, which is a small festival. During this festival local vendors will offer drinks, food, and handmade arts.
Hi, my name is Alex Kallen and I love to travel. Ever since I could afford the ticket, I hopped on a plane and never looked back. I’ve made a living writing travel guides and blogging my experience all over the world.
I want to encourage and inspire others to travel around the US like I am. There’s no need to go on vacation overseas when there is an amazing land of opportunity right on your doorstep. Enjoy my website, I hope to see you out here one day.
