The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a 38-acre living museum built inside a former limestone quarry, home to more than 100 rare and endangered plant species.
This guide was updated in August 2026. You can book your admission ticket in advance through Viator.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 555 Funston Pl, San Antonio, Texas 78209 |
| Hours (March–November, Mon–Fri) | 8am–6pm |
| Hours (March–November, Sat–Sun) | 8am–7pm |
| Hours (roughly November–February) | Daily, 9am–5pm |
| Adult admission (Mon–Thu / Fri–Sun) | $18 / $22 |
| Children under 3 | Free |
| Nearest transport | Free on-site parking; VIA bus routes 8 and 14 |
| Typical visit duration | 2 or more hours |
Why book San Antonio Botanical Garden tickets?
- 🏛️ A 38-acre living museum: Built in a former limestone quarry, home to more than 100 rare and endangered species.
- 🎟️ Cheaper on weekdays: Monday–Thursday adult tickets cost $4 less than Friday–Sunday.
- 🌿 The Lucile Halsell Conservatory: Futuristic glass structures housing everything from equatorial rainforest to desert plants.
- 📜 Kumamoto En Japanese Garden: A traditional strolling garden designed by a 26th-generation Japanese gardener.
- 💰 Flex Tickets available: Lock in a rate now and visit on any day you choose, no date commitment required.
San Antonio Botanical Garden opening hours
From March through November, the Garden is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 7pm, with a members-only hour from 7am to 8am daily. From roughly November through February, hours shorten to daily, 9am to 5pm. The Garden is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Note that the official site currently shows two slightly different summaries of these hours on the same page, so the detailed seasonal breakdown above is the more reliable version to follow.
San Antonio Botanical Garden ticket prices
Like most US botanic gardens, such as the New York Botanical Garden, Atlanta Botanical Garden and Memphis Botanic Garden, there is an entry fee here.
Standard tickets are cheaper on weekdays; Flex Tickets cost more but let you pick your visit date later.
| Ticket type | Mon–Thu | Fri–Sun |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $18 | $22 |
| Children ages 3–13 | $13 | $15 |
| Children under 3 | Free | Free |
| Military or Student | $16 | $20 |
| Members | Free | Free |
Flex Tickets, good for any day with no date commitment, cost $29 for an adult, $21 for a child, or $96 for a Flex Family 4-Pack (2 adults, 2 children). CityPASS bundles combine the Garden with three other top San Antonio attractions for up to 41% off. Book in advance through Viator to secure your ticket ahead of time.
How to get to the San Antonio Botanical Garden
The Garden sits about 3 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio, at 555 Funston Place. By bus, VIA routes 8 and 14 stop close to the entrance. The Garden is also a stop on the Old Town Trolley Tour of San Antonio landmarks.
Parking at the San Antonio Botanical Garden
Free parking is available on-site, on a first-come, first-served basis.
How long to spend at the San Antonio Botanical Garden
Most visitors spend two hours or more exploring the trails, conservatory, and themed gardens, longer if joining a class or guided tour.
Accessibility at the San Antonio Botanical Garden
The Garden states it is readily accessible for guests of varying mobility levels, with wheelchairs and mobility scooters welcome throughout. Since parts of the Garden were built within a former quarry, some visitors note that certain trail sections include uneven paths, steps, or small bridges, so guests with significant mobility concerns may want to plan their route using the Garden’s interactive map beforehand.
What to see at the San Antonio Botanical Garden
The Lucile Halsell Conservatory houses a striking series of glass structures, home to plants ranging from equatorial rainforest species to desert cacti from Mexico and South Africa.
The Texas Native Trail winds past the East Texas Pineywoods Lake and native plant collections representative of the state’s varied ecosystems.
The Kumamoto En Japanese Garden, a traditional strolling garden, was designed by a 26th-generation gardener from Kumamoto, Japan, home of the revered Suizenji Park.
The Zachry Foundation Culinary Garden, with 34 growing beds and an outdoor CHEF Teaching Kitchen, hosts garden-to-table cooking classes using Texas ingredients.
The Family Adventure Garden gives younger visitors a hands-on play area, complete with a splash zone where swimwear is permitted.
The Mays Family Display Garden and Texas WaterSaver Garden round out the grounds with seasonal floral displays and water-conscious landscaping ideas for home gardeners.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Double-check hours before you go | The site shows two slightly different summaries; follow the detailed seasonal breakdown. |
| Visit on a weekday for cheaper tickets | Monday–Thursday adult admission is $4 less than Friday–Sunday. |
| Bring a refillable water bottle | It’s one of the few outside items allowed; other food and drink aren’t. |
| Wear real shoes | Required at all times, except in the Family Adventure Garden’s splash area. |
| Check current exhibitions before visiting | The popular Otherwild installation has closed; don’t plan a trip around it. |
San Antonio Botanical Garden FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the opening hours? | March–November: Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat–Sun 8am–7pm. Roughly November–February: daily 9am–5pm. |
| How much does admission cost? | $18 for adults on weekdays, $22 on weekends; children 3–13 pay $13–$15; under 3 are free. |
| Is it wheelchair accessible? | Yes, wheelchairs and mobility scooters are welcome throughout, though some quarry-based trail sections have uneven surfaces. |
| Is parking free? | Yes, free on-site parking is available. |
| Is the Otherwild exhibition still on? | No, it closed August 8, 2026, after being extended twice from its original June date. |
Things to do near the San Antonio Botanical Garden
The Pearl, a former brewery turned dining and shopping district, sits along the San Antonio River a short drive away.
The San Antonio Museum of Art, housed in a converted early-20th-century brewery, holds an especially strong Latin American art collection.
The Witte Museum, also nearby, covers natural history, science, and South Texas heritage.
Brackenridge Park, one of the city’s oldest public parks, offers trails, a golf course, and the historic Japanese Tea Garden.
The San Antonio Zoo, inside Brackenridge Park, rounds out a family-friendly day in the same part of the city.
What to visit tomorrow
Zilker Botanical Garden, in Austin, about 1.5 hours away, offers its own Japanese garden, native plant collections, and a butterfly trail across a smaller, hillside setting.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, also in Austin and roughly 1.5 hours away, focuses specifically on native Texas plants and sustainable landscaping across 284 acres.
More Texas travel
Other Texas travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- The Caverns of Sonora are filled with unusually dense crystal formations deep beneath west Texas ranch country.
- The Cave Without A Name near San Antonio is a popular underground adventure.
- Compare Austin’s big museum experiences at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum and the Texas Science and Natural History Museum, from Texas independence exhibits to dinosaur skeletons and geology collections.
- The Blanton Museum of Art combines European paintings, contemporary Latin American art and Ellsworth Kelly’s striking Austin chapel installation.
- The LBJ Presidential Library covers the Civil Rights Act, Vietnam War era politics and life inside the White House during the 1960s.
- Outdoor Austin includes sunset views from Mount Bonnell, cold-water swimming at Barton Springs Pool and hiking trails through McKinney Falls State Park.
