What time does the Riverwalk close in San Antonio

The River Walk Operations Division is responsible for the maintenance of the River Walk. They coordinate the operations of the San Antonio River Improvement project to ensure implementation of improvements to include maintenance, river operations, security, utilities and any other work required. For contact or more information visit the City's River Walk page.

Amenities Available for Rental

The following amenities are available for rental. Use the links below to view facility details or calendar availability. Learn how to make a reservation.

River Walk  History

Owned by the City of San Antonio and maintained by Center City Development & Operations, the River Walk is San Antonio's premiere tourist attraction. The River Walk's history begins in the early 1920s when city government made plans to convert the San Antonio river into a storm sewer system by straightening the river and diverting its water through a concrete tunnel in order to prevent flooding. Efforts by citizens to save the stream resulted in the founding of the San Antonio Conservation Society.

Later in that decade an architect named R. H.H. Hugman developed plans for river improvements that included a River Walk. Community leaders supported this idea and during the 1930s the WPA and the National Youth Administration sponsored projects to build some of these improvements. In the early 1960s, a committee from the Chamber of Commerce together with a committee from the American Institute of Architects worked to further improve the river.

The River Walk provides a downtown staging ground for public festivals and celebrations such as Fiesta Noche del Rio, Fiesta de Las Luminarias and Las Posadas. It also affords San Antonians' and visitors alike a safe and attractive pedestrian system for the downtown. There are 3.51 miles of walks lining the banks of the river in the heart of the city. The pedestrian can step from the street to the river level and encounter trees, plants and flowing water. Plant-life, maintained by the City, flourishes at river level. The security is maintained by Park Police who patrol by foot and by boat.

Frequently Asked Questions about San Antonio River Walk

Narrated tour cruises are offered Monday through Sunday 10 a.m to 10 p.m. During peak periods, hours of operation may be extended. Please notice that during peak times, wait times will be longer. GO RIO operates unless the River flood gates are closed. Weather permitting.

Please note that we do not offer refunds.

We receive hundreds and hundreds of emails each year asking a wide variety of questions about the Riverwalk and visiting San Antonio in general. Some are very unique but many of you have questions about the same things. Here is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about the Riverwalk that we receive, along with our answers!  If you do not find a specific question you have answered here, feel free to email us at [email protected].  We will get back to you as quickly as we can! Have questions about the Riverwalk? We are happy to help!

Here Are Some Frequently Asked Questions About The Riverwalk

Q: How long is the Riverwalk?
A. The downtown portion of the Riverwalk is roughly 1.5 miles. Including the Museum Reach section of the river and the Mission Reach section it now spans about 15 miles.

Q: What is the physical address of the Riverwalk?
A: The Riverwalk does not have a physical address. With the addition of the Museum and Mission Reaches it runs for many, many miles. A central location would be the Hard Rock Cafe. Their address is 111 West Crockett Street, San Antonio, TX 78205.

Q. How deep is the Riverwalk?
A. In the downtown (Horseshoe area) of the Riverwalk it is only 3 or 4 feet deep. It does get deeper in the main channel and near the lock and dam on the Museum Reach.

Q: How far is the Alamo from the Riverwalk?
In the downtown area the Riverwalk is only a block or two away from the Alamo. They are very close together.

Q: Where is the Riverwalk in San Antonio?
A: The main portion of the Riverwalk is located in downtown San Antonio. It flows from the north of downtown, through downtown and then exits and flows through Southtown and the King William Historic District.

Q: What time does the Riverwalk close?
A: Technically the Riverwalk never closes. You can walk along it at any time, day or night. Of course the businesses on the Riverwalk do close at night. Most of the restaurants close around 10pm and the bars at 2am.

Q: Do I need a reservation to ride the Go Rio Cruises river boats or can we just walk up and buy a ticket?
A: Individuals do not need a reservation to ride the river boats. There are 3 ticket booths conveniently located at various spots along the Riverwalk. Those locations are, at Rivercenter Mall, across from the Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel, and at the Aztec Theatre. You can purchase tickets to ride the boats at any of these locations. Groups should have a reservation to ride the boats. You can make reservations by simply contacting Go Rio Cruises. Just click here to visit their website.

Q: What hours of the day do the boats operate?
A: Weather permitting they operate from 10 am to 10 pm every day of the year.

Q: Where do we park to visit the Riverwalk?
A: Downtown San Antonio has just over 10,000 city and privately owned parking spaces in garages, surface lots and parking meters. Click here to view our downtown parking page.

Q: How do I ride the River Shuttle/Taxi and how much does it cost?
The River Shuttles are the boats that have a sign on the front and the back saying Go Rio River Shuttle. To ride them you just need to get the drivers attention as they pass by. The driver will then pull into the closest docking area to where you are. Costs of the River Shuttle are below.

Go Rio Cruises Shuttle Passes
One Day Shuttle Pass $19.50
3 Day Shuttle Pass $28.50

Q: How do we do a dinner cruise?
A: You can do a dinner cruise in two different ways. To do a private/chartered dinner cruise you first contact a Riverwalk restaurant and then they assist you in chartering the boat and cater the meal for you. Click here for more information on dining cruises.

Q: We would like to do a private dinner cruise. How many people does a boat seat for dinner?
A: A boat configured for dining holds a maximum of 20 people but most recommend 16-18 for comfort.

Q: We would like to do a dinner cruise. Can we just bring our own food?
A: No. Food and beverages must be provided by a restaurant or catering company.

Q: We would like to do a cocktail cruise. Can we just bring a cooler with our own beer and wine?
A: No. Food and beverages must be provided by a restaurant or catering company.

Q: What is the best hotel on the Riverwalk?
A: That is a very subjective question and depends on the needs of the particular visitor. We have spa hotels, limited service hotels, suite hotels and others. The best hotel depends on what a specific traveler is comfortable with and what best meets the needs of their traveling party.

Q: What is the best restaurant on the Riverwalk?
A: Again this is very subjective. We have all types of restaurants and the best one depends on what the individual travelers are looking for.

Q: Is there an outdoor place for people to get married on the Riverwalk?
Yes. The popular wedding spot is called Marriage Island and is located directly behind the Hotel Contessa. It is a small peninsula that juts out into the river and is a perfect place for an outdoor wedding. To reserve it, you need to contact the City of San Antonio Department of Parks and Recreation. Their number is 210-207-7275.

Q: When is the Christmas/Holiday river parade?
A: It is always the Friday after Thanksgiving at 7pm.

Q: Do we have to have a ticket to see the Holiday River Parade? Can’t we just watch if from a bridge or from the sidewalk?

How late does the Riverwalk stay open?

Can you walk the Riverwalk at night?

How late do the river boats run in San Antonio?

Where does the Riverwalk start and end?