So you are planning to view of the solar eclipse that will span across the Texas Hill Country and San Antonio on October 14, 202 but don’t know where to go?
You can watch the eclipse from your own yard if you are in San Antonio; basically anywhere will be a good spot to look at the eclipse, but being a bit closer to the southwest of San Antonio puts you closer to the center line of the eclipse path. Also, a good swatch of the most beautiful park of the Texas Hill Country (formerly Comancheria) will showcase this event too. See the eclipse path here: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2023-october-14
The moon begins to cover the sun at about 10:22am, climaxes at 11:53am, and the last of the moon will leave the stage at about 1:32pm. Eclipse Simulator: https://eclipse2024.org/eclipse-simulator/2023/39971?elevation=546
Some things you may want to consider when choosing where you will go to view the solar eclipse:
- Privacy VS Community – Do you want to be around crowds of people? Sometimes the experience can be enhanced to share the excitement, but if people get to rowdy or you just like quiet, trying to pick a low-traffic area is best.
- Bathrooms – We are all human, so make sure there is access to bathrooms. There was one a time some of my college friend met up at a city park and my friend discovered the toilet was literally overflowing with poo, and the businesses across the street only allowed bathroom usage with a purchase, so don’t always assume you have a place to go.
- Accessibility – If someone in your group needs a walker or wheelchair, some of the free + rustic locations won’t be safe for that person. You’ll probably have to stick to parks with pavement.
- Cost & Experience – I am listing free and low cost places below. Of coarse there are higher-end and more fancy experiences. Just skimming EventBrite, I saw events running $20, $45, and $200 per person, like to view the eclipse from downtown sky scrappers. There is an experience type for everyone. If you are someone who wants access to cold beverages served to you, just showing up and expecting to be catered to, or even a child-free event, you can probably find those on those downtown roof tops. The free events are going to be more work for you and will require more planning from you.
Here is my list of free and low cost places to view the eclipse:
With my experience of parks and areas I have seen myself, these are my recommendations.
San Antonio City Parks – Free
Basically any city park will do, but I will list out a few that I personally like. San Antonio City Parks are free for general walk-in access, which is a great price for many people. I have not personally been to every city park, but I think they all have parking lots.
Culebra Creek Park
In terms of having a clear, unobstructed view of the sky, I think Culebra Creek Park is a great choice. The biggest part of the park is an open field with cut alien grass. There is a kids play area (I haven’t looked at too closely), and there is my favourite part, the wooded area with Culebra creek. The woods are not that big; you’ll quickly find yourself looking at the back of a Walmart if you trek the pathways.
In terms of eclipse chasing with young kids and the grandparents, this is very accessible. I myself don’t recall bathrooms there, but you could potentially pick up a smoothie or ice cream at one of the nearby shops and use the bathroom. There are a very limited number of built-in picnic tables, so plan on bringing your own if you need one. Bring your own blanket or chair to sit on.
This park has a formal parking lot, but if parking is packed, you can park on the side of the sleepy road.
San Pedro Springs Park
This is one of my favourite city parks personally, because the springs were considered sacred to the local native americans. I like the idea of touching water that just flowed out from the ground. There is a small spring-fed pool with fish.
Just so we are all clear, you are NOT supposed to swim in the spring. This is reserved for the fish. Most times I will see at least some kids in the water kicking up the mud.
The springs do feed into the public pool which is straddled by large trees. There are a mic of trees and some empty spots, which could be good for the eclipse. You’ll want to see the sun, but you’ll also want some breaks in the shade. There are very few places to sit, so be sure to bring your blanket, chairs, or hammock.
I normally park at the Public Theater parking lot, but I think you -could- park at the San Pedro Library parking lot as well. Parking is not plentiful, so get there early. You can potentially hunt for a parking space in the neighbourhoods; just don’t leave valuables in the car.
Lackland Corridor Gateway Park
This is a tiny park, but it is convenient. Just exit off highway 90 and you have quick access to a slice of nature. There is a bit of water from Leon creek, and some spectcular birds. If you don’t feel safe taking your grandparents anywhere too rustic, this could be an option. The parking lot is paved and the walkways are paved. There is not a whole lot to the park, but you do get a clear view of the sky. It might be cool to stand under that strange statue and get a photo of the eclipse through the gap.
There are a few picnic tables but not many. Bring chairs.
Friedrich Wilderness Park
This is a rustic park on the fart north side of San Antonio. It is a small sanctuary for nature, as everything around it has been bulldozed in the name of progress. There is a small well onsite, but I did not find it very interesting. The trails here are pretty rough the farther you go in, so unless you have good footing, this won’t be for you, You might even have to scoot on your butt on some of the areas to move down inclines. You might notice from my photos how the trail starts paved, then goes into a gravel path and then gets more rough.
There are actually a lot of trees here, but if you can get to the end with a clearing, it might be a good spot to see the eclipse, being close to civilization but with a bit of free privacy.
Denman Estate Park
This park has a pond in the center of it, with a peninsula. The peninsula might actually be the best viewing spot in the park as there are many trees in the park, The peninsula is a break from the trees. There are also a lot of ants scavenging for food on the peninsula, but they don’t bite; they seem only looking for food scraps.
There are a few picnic tables through the park as well and plenty of on-site parking. If worst comes to worst, you can surely park in the sleepy neighbourhood road.
Heritage Duck Pond Park
Even though this is in a neighbourhood, it is indeed a city park. There is not much to the park, but it is another option to consider if you are just looking to wedge your way into a free spot to view the ring of fire eclipse.
As the name reveals, the star of this park is the duck pond. Somehow with all the pullution and humans around, these ducks manage to find a home here. The ducks may keep you entertained why the slow eclipse process takes place. There is a small playground and some covered picnic tables, to escape from gettting too much sun. I can’t say I remember a parking lot here. Any time I drove by, it always seemed like parallel street parking was the go-to option. Heck, you can even take the city bus to this park if you don’t have a car.
Camargo Park
I have not been here since highschool, but I will try to remember this one… This is a small park and highly manicured or civilized, so if you have a baby stroller or walker, you can probably shuffle around here just fine. There are generous picnic tables, so you can probably snag a spot to sit. There is a covered area (again, if you need to take a break from the sun). The playground will probably be good to keep the kids entertained if the slow moving eclipse is too boring for them.
This park is a great green-island in the sea of houses that surround it, and is adjacent to Leon Creek.
Brackenridge Park
This is one of my favourite parks in San Antonio. I have vague memories of playing here as a kid and man did it seem expansive. I also ate here for lunch to escape a toxic work office for awhile too. The San Antonio river springs up from across the street at the University of the Incarnate word and meanders through the park. Much of downtown San Antonio is a concrete jungle and kind of broken-down and dirty, but this park is nice. It has old growth trees, at least whatever survived the recently culling, plenty of shadow and on-site bathrooms. You can drive in and nearly drive up to any picnic spot, so you can easily take your family members with mobility issues to this park.
Seeing the sky unobstructed might be a challenge with the trees, so this actually might not be the best place for eclipse gazing.
Hemisfair Park / Tower of Americas
For a tourist, this might be a good spot to watch for the eclipse. I’d probably recommend against it for locals (I mean, use your yard, it is far easier). I love and hate this park. It is beautiful with all the water fountains everywhere and nestled in park benches. The tough part is getting there and the parking. Downtown is a maze into itself, and when you find this park, finding parking can be a challenge; you surely will have to pay for parking at a meter or a parking garage.
If you can make it here, there are plenty of wide open spaces that you can see the sky from. I haven’t been there since maybe I was a teen, but I think you could also travel up the elevator up the tower to just look around, without having to commit to eating a meal up in the clouds.
Alamo Plaza
Whether you think this is a place of bravery, or of conquest in the history books, this place is always crowded today. Tourist want to see the Alamo, and locals just like hanging out there to do things like catch pokemon. Just don’t get confused like Ozzy Osbourne did and take a leak on what looks like an old building that no one would care about.
There is no dedicated parking for Alamo Plaza, so you will have to fight for a spot at a meter or cough up big dough at a parking garage. Beyond that, Alamo Plaza is not all too big, but it would be an interesting place to be to witness the ring of fire elcipse. You might be able to bring out a lawn chair, but there space is so limited, so don’t plan for much more than that.
I can’t even guess at the next time an eclipse shadow will pass over the Alamo. I imagine there will be some interesting photographs of the crowds on this day.
Mahncke Park
This is a small park in the older part of San Antonio that leads up to and surrounds the Botanical Gardens (potentially a paid nice spot for the eclipse).
There is not much to this park, but that is okay. The open field is conducive to looking up at the sky. You’ll probably have to do street parking in the neighbourhood, so be sure you don’t block someone’s drive way.
Medina River Natural Area
I have only been here once, and for a city park, it is pretty rustic, but that is by design. It is meant for nature first, and humans get a bit of a taste of it. The Medina River is clearly the highlight of this park, and maybe some armadillos.
This park is packed with trees, so all in all, I don’t know if you’ll easily see the sun for the eclipse. There are a few spots to get some sights of the sky. There is a covered seating area with picnic tables, which is a plus for not getting sun burnt, but mostly this park is privative.
Comanche Overlook Park
This is a small city park, but the best part of it for eclipse chasing is definitely the hill, one of the highest hills in the area. It is a green oasis surrounded by houses on all sides.
There is an on-site playground, parking, picnic tables, and benches.
Japanese Tea Gardens
This place is always crowded. Locals often like taking formal pictures, like prom pictures, wedding pictures, baby pictures here. Tourist also come here for the beauty of the park. The park is basically a pagoda, semi-surrounded by a system of pools and streams, fed from an artificial waterfall. There are plenty of ducks and fish to gaze at downward, when your neck is too tired to look up at the eclipse.
The pagoda is a good place to escape the sun. There are trees, but there are clearings too, so I think you can see the eclipse generally okay. There are not many sitting places, both built in, or places to pop-up a chair, so you might have to be one your feet more than you’d expect. You can follow a trail to the top of the waterfall, and if I remember correctly, there is a bench up there.
There is limited on-site parking, or you may have to do some street parking.
Any of the Spanish Missions
If you can look past the conquering history of these places, the missions are a free, open access place to enjoy the eclipse. They are all set along rivers and creeks, and generally have the trees cleared out. You could conceivably walk into the buildings to escape the sun, just be aware that some of these places have active catholic services going on in there.
Some of the other interesting things are looking at the old architecture or stone mills. Kid might get bored; if you have kids, stick to a place with a playground.
Bexar County Parks
Hot Wells of Bexar County
This park has two components: the old bath house and the semi-wild river. There are actually not too many tree around anywhere, which is great for eclipse gazing, but you might want to bring an umbrella or hat to get out of the sun if you are prone to sun burns. I find the river views more interesting than the old building, myself.
There is a small parking lot that is pretty busy, but I think you have a shot at finding a slot.
Other City Parks
Kerrville City Parks
Kerville has a lot of parks along the Guadalupe river that would probably be great for viewing the eclipse, but the one I have personally been to is the Guadalupe Park.
It has an on-site playground and a small parking lot. There is a big cleared out field, which can actually pack in a lot of tourists wanting to see the eclipse. There are some large trees on the river banks if you want to escape the sun for a bit. What I have not seen here are any bathrooms, so let me know if you can find them!
There is a short cement trail that even grandma can walk on. I myself normally go off the trail to sit near the water (yup, exactly where I photographed from). There is a dam, but the water levels are low, so it is no longer spilling over the dam wall like it used too. I think you could also swim here; I don’t see why not.
There is no entry fee; you just drive in / walkin.
Bandera City Park
Long ago my mom’s grandma had a riverside house. It flooded, she died, along with my mom’s cousin. After that, the City bought all the houses along the river bank and turned it into a park. Supposedly, the former house would be where bathrooms now are.
This park is small and peaceful. There are plenty of places to park your car, and your family at a picnic table. There are also plenty of ducks and ducklings. There are on-site bathrooms, trash cans, and grills.
The trees are kind of tall and thick, so you might have some trouble seeing the sun easily, but I think it can be done. Overall, this is a great place for a family to eclipse chase.
During good times, you can swim in the water, but this (2023) summer the swimming was suspended due to lack of flow putting human health at risk.
There is an entry fee to go to the park. I don’t always remember it being that way, but I think you have to pay to enter at certain times/days. I think when I discovered they started charging, that ended up being the last time I stopped by there.
Utopia City Park
This is a small city park, but it is beautiful. It is smack in the middle of the eclipse trail.
For my family, we considered this a great place to swim when I was a kid. At that time, park entry was free, but they started charging entry fees sometime when I was an adult, so my family stopped going there all but one time after that.
I’d mostly consider this a rustic park. To get to the water, you have to shimmy down a slope, which might not be easy for people with mobility issues. The highlight of the park is the dam. You can swim above or below the dam, and it is fun on either side.
There are a few tables that I remember there. I don’t think there were any bathrooms (unless they added some).
It would be nice to watch the eclipse from the water if you have plastic eclipse glasses, otherwise if there are no baseball games, you can probably watch the eclipse from there as well.
Castroville Regional Park
This is a great place to watch the ring of fire eclipse.
It has a mix of river, shade, and open fields. You can escape being sunburnt in the trees, and walk into the large open field to get a clear view of the sky for the eclipse action.
There are picnic tables on-site. You are supposed to pay at the park entrance if you are going to use a table. If you do not use an on-site table, you do not need to pay. There is also a great hiking trail that goes up a hill to overlook much of the park. At the top is an oddly placed cross, if that is your thing. You can also see the back end of the river as it snakes around the park.
There is also a large pond to check out too!
Technically, I think it is advised that you not swim there, but no one is enforcing anything.
Various Corpus Christi City Parks
My favourite part of driving to Corpus Christ is the end of the drive. As trek from San Antonio to Corpus Christi, I love seeing Highway 37 end forceably at the ocean. Unfortunately right now there is road construction robbing me from the pleasure.
At that ocean front along Shoreline Drive, there are many city parks along the beach front, with an occassional mansion or hotel sometimes interupting the public parks. The parks all have parking spaces, some parking lots, and some with street parking within the park. There is also a land-pier (Sarnia Park) that you can park on and walk around.
Some of the parks are playground oriented, some are swimming, and some are just grassy knolls. Surely, one of the parks will suit your preferences.
Really any of these parks would be great to watch the ring of fire eclipse. The eclipse starts right on the beach!
Map – Cole Park – Oleander Point
Hill Country Areas
These are some public domain areas that are free to access. Generally, you park on the side of the road and walk in, but keep an eye out for signs banning parking.
Generally, Texas allows for public access of rivers, and river beds a few feet out; this includes dry river (or lake) beds. Just make sure you don’t tresspass private non-river land to get there. Once you are on the river, you are clear. No person can own the river or create their own blockage of the river. You also have portage rights to go on land to go around dams or other obstructions. See the Texas parks and wildlife for their advisement.
New Ingram Dam (public domain access to the Guadalupe river)
This place has no designated parking. You are also not allowed to park on the side of the road immediately next to the river. So you essentially have to park at the Dam Store and pay them $8 to park. Aside from paying for parking, walking into the “park” is free. There is an on-site grill, two picnic tables under a few frees, and a small dock. There is also one trash can.
The bulk of this area is the dam itself. This is not a safe place for grandma/pa to walk. Even adults and teens slip on the spill over area. Heck, it is so slippery that kids will slide their butts down the dam waterway.
The area immediately near the dam top is blockaded for swimmers only, but some jet skiiers do “accidently” pass over the safety line sometimes. Also some boats kiss the borderline and create kind of annoying wakes. Generally, the best times to go to this area are during work days, or dusk. Since you are looking for an eclipse viewing though, you can expect it to be crowded. This dam is actually right under the eclipse line.
There are no park bathrooms, so maybe you can haggle with the Dam Store. I normally use to bathroom at the Stonehenge place to change, which is like a tourist area.
There is a nearby food truck and pizza shop too.
There is also a rope you can swing off into the water on the far end of the dam.
Texas Stonehenge
This place has on-site parking and is welcoming to tourist. The stonehenge is open and you can walk right in. Even if you have bad knees, you can walk in as there is no incline or steps. There are bathrooms in the large building next to the parking lot. You can even snoop around and look at the Guadalupe river.
The Dried-Up Medina Lake Bed (public domain river),
The Medina Lake bed is public domain. You can drive or walk down into the lakebed, free of charge and get unobstructed views of the sky. Since the water is supposed to be there, there are no trees in the lake bed. The one good thing about the drought is you get access to the lake bed!
Make sure to use the bathroom at a local gas station.
I will share where I walk in, but you can walk in or drive in other places as well.
Tube on the Medina or Guadalupe river.
Texas Bathroom stop between Kerrville and Boerne
Heading towards San Antonio from Kerville is a rest stop (and there is one on the opposite side). The rest stop has bathrooms and a picnic area. If you are looking for a cheap and easy place to pull over to see the eclipse, this could be it.
There are a few picnic tables and some vending machines. There is also an RV hook-up area.
Scenic Overlook Between Ingram and Kerville
I have tried stopping here, but it is cluttered with big rigs. If you can wedge your way in here, there are some good views supposedly. There are also a few picnic tables. There are no bathrooms; (just drive down the road to the above mentioned rest stop).
Hey, it is free.
Texas Picnic Area Between Hondo and Bandera
This is truly a magical place, and it is likely still closed. For no clear reason, it closed when the pandemic started and all Texas parks were shut down, and this never opened again!
I still stop at the entryway though. This little point is far enough away from the light pollution of San Antonio, Hondo, and Bandera that you cans ee the milky way. I went here to spot a comet during the pandemic.
When you can access it, the views are breath taking. I swear this is a destination into itself, and yet it is a free picnic area. (I have to dig my photos off an old hard drive sometime.) The stone picnic tables are on the top of a hill and you can see for miles! There are also on-site trash bins.
You used to be able to google map travel to the spot, but even that is is shut down too. 🙁
I can’t think of a better place to see the eclipse. Here’s to hoping it opens up again.
English Crossing (public domain river)
This is a river that intersects with a public road, so again, that means public domain access to the water.
Careful to observe the parking signs. Don’t park too close to the river as local cops will ask you to move or give you a ticket. Once you park and walk down to the river, there is a rocky river bed that you can set up your chairs at.
There are no bathrooms, and entry is free.
JFK Memorial Causeway
I have not tried it myself, but I always see people parked on the side of the road on the JFK bridge. I think it is considered public domain, if you want to take your shot.
Texas State Parks
The advantage of any state park is there are bathrooms, and sometimes even showers at state parks. All state parks require a fee to enter, but the fee is pretty low costs. If you plan on visiting the park often, or have a family, it might make financial sense to buy a state park pass once, and get entry based on the park pass; it’ll get you into any park within a year or sign-up.
If no rangers are on-site, you can pay at the self-pay box or pay online. Sometimes they leave early, but this is unlikely for the eclipse day.
Hill Country State Natural
I have been to this state park twice. It is definitely more rustic than some other parks, but I like it that way. I generally would not say this is for someone with elderly or young children. That being said, my parents (in their 60s) did make the hike up Comanche Bluff.
There are plenty of trails to hike on with great overlooks. You’ll have clear access to view the skies with ease. Since the park is rustic, you won’t run into so many people here. And hey, you can probably walk farther than you think; my friend once told me a trail was “not that long” and even though I had no idea what I was signing up for, I did indeed make it… just pack enough water.
If you are quiet enough, you might also see a wild turkey,
Government Canyon State Park
Just outside of the San Antonio City limits is Government State Park. It is really close to civilization and a pretty accessible park. Some parts are easily walkable, to even someone with bad knees if you stick to the headquarters or directly near the picnic areas. There is even an outdoor amphitheater area which could be cool to pay on the stone seating and look up at the sky.
If you are willing and able, you can hike to a clearing in the woods. Some clearings are natural, while some are made by controlled burns. This will give you a pretty clear view of the eclipse. There are also many benches to stop and sit at along the trails.
Again, pack water because some of the trails are pretty long. Also, watch out for snakes; this is their home.
Los Maples
This is another rustic area. I can’t remember any picnic tables myself, but there could be a few out there. The hiking trails can get pretty rustic, so make sure you bring shoes with tread and make skip this park if grandma is with the group.
There are a lot of trees, so you might have trouble seeing the sky clearly unless you can find a clearing or river bed.
Garner State Park
This park is fairly manicured, meaning there is a lot of brush that is cleared out, formal picnic tables, and bathrooms.
Another cool thing about this is the Rio Frio river (formerly called kwana pekwasʉ); you can potentially view the eclipse from the river as long as you are wearing plastic glasses (paper ones might get wet).
My family used to swim in the area near the camp grounds, as it was more interesting than the ‘safe’ dammed up water in the day-use picnic grounds. The day use picnic grounds are a great place for young kids, or people with mobility issues to stay safe.
Free access – You be like my family and enter on the public domain part of the Rio Frio river and park on the side of the road. Texas permits public usage /passage on rivers, plus one feet on the edges.
Mustang Island State Park
The edge of the eclipse starts on Mustang Island, and what do you know, there is a state park here!
Entry is $8, but that is a great price. You get access to toilets, showers, RV hook ups, and some on-site wooden picnic tables.
There is a jetty, but maybe stay away from that if you are going to be looking up at the sky and not at your feet.
I love this beach because it is so rustic. When I go on a weekday, it is like I am the only person there. When you go for the eclipse. I am sure it will have people there.
You can park on the paved parking lot, or carefully and slowly drive to the unpaved beach front and park there. Don’t get too close to the sand dunes so you don’t get stuck in the sand. Also, don’t park too close to the water. 😉
I normally pay online the day before. I don’t want to drive out there to only find out they are full.
Lake Corpus Christi
Enchanted Rock
Enchanted rock was considered sacred by native americans. Now it is a state park.
You can walk up the big hill if you dare. Make sure you have good tread on your shoes. I have seen paramedics have to carry people down, so make sure you are up for the hike. To me, the worst part is going down. When going up, you are looking up and focused on the next exciting feature. When going down, you look at where you might fall! At the top, you can see for miles in any direction.
When I was a kid, I ran up there without any fear. When I went up as an adult in maybe 2017, I got surprisingly scared on the way down, but my shoes were also worn out, so I did baby steps down so I can be as assured of my footing as possible.
By the way, kids run up this all the time.
If you to skip the summit, you can hike around the hill and it is also very interesting. Behind the hill is a large pond, and on the right-behind is a place my friend calls, “crystal hill” as a ton of quartz peices are everywhere. Along this area is also a creek or river.
Anywhere in this park you can get a view of the eclipse. The deep you go though, the more privative the bathrooms get… we are talking outhouse style.
Kickapoo Cavern State Park
Well, the last place you want to be during the eclipse is in a cave BUT there is more to this park than the cave.
There are plenty of hiking trails onto hills to watch the eclipse from a high vantage point. You can enjoy the views and look for native american artifacts embedded into the stone. There are day use areas and camping areas to hunker down and watch the eclipse too.
When the eclipse is over, you can head into the cave to cool off. Bring shoes with a lot of tread, My shoes were worn in, so I felt like I was slide-prone and moving slower than the rest of the tour group. Thankfully the tour guide had patience with me.
Around sunset you can also checkout the bats as the go off to feed.
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