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Suggest a Feature →San Antonio, Texas
Joint Base San Antonio. Military city. The Alamo. Best Tex-Mex in the world.
Joint Base San Antonio encompasses Lackland AFB, Randolph AFB, Fort Sam Houston, and Camp Bullis — the military infrastructure underlying one of the most important military education and training cities in the US. San Antonio processes more military accessions than any other city.
San Antonio itself is one of the finest American cities — 1.5 million people, the most Spanish cultural character of any large American city, the Riverwalk, five Spanish colonial missions (one of them the Alamo), and a Tex-Mex food tradition that is arguably the finest regional American cuisine.
Texas has no state income tax, and the cost of living in San Antonio is very low by major city standards. This is one of the financially best CONUS assignments in the military, compounded by the fact that the city is genuinely excellent to live in.
Must Eat
The spots worth eating at before you PCS out.
Puffy Tacos at Ray's Drive Inn
"San Antonio invented the puffy taco. Ray's is the original."
The puffy taco — a fried corn tortilla puffed by oil that hasn't fully set, filled with ground beef, chicken, or picadillo — is a San Antonio original. Ray's Drive Inn on West Commerce invented it and still makes it best.
Las Canarias (Omni La Mansion)
"San Antonio's finest restaurant. Riverwalk setting."
Las Canarias overlooks the Riverwalk from the La Mansion del Rio hotel — elegant New American-Tex-Mex fusion with exceptional local ingredients and a setting that makes it ideal for promotion dinners and significant occasions.
Mi Tierra Café y Panadería
"Open 24 hours, 365 days. El Mercado's heart since 1941."
Mi Tierra has been in El Mercado since 1941 and never closes — Christmas morning at 3am or after the midnight shift, it's always open. The pan dulce at the bakery counter, the caldo de res, and the enchiladas are the standards.
Outdoor
Get outside. The land around military installations is usually the best reason to be there.
San Antonio River Walk
"The river that runs through the city. 15 miles of riverside parks."
The San Antonio Riverwalk — a 15-mile network of walkways along the San Antonio River — is one of the most successful urban park systems in the US. Restaurants, art installations, kayaking, and the Museum Reach extension to the Pearl are all along its banks.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
"A 400-foot pink granite dome in the Texas Hill Country. 90 miles west."
Enchanted Rock is the second-largest granite dome in the US — a 1,825-foot above-sea-level exfoliation dome beloved by hikers, rock climbers, and the Comanche people who considered it sacred. Sunrise from the summit is extraordinary.
Enchanted Rock passes sell out in advance on the state park website. Book at least 2 weeks ahead for weekend visits.
Culture & History
Places with stories. Most military towns sit on deep history — dig in.
Fiesta San Antonio (April)
"The city's greatest party. 11 days of parades, food, and music."
Fiesta San Antonio is an 11-day citywide celebration every April — over 100 events including the Battle of Flowers parade, the Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA), and the Oyster Bake. The military community participates heavily and the Riverwalk comes alive.
The Alamo
"Remember it. The birth of Texas independence."
The Alamo is the most visited site in Texas — the 1836 battle where 189 Texans held against Santa Anna's army for 13 days changed the course of history. The shrine (the original chapel) is free. The new Alamo Museum is opening in 2024-2025.
Family
Stuff to do with the kids. Rated by people who have brought actual children.
San Antonio Zoo
"One of the top 10 zoos in the US. River-situated."
The San Antonio Zoo in Brackenridge Park is consistently ranked among the top zoos in the country — excellent big cat, primate, and bird collections. The zoo sits on a natural limestone cliff with excellent habitats.
Day Trips
When you need to remember there's a world outside the gate.
"German settlers and Hill Country wine country."
The Texas Hill Country west of San Antonio has Fredericksburg (German-founded wine town), the Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch (LBJ's Texas White House), Enchanted Rock, and the Guadalupe River for tubing.
"The Live Music Capital. 90 minutes northeast."
Austin is 80 miles northeast — 6th Street live music, the Texas State Capitol (free tours), Barton Springs Pool, Lady Bird Lake kayaking, and some of the finest breakfast taco culture in the world.
Texas has no state income tax. Factor this into your financial planning and savings.
The Riverwalk floods during major rain events — it's designed to do so. Know this before choosing housing near it.
Fiesta San Antonio (April) is genuinely one of the great American civic festivals. Participate fully.
The Pearl District Saturday Farmers' Market (9am-1pm) is worth building Saturday mornings around.
Mi Tierra never closes and the menudo (tripe soup) on weekend mornings is the authentic San Antonio experience.
San Antonio summer is hot — 100°F+ days from June through August are standard. The city is spread out and car-dependent. The military community here is enormous (more accessions than any other city) which means the market for everything — housing, military-focused services — is highly competitive and has adapted (sometimes exploitatively) to the military demographic. Use your financial benefits carefully.
This guide is built by people who've been stationed here. If there's a spot we got wrong or a gem we missed, tell us.