Staying in downtown San Antonio vs renting a car
 

We are staying in San Antonio for 7 days .. don’t know if we want to take a day trip to Austin.. is there plenty to do without a car? Planning on tours too. Heard parking is difficult. Any suggestions would be great!

San Antonio is a HUGE spread out town. And it has a lot to see in its environs. I think not having a car would be difficult.

Frankly, I'd get a car because there isn't that much to see in San Antonio itself. It's a very nice small city with a couple of attractions, and therefore worth about 1-/2 to 2 days of sightseeing. Add in Austin, hill country, Gruene, etc. and you've got a trip.

Don't forget the mission trail:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...7623718580201/ and subsequent pictures.

https://www.nps.gov/saan/index.htm

Everyone Thanks so much for responding! So helpful!

Agree with sf7307, a week is too long for just San Antonio itself.

Just a little "nit picking" about " It's a very nice small city"
It is the 7th largest city in the US and it is really really sprawling.
I agree there isn't a lot to see.

Well, the "core" (where there's anything to see) is VERY small :-)

<<Frankly, I'd get a car because there isn't that much to see in San Antonio itself. It's a very nice small city with a couple of attractions, and therefore worth about 1-/2 to 2 days of sightseeing. Add in Austin, hill country, Gruene, etc. and you've got a trip.>>

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Seventh-most populated city in the US; 465 square miles (1.5x NYC) and San Antonio is a "nice small city." Geez. What counts as big?

Look: you're going to the South. Southern cities are not jumbled up concrete piles like Boston (< 90 mi/sq) or Washington DC (68+ mi/sq). Miami is an exception but that's because Miami Beach is a separate township and it's bordered by the water on two sides and the Everglades on a third.

Instead, Southern cities have a downtown and a ton of land outside that (Birmingham is the physical size of Philadelphia, with < 1/7 the population). And other than the Alamo and Riverwalk, there's not a whole lot to do in central SA (nor are there a week's worth of sites).

Plus, with a car in Texas, you can travel far fast b/c the speed limits are not particularly limiting. Of course, Austin is only an hour or so away, and other attractions are nearby.

I agree with most of the replies.

1) First thing, definitely get a car.
2) Explore the Mission Trail. And yes, I DO like the Alamo.
3) Day trip[s] to Austin ... only 1.5 hrs away in a straight shot.
4) Day trip[s] W and NW to the Hill Country.
5) Eat plenty of BBQ.

Enjoy!

Thanks again everyone.. might split trip and spend two nights in Austin now��