Explore This Park

• Plan Your Visit
  • Basic Information

Basic Information

Physical Address

Visitor Center at Mission San José
6701 San Jose Drive
San Antonio, TX 78214

Directions

Park Headquarter's is located 4 miles south of downtown San Antonio. The four mission sites lay as a chain south of downtown. Mission Concepción is 3 miles, Mission San José and the park visitor center is 6 miles south, Mission San Juan is 3 miles south of San José, and Mission Espada lays another mile beyond. Written directions and GPS addresses can be found at the link below.

Directions Details

Operating Hours & Seasons

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

Missions San Juan and Espada are open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm daily. All sites closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day

Standard Hours

• Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Weather

Over the course of a year, the temperature typically varies from 40°F to 95°F and is rarely below 29°F or above 100°F. The warm season lasts from May through September with an average daily high temperature above 90°F and a low of 75°F. The cold season lasts from November through February with an average daily high below 68°F and an average low of 40°F. The relative humidity ranges from 40-80% over the course of the year, which can be very uncomfortable to many people.

Fees & Passes

Entrance Fees:

Entrance Fee - $0.00

Entrance to the park is free.

Visitor Centers

Visitor Center at Mission San José

Open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; The park is closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1. Park and area information Movie: Gente de Razón Shown on the hour and half-hour beginning at 9:30 am, with the last show at 4:30 pm. Close-captioned Museum: The displays exhibit authentic and replicated artifacts explaining the diverse tasks found within the Spanish missions Park Store: Operated by Western National Parks Association

 

Mission San José Church

NPS

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park may be arranged differently than other parks you have visited. This park has four distinct visitor areas, each between 2-3 miles from the previous one. Starting 3 miles south of downtown San Antonio is Mission Concepción. Another 2½ miles is Mission San José, the location of the park's Visitor Center. Three miles beyond Mission San José is Mission San Juan and Spanish colonial demonstration farm. The last and farthest south is Mission Espada.

San Antonio Missions is a day-use park, which means the visitor center and each of the four missions close at 5:00 pm. Parking lots are open before and after park hours for the convenience of walkers and bikers of the Mission Reach Riverwalk. While public parking lots are monitored by video surveillance, dedicated church parking lots are not.

There are many opportunities to learn about the Spanish and Native American heritages, lives, and legacies in all areas of the park. Whether you have an hour or a full day, the information on this site will help you plan your best use of time.

· There is no fee to visit San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.

· For preservation of park resources, please do not climb, sit, or lean on the stone structures.

· Each of the four churches are active parishes, and therefore may be temporarily closed for Mass, weddings, or funerals. Please be respectful and refrain from entering the churches during these periods.

· The Churches do permit indoor flash photography.

· Always carry water – dehydration occurs quickly in South Texas.

· Mosquitoes and fire ants are common year round in all visitor areas. Ticks and poison ivy are common in the natural areas of the park.

· Climate: Spring, summer, and fall are all hot and humid. Winters are moderate. Layers of clothing are recommended for winter. Rainfall is fairly hit and miss, and rarely falls for more than an hour at a time. Do not drive through moving water.

· While sturdy footwear is not needed for the park's trails, closed-toe shoes are advised for protection against fire ant bites.

· The site is located in the Central Time Zone.

· School groups should call for reservations.

· Depending on your interests, allow up to four hours to visit the park's four missions.

 

Park Passport Stamps
Visitors earn two cancellation stamps when visiting San Antonio Missions. One is for the park, and the other is for El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail on which all the missions are located. All the missions carry these two stamps. Additionally, each mission carries its own stamp, as shown below. The Visitor Center has all four of the mission stamps.

Not available by mail, please ask at the Visitor Center for the cancellation stamps desired.

 

stamps