What's the best time to visit San Antonio?
From February to April, San Antonio is at its best, with warm, sunny weather perfect for exploring its rich culture and outdoor scenes. This season is brimming with vibrant events, from the traditional San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in February to the colorful Fiesta San Antonio in April, showcasing the city’s festive spirit. It’s the ideal time to enjoy Texas’s famous bluebonnets and experience the city’s lively festivals.
The city of San Antonio is one of the most popular destinations in Texas for a reason—it has something for everyone. History buffs will rush to see the famous Alamo, known as the site of David Crockett’s last stand.
The city’s former Mexican heritage is on display in its many missions and elaborate historic buildings. To cool off, head to the famous River Walk, or go on a boat tour. Culture lovers will get a kick out of the many cutting-edge restaurants, galleries, and venues including the Blue Star Arts Complex.
But making the most of a trip here means picking the best time to visit San Antonio. Don’t worry — we’ll show you this and much more below; let us be your guide!
The Overall Best Time to Visit San Antonio
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The best time to visit San Antonio is in the early spring (February-April), which has gorgeous weather and plenty to do. San Antonio is in south Texas, which means that its weather is fairly warm all year round.
Even in February, average daily high temperatures are about 67 degrees. In early spring, temperatures creep up to the high 70s and low 80s, with days that are mostly sunny and mild.
This is the perfect weather for walking around the city at any time of day. Spring in San Antonio starts early, with Texas’s famous bluebonnets often starting to show their pretty flowers in early March or even late February.
Visiting towards the beginning of the season allows you to take advantage of the best of the weather before it gets too hot, and to beat the crowds that tend to travel later in the spring.
Besides the good weather, the main reason for visiting San Antonio in the spring is the festive atmosphere around the city. Many of the finest events are during this time to take advantage of the mild weather.
It all starts in February with the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, a quintessentially Texas event. Visitors can check out animal exhibits and see exciting rodeo competitions.
February is the month for typical Texas fare in San Antonio—February 23rd is the anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo. The historic site organizes a commemoration featuring historical reenactments, parades, and gala evenings.
The city’s biggest party is the Fiesta San Antonio, which lasts all throughout April. This month-long party commemorates two important battles that led to Texas’s independence from Mexico, but the military history is long-forgotten in favor of a good time.
Expect over 100 events, including several parades, live music festivals, sports competitions, and so much more. You’ll be hard-pressed to find an available hotel room during this time, but it’s worth it for the party atmosphere.
Other popular spring events in San Antonio include:
- Bud Light St. Patrick’s Day Festival (March)
- Cajun Fest (March)
- PGA Valero Texas Open (April)
Cheapest Time to Visit San Antonio
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The cheapest time to visit San Antonio is during the winter (December-early February), when you can find good deals on hotels and travel. Winter is a slower time for travel to San Antonio, which means there is less demand.
These months are chillier than during the rest of the year, but not cold by any means (although some days can get cold if there is a wind blowing). Average temperatures in January and February are in the mid-high 60s, although at night temperatures can get close to freezing.
Even if you do get cold, knowing how much money you saved on travel can help you warm up. You can score 15-25% off average peak season room prices, with some hotels offering even deeper discounts.
Just make sure to check the San Antonio events calendar before you book because even during the winter, popular events can drive up hotel room prices.
The least expensive time to fly to San Antonio is January or February, because airlines offer post-holiday discounts. Visiting in December will be a bit more expensive, but it may be worth it to see the beautiful Holiday Lights on the River Walk and other decorations.
Least Busy Time to Visit San Antonio
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Overall, the least busy time to visit San Antonio is in the winter, but you can also beat the crowds by visiting in the fall. During the fall, the tourist high season winds down as early as September.
San Antonio returns to its laid-back pace of life, and you can even get good deals on hotels. Fall brings with it a number of festivals in this fun-loving city. The biggest is Día de los Muertos in early November, which has costumed parades and showcases of traditional Mexican culture.
There are also themed events set up for Halloween, such as haunted houses and other experiences. Besides the festivals, the best thing to do in San Antonio in the fall is to enjoy the city.
Temperatures are still warm enough to float along the River Walk without sweltering. Since there are fewer crowds, you can linger over tacos or nice cocktails without worrying about someone wanting your table. This is a great time to truly explore what the city has to offer.
Worst Time to Visit San Antonio
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The hands-down worst time to visit San Antonio is during the summer, when the unbearable heat and even worse crowds make the city quite unpleasant to be in.
Summer in this part of Texas is truly brutal. Average daytime highs in July and August in San Antonio are around 95 degrees, with some days being even hotter. Don’t expect all sunny skies in the summer either—May and June are actually the city’s rainiest months.
The high heat sometimes leads to sudden thunderstorms in July and August that make visitors soaking wet but don’t do much to cool down the weather.
Most visitors haven’t gotten the memo that visiting San Antonio during the summer is a bad idea since this is actually the city’s tourism high season. Since many summer visitors to San Antonio are families, they may not have a choice.
When schools are on break, the city is packed, and you can expect long lines at popular attractions and higher prices for hotels and other amenities. The one benefit of the warmer weather is that cooling off is half the fun of summer.
Summer is tubing season, and you can rent an inner tube and float down the San Antonio River Walk, or head out of the city to one of the nearby rivers popular with locals. Nearby lakes and springs provide watering holes to cool off.
Summer is the peak season for many family-friendly attractions. This may mean longer lines, but it also means longer hours at places such as Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and that nearby water parks will be open for the season.
This being San Antonio, no amount of heat can stop a good party, so there’s plenty of festivals to keep you busy. The city goes all out for Memorial Day and Independence Day, and there are frequent fireworks displays throughout the summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about picking the best time to visit San Antonio:
What month is best to visit San Antonio?
The best month to visit San Antonio is April, when you can take part in the famous Fiesta street party.
What time of year is the least expensive to go to San Antonio?
The least expensive time of year to go to San Antonio is in the winter, as long as you avoid the holiday season.
How many days do you need to see San Antonio?
Three days is enough to see San Antonio’s major sights and explore its great culture and food scene.
What are the best months in Texas?
To see more of Texas, the best months to visit are in April or late October/early November, when temperatures are mild enough to go exploring.
When is hurricane season in San Antonio Texas?
San Antonio is too far from the coast to be affected by hurricanes. It does have two mini rainy seasons, in May and June and then again in October.
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit San Antonio?
The best time to visit San Antonio is in the spring, when the city is at its finest. Temperatures are warm but not overwhelmingly hot, and you can catch some of the festivals that made the city famous.
So, with so much to see and do, what are you waiting for — book your trip today and experience for yourself all that San Antonio has to offer. Happy travels!