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Endless. Refreshing. Unmistakably San Antonio.

Best Things to Do in San Antonio with Kids This Summer

Discover Theme Parks, Hands-on Museums, Outdoor Adventures, and Family-friendly Attractions Across the City

Looking for the best things to do in San Antonio with kids this summer? From world-class theme parks and hands-on museums to River Walk adventures and family-friendly events, San Antonio is packed with unforgettable experiences for every age.

Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a full family summer vacation in Texas, you’ll find exciting attractions, outdoor adventures, educational experiences, and affordable activities all across the city. Spend the day riding roller coasters, cooling off at water parks, exploring historic landmarks, and making memories together from morning to night.

With fun for toddlers, teens, and parents alike, San Antonio makes summer travel easy, exciting, and full of discovery.

 

 
 

 

 Best Theme Parks & Water Parks in San Antonio for Families

With four world-class theme parks and exciting water parks to match, San Antonio is the perfect place for more unforgettable memories and less time spent traveling.

 
Where Animal Conservation Meets Fun

SeaWorld & Aquatica San Antonio

SeaWorld San Antonio blends the perfect amount of educational fun with thrilling adventures for the family. Get up close with marine life, catch high-energy shows, and keep the day going with water attractions just steps away. Then, head to Aquatica, where shaded cabanas, a stingray encounter, and waterslide fun keep the family cool throughout the day.

Together, they make the perfect experience where learning, excitement, and play all come together.

Experience Highlights

  • Take your SeaWorld trip to the next level with an animal encounter featuring a beluga whale, sea lion, dolphin, or even a penguin.
  • Live shows rotate seasonally, so every visit offers something new. Be sure to check out Shamu Rocks this summer.
  • AquaGlow at Aquatica is a family-friendly after-hours party where the fun continues, with fluorescent lights lighting the way for endless fun.
 
Big Thrills. Bigger Summer Days.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas & Hurricane Harbor

From heart-pounding coasters to splash-filled water rides, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is where families go all in on summer fun. Whether your family has small kids, teens, or a mix of all ages, it's easy to turn a single visit into a full day of excitement.

Keep it cool at Hurricane Harbor. For a small additional fee, get access to even more water slides, chutes, a lazy river, and a wave pool.

Experience Highlights

  • Take on thrilling rides and rollercoasters at the largest DC-themed theme park in the country.
  • Stay cool Texas-style. At Hurricane Harbor, the Texas-sized wave pool is the perfect answer for San Antonio's sunniest days.
  • Visiting around July 4? Don't miss Star-Spangled Nights for an incredible 360° firework spectacular.
 
Best Waterpark in Texas

Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort

Voted "Best Waterpark" time and time again, Schlitterbahn Waterpark delivers an unmatched mix of river rides, slides, pools, and attractions ranging from laid-back to adrenaline-pumping for everyone in the family.

With four massive sections, each one packed with its own rides, rivers, and play areas, you can spend hours exploring without ever repeating the same experience.

Experience Highlights

  • Make it a family competition with Wasserbahn racers, the brand-new slide where riders race each other to the finish line.
  • Take a ride aboard the Bow Wow Blaster, the world's first water coaster for kids.
  • Who in the family is brave enough to try the Master Blaster, voted the World's Best Water Ride in the United States?
 
Accessible Fun for the Whole Family

Morgan's Wonderland & Morgan's Inspiration Island

Designed with inclusivity at its core, Morgan's Wonderland is a one-of-a-kind park where every family member can play, explore, and enjoy the experience together.

Right next door, Morgan's Inspiration Island brings that same spirit to the water, offering inclusive splash zones and attractions designed for all abilities, with thoughtful touches like complimentary waterproof wheelchairs available for guests.

Experience Highlights

  • Take a ride on Wingz of Wonder, the brand-new ride where flapping your arms takes you to new heights.
  • When it's time for shade, head to the 4D Magic Cinema and experience a thrilling roller coaster ride from the comfort of an air-conditioned room.
  • Pack a snack! While food stations are available throughout the park, guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks, as outlined in the park's food & cooler policy.
More Theme Park Capital of Texas® →
 
 

Educational & Interactive Family Attractions in San Antonio

Educational fun happens naturally in San Antonio. Hands-on adventures, cool escapes, and new discoveries are waiting around every corner.

 
Discover the Wild Side of San Antonio

The San Antonio Zoo

Spend the day discovering one of the nation’s top zoos, the San Antonio Zoo, where shaded pathways and indoor spaces make it easy to explore comfortably. From up-close animal encounters to immersive exhibits, every visit brings something new to see.

Experience Highlights

  • The gorillas are back! Head to Congo Falls, the world's tallest, wildest, greatest gorilla habitat, where the silverback gorillas roam.
  • Zoo visits become prehistoric adventures all summer long. Animatronic dinosaurs add an extra level of zoo fun, May 30-September 7, 2026, at Zoorassic Park.
  • Enhance your zoo visit with animal encounters, such as giraffe feedings.
  • Extend your zoo adventures with a stay at Spekboom Lodge, the zoo's onsite private suite.
Explore More Totally Wild San Antonio →
 
Best Museums in San Antonio for Kids

Museums Where Learning Feels Like Play

Take a break from sunny days with educational (and air-conditioned!) adventures. San Antonio is filled with museums where hands-on exhibits make learning fun for both kids and adults.  

Museums like The Witte Museum, The DoSeum, and the Briscoe Western Art Museum bring learning to life with rotating exhibits and interactive experiences that keep kids and adults engaged and cool from start to finish.

Experience Highlights

  • Celebrate 100 years of nature, science, and culture! The Witte Museum is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
  • Dinosaurs in Motion, the DoSeum's summer exhibit running May 23-September 7, 2026, is a must-visit for kids who love dinosaurs. The exhibit features fully interactive, recycled life-size metal dinosaur sculptures.
  • The first Sunday of each month, the Briscoe Western Art Museum offers Full STEAM Ahead, a monthly event where children are welcome to participate in hands-on activities on topics like weather, transportation, animals, astronomy, and more.
 
Cool (Literally!) Outdoor and Underground Adventures

Natural Bridge Caverns

When the family needs to take a break from the sunny days, take on an underground adventure at Natural Bridge Caverns, where it stays 70 degrees all year long.

Take a tour underground and into a completely different environment, where natural beauty and cool temperatures create the perfect summer escape. It’s an adventure that feels both exciting and refreshing.

Experience Highlights

  • Different levels of cavern tours are available. Take the tour that best suits your family's ages and abilities.
  • For an added adventure, take on the Twisted Trails zip rail and ropes course. Twisted Trails Tykes is available for your younger travelers.
  • Plan ahead - tickets often sell out during peak summer times. It's best to purchase your tickets in advance.
 
Keep the Fun Going Throughout Your Stay

Resort Days Add to the Adventure

Family fun doesn't have to end once you leave the attractions. San Antonio's family-friendly resorts turn downtime into part of the experience, with outdoor adventures that keep the family cool. Enjoy pools, water features, and shaded space to recharge before heading back out.

Many San Antonio resorts also offer experiences parents will enjoy, like on-site golf courses and spas.

Experience Highlights

Find Your San Antonio Resort →
 
Affordable Summer Fun

Free Things to Do in San Antonio with Kids This Summer

Looking for free, cheap, and affordable things to do in San Antonio with kids? The city is full of ways to play, explore, and make memories without spending a dime.

Lush green spaces, splash pads, movie nights, and scenic strolls along the San Antonio River Walk make it easy to enjoy budget-friendly activities the whole family can experience together.

Experience Highlights

  • Spend a day at Brackenridge Park, where you can enjoy the outdoors and even have a picnic.
  • Hemisfair was made for family fun. Spend the day playing at Yanaguana Garden, cooling off at splash pads, and enjoying great dining options like Dough Pizzeria Napoletana and Box St. All Day. It’s an easy place to relax, explore, and soak up the fun together.
  • Outdoor movies galore. End your day with a free movie event under the stars at several locations throughout the city. The Rock at La Cantera hosts Blockbusters and Bites on the first Friday of the month, while the Tower of the Americas and Tobin Center for the Performing Arts each hold their own outdoor movie series on the second Saturday of each month, all summer long. 
Explore 100 Free Things to Do in San Antonio →

Weekend Itineraries for Quick Trips

 
 

Family-Friendly Cultural Attractions in San Antonio

With over 300 years of history, San Antonio is the perfect blend of tradition and culture. Discover ways to explore it all together as a family.

 
Stories that Shaped Texas

The Alamo and San Antonio Missions

You could read about history in a textbook, or you could walk it, touch it, and be moved by it at the first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas - San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and the Alamo.

Both the San Antonio Missions and the Alamo are free to visit, but you’ll need to reserve a ticket in advance to enter the Alamo.

Experience Highlights

  • Start your visit to the San Antonio Missions by dropping by the Visitor Center at Mission San José and catching a showing of "Gente de Razon," or "People of Reason," played daily on the hour from 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m.
  • Gain deeper knowledge of the missions with a free ranger-led guided tour, offered daily at Mission San José at 10:00 am. and 11:00 a.m. (weather permitting). Then, stop by the Visitor Center to ask how your child can become a Junior Ranger.
  • Just behind the Alamo, you'll find a living history encampment with hands-on demonstrations, including a musket firing presentation daily at 10:30 a.m. at Plaza de Valero.
  • Explore more special Alamo artifacts, exhibits, and collections, like the Phil Collins collection, at the Ralston Family Collections Center, available with the purchase of a separate ticket.  
 
Scenic Adventures for Everyone

The San Antonio River Walk

The San Antonio River Walk may be known for its colorful umbrellas, patio dining, and riverside shops, but that is just the beginning. With 15 miles of pathways to explore, each section offers something completely different for everyone in the family.

From quiet artistic explorations along the Museum Reach to colorful, vibrant downtown fun and historic outdoor adventures at Mission Reach, come see why the River Walk was recently named the "Best River Walk in the Country."

Experience Highlights

Find Outdoor Adventures →
 
Color, Culture, and Celebration

Historic Market Square

Step into a lively space filled with color, music, and culture at Historic Market Square, the largest Mexican market in the U.S.

Families can enjoy browsing unique shops, enjoy live entertainment, and treat themselves to sweet snacks or casual bites everyone will love.

It’s the perfect spot to explore together, pick up souvenirs, and soak in the festive atmosphere.

Experience Highlights

  • Kids will love wandering through the bright stalls filled with handmade goods, toys, and souvenirs. It’s a fun place for them to pick out a small keepsake to remember the trip.
  • Eat at restaurants the locals rave about, like La Margarita and Mi Tierra Cafe y Panaderia, where kids will love stopping by the bakery for pan dulce, pastries, and more.
  • Most weekends at Historic Market Square are like mini family-friendly fiestas you won't want to miss. Be prepared to find live music, local vendors and artisans, and delicious food.
 
Flavors the Whole Family Will Enjoy

Family-Friendly Restaurants in San Antonio

San Antonio is the Culinary Capital of Texas®, so of course, you'll find rich flavors steeped in over 300 years of history that everyone can enjoy.

And while parents may enjoy San Antonio's top restaurants, like our MICHELIN-recognized favorites, there are still family-friendly restaurants throughout the city that offer flavors for every palate, young and seasoned alike. 

Experience Highlights

  • Is your visit to San Antonio complete if you didn't enjoy a family meal along the River Walk? The River Walk is lined with restaurants your family is sure to love. Pick one and enjoy the sunshine.
  • Pair your lunch or dinner with fun and games. Family-friendly spots like Popstroke, Holey Moley, and Chicken N Pickle serve up great food alongside mini golf, pickleball, and interactive games that keep everyone entertained.
  • Don't skip dessert! You'll find panaderias throughout the city like Dulce & Aroma at Mexico Ceaty, La Panaderia, and Alamo Biscuit & Panaderia, where sweet flavors and traditional Mexican recipes with San Antonio twists come together. Savor the flavors of San Antonio culture one sweet treat at a time.  
Find Family-Friendly Restaurants →
 
Best Family-Friendly Summer Events in San Antonio

Family-Friendly Events for Summer Fun

Summer in San Antonio is packed with family-friendly events that bring the city to life. From lively festivals and outdoor movie nights to interactive exhibits and cultural celebrations, there’s always something happening to keep kids and parents entertained.

Many events are easy to explore together, with food, music, and activities designed for all ages.

Experience Highlights

  • Treat the family to an authentic rodeo in San Antonio. Saturday nights from March through November, Tejas Rodeo Company welcomes you to a family-friendly rodeo experience. Let the kids try out mutton bustin' while they're there.
  • 4th of July celebrations are bigger and better in San Antonio. From an Independence Day celebration at the Alamo to incredible fireworks displays at Woodlawn Lake Park and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, this is the city that makes lasting summer memories. 
  • You'll find events throughout the city all summer long, made just for your younger travelers. Check the Visit San Antonio event calendar to see what's happening during your visit.

Family-Friendly Events Happening in San Antonio This Week

View Family-Friendly San Antonio Event Calendar
Build the Thrill Event! May 21

Build the Thrill Event!

  • Recurring daily

Get ready to race at this exclusive LEGO® F1® - themed ‘Build the Thrill Event’ only…

 
 

Endless. Refreshing. Unmistakably San Antonio.

Don't miss out on your best summer family vacation yet. Come experience why San Antonio is unlike anywhere else.

 
Leave After School. Be Here in Time for Dinner.

San Antonio is Closer Than You Think

You don't need to board the entire family on a flight to get here. Just an open road and a few hours. San Antonio sits within easy reach of anywhere in Texas, which means you can leave after work on a Friday and be on a River Walk patio before dinner.

And if you're already in Texas for FIFA World Cup matches in Houston or Dallas, San Antonio is the perfect place to decompress, explore, and eat extraordinarily well.

Driving Distance from Major Texas Cities

  • Austin ~ 1.5 hours
  • Houston ~3 hours
  • Dallas ~ 4-5 hours
 
Make San Antonio Your Summer Escape

Plan Your San Antonio Family Vacation

Longer days, warm nights, and experiences you won’t find anywhere else. This is your summer in San Antonio to explore. Start planning your summer getaway and see where San Antonio takes you.

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San Antonio Skyline at Sunset

Hotel Deals

Save on your next San Antonio getaway. Make your stay even sweeter with these special hotel and accommodation offers.