It must be noted up front that the San Antonio Missions Trail in Texas, a 25-mile loop south of San Antonio, is an urban drive that weaves its way at times through city traffic before reaching more open countryside dotted with farms.

Pinpoint map of Texas highlighting the San Antonio Missions Trail.

But the five missions -- the Alamo, Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan, and Espada -- and other historic structures, set in parklike grounds, provide scenic beauty enough. And each is a cool and relaxing oasis of quiet. Scattered along the San Antonio River, which the drive follows south from the city, the missions form San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

The Alamo, established as a dusty outpost of the Spanish Empire in 1718, was the first of San Antonio's missions to be founded. It assumed legendary status in March 1836 when a small garrison of Texas independence fighters, including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, fought to the death rather than surrender to a Mexican army. Texans enter its cool adobe walls as if paying homage at a shrine.

The other four missions are less political but no less interesting. Each is different, but they all served the goal of introducing the local Tejas Indians (after whom Texas is named) to Spanish society and Christianity. Franciscan friars founded the four between 1718 and 1731, gathering scattered tribes into church-oriented communities near the river.

Follow this map of the San Antonio Missions Trail to see five historic Spanish frontier missions, including The Alamo.
Follow this map of the San Antonio Missions Trail to see five historic
Spanish frontier missions, including The Alamo.

These and Spain's many other New World missions went into decline during the Napoleonic wars in Europe, and their lands were redistributed in the 1820s when Mexico gained its independence from Spain. In Texas, preservation efforts began in the 1930s.

San Antonio Missions Trail Information
Length: 25 miles roundtrip
Time to allow: Four hours if you take in the exhibits at
each mission
States it runs through: Texas
City it runs through: San Antonio
Considerations: Although signs point the way, the route that links the four missions can be confusing. This is especially true while work is underway to construct a hiking and biking trail along the San Antonio River to connect the missions. At the same time, work also is underway to realign the driving trail itself, eliminating much of the confusion and adding improved signage Work is expected to be completed in 2006. Pick up a Missions Trail map before leaving Alamo Plaza. When rain causes the San Antonio River to rise, the route south to Mission San Jose can be closed to traffic. If so, ask at Mission Concepcion for an alternate route south.

Find more useful information related to Texas' San Antonio Missions Trail:

  • San Antonio: Find other things to do in the city that's home to San Antonio Missions Trail.
  • Scenic Drives: Are you interested in scenic drives beyond Texas? Here are more than 100 scenic drives throughout the United States.
  • How to Drive Economically: Fuel economy is a major concern when you're on a driving trip. Learn how to get better gas mileage.