Overview
San Augustine is a picturesque town in Deep East Texas, and the site of Mission Dolores, one of the first Spanish missions established in east Texas in the early 18th century. Today, San Augustine is a Texas Main Street Community of 1900 people (2020) with several old buildings in its historic downtown. It is within an hour's drive of two of east Texas' largest lakes: Sam Rayburn Reservoir and Toledo Bend Reservoir.
1 sights · 1 things to do · 1 places to eat · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about San Augustine
Mission Dolores State Historic Site
This museum tells the story of Mission Dolores, a Spanish mission built in 1721 near the site of an earlier mission built in 1718 (this first mission was abandoned due to fears of French troops advancing on east Texas). …
Lobanillo Swales
One of the largest concentrations of swales (deep ruts from wagon wheels) in Texas along the El Camino Real de los Tejas. 18 foot tall swales in places, with a quarter-mile (2/5 km) hiking trail that goes around the swal…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 93°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Mar and Dec. (climate data from nearby Mansfield)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SHV Shreveport Regional Airport, Shreveport — 65 mi away. Directions
- GGG East Texas Regional Airport, Longview — 69 mi away. Directions
- IAH George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston — 129 mi away (major hub). Directions
The only practical way into San Augustine is by car.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $15 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Lobanillo Swales
- Lunch Heart of Texas Grill
- Afternoon Mission Dolores State Historic Site
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
The only practical way into San Augustine is by car.
By car
The primary route into San Augustine is US Highway 96 from Beaumont and Center. There are also smaller state highways that lead into San Augustine, such as Texas Highway 21 from Milam and Nacogdoches, or Texas Highway 147 to Zavalla and Shelbyville.
By plane
There is a small airstrip (San Augustine County Airport) about two miles west of town on Texas Highway 21. Useful for private planes and charter aircraft, a visitor arriving by plane would still need to arrange transportation with someone on the ground to travel the remaining distance to San Augustine. There is no public transportation or taxi service in the area.
It is a good distance to any nearby airport with commercial service. The nearest airports with this service are:
- Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV), 79 miles north-northeast via US-96, TX-7, LA-5, and US-171. Airlines serving are Allegiant, American, Delta, and United.
- Longview - East Texas Regional Airport (GGG), 79 miles northwest via US-96, US-59, and TX-149. American is the sole airline serving this airport.
- Houston - George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), 138 miles south-southwest via TX-147, TX-103, and US-59. It is one of the largest hubs for United Airlines and serves a couple dozen other airlines as well.
Get around
By car
This is honestly the most practical way of getting around San Augustine. The town is not very large, but a car is definitely helpful, especially in the hotter summer months of July and August.
On foot
The courthouse square and adjacent city block that makes up the downtown area can be traversed on foot. Sidewalks are uneven in a lot of places, but the rest are in fair shape.
See
See Mission Dolores State Historic Site (Misión Nuestra Señora de los Delores de los Ais)
This museum tells the story of Mission Dolores, a Spanish mission built in 1721 near the site of an earlier mission built in 1718 (this first mission was abandoned due to fears of French troops advancing on east Texas). This was one of several missions and presidios built in east Texas along the El Camino Real de los Tejas to advance Spanish claims on the land and part of an attempt to convert the Ais and Caddo peoples to Roman Catholicism. Though the mission itself was abandoned in the late 18th century, archaeological evidence has revealed its location and evidence of trade and relations between the Spanish, French, and Ais people. The museum interprets the story of Mission Dolores as a cultural crossroads in east Texas and one of the few existing sites along the Deep East Texas portion of the El Camino Real.
Do
Outdoors
Eat
Eat Heart of Texas Grill (H.O.T. Grill)
General American fare, with burgers, sandwiches, and salad bar.
Drink
There are no bars or drinking establishments in San Augustine. Local convenience stores and grocery stores do sell beer.
Sleep
The only accommodations in San Augustine are two small motor inns near the intersection of US 96 & TX 21. These are very basic accommodations and only offer a handful of amenities, but are also good for the budget conscious and are usually priced between $60 & $80 a night.
Stay San Augustine Inn
Stay Budget Inn by Oyo
Nearby
Hemphill
City / town · 8 listings · 20 mi away
Logansport
City / town · 5 listings · 31 mi away
Nacogdoches
City / town · 18 listings · 32 mi away
Many
City / town · 6 listings · 37 mi away
Lufkin
City / town · 9 listings · 39 mi away
Mansfield
City / town · 17 listings · 42 mi away
Jasper
City / town · 8 listings · 43 mi away
Carthage
City / town · 1 listings · 45 mi away
My experience
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