Booking choice: The San Antonio CityPASS, from $63 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The narrated cruise is one of the easiest things to do in San Antonio with children. The river is calm and slow, about three feet deep, and the boats are wide, stable and open to the sky. All GO RIO barges are ADA-accessible.
Here is what children pay on the boat and on each tour, how to handle the heat and the stairs, the family attractions you can bundle with the cruise, and which guided tours work with kids.
The quick answer
Yes, the cruise is good for kids: 35 calm, seated minutes on a slow, shallow river. At the GO RIO booth, children 1 to 5 pay $9.50 ($10.28 with tax); from age 6 they pay the adult rate. Ride before noon or after 7 pm in summer. For a family trip with the zoo, the San Antonio CityPASS ($63) bundles the cruise with the zoo, the Alamo exhibit and a museum or garden such as the DoSeum.
Is the River Walk boat ride good for kids?
Yes. It is short, seated and calm, with ducks, bridges and a funny guide. Most children under ten enjoy it more than any museum.
The boats glide at walking pace on a river about three feet deep. There is no splashing, no motor noise to speak of and a lot to point at. The guide talks the whole way, and guests often mention how funny the boat guides are.
Pets are not allowed on the boats; service animals are. Outside food and drink are not allowed either, so finish the snacks before you board.
Doing the zoo and a children’s museum on the same trip? The CityPASS adds the GO RIO cruise to both, from $63.
Check dates for the San Antonio CityPASSHow much is the River Walk cruise for children?
At the GO RIO booth, $9.50 for ages 1 to 5, or $10.28 with tax. From six, children pay the adult rate of $15.50 before tax.
Prices on the tours work differently. Each operator sets its own age bands, as the table shows. Ask at the booth about babies under one.
| Option | Child age band | Adult from |
|---|---|---|
| GO RIO booth ticket | 1 to 5 | $15.50 + tax |
| San Antonio CityPASS | 3 to 11 | $63 |
| Walking tour with cruise | 4 to 12 | $69 |
| Premium city tour | 5 to 12 | $159 |
| Night tour with cruise | 5 to 12 | $139 |
| Small-group walk | 5 to 12 | $129 |
Can you take a stroller on the River Walk boat?
The barges are ADA-accessible, so a stroller can come aboard. On a full boat, be ready to fold it; space is tight.
Getting to the docks is the harder part. The River Walk sits one level below the street, and many access points are stairs. Ramps and elevators exist at some access points, so plan your route if you push a stroller. On the night of the Holiday River Parade, strollers are not allowed along the River Walk at all.
Several tours list themselves as stroller accessible, including the premium city tour, the night tour and the small-group walk.
What is the best time to ride with kids?
Morning, soon after the boats start at 10 am. Lines are short, the shade is longer and small children are at their best.
From June to September San Antonio is hot, and the barges are open to the sky. Ride between 10 am and noon or after 7 pm, bring water and hats, and plan an indoor stop for the middle of the day. Evening rides are lovely but the lines are longer, which tests small patience.
Want the zoo, the Alamo exhibit and the cruise without buying three tickets at three windows? The CityPASS covers them over nine days.
Explore the San Antonio CityPASSWhat else is there for kids near the River Walk?
The San Antonio Zoo, the DoSeum children’s museum, the Witte Museum’s dinosaurs, the Tower of the Americas and the Alamo.
- San Antonio Zoo: in Brackenridge Park north of downtown, included in the CityPASS.
- The DoSeum: a children’s museum built for hands-on play, one of the four CityPASS picks.
- The Witte Museum: natural history and Texas history, another CityPASS pick.
- The Tower of the Americas: the deck at 750 feet; children 4 to 12 pay $15.
- The Alamo: the church costs nothing to enter with a timed ticket and makes a short, memorable stop.
Want the Alamo, the Tower and the cruise with a guide who keeps the stories lively? The small-group walk runs four hours with ten guests at most, from $129.
Check dates for the small-group walk with the Alamo and cruiseIs the CityPASS worth it for a family?
If you plan the zoo and at least one museum, yes. At $63 for adults, with a child band of 3 to 11, it bundles the cruise with the bigger family tickets.
The CityPASS is a mobile pass used within nine days: the GO RIO cruise, the San Antonio Zoo, the Alamo exhibit and church, and one of the Botanical Garden, the Witte Museum, the DoSeum or the San Antonio Museum of Art. A guest in April 2026 called it "lots of choice based on what your family enjoys doing".
Guests also report that staff at some venues were unsure about the pass at first, so keep the QR code ready and allow a minute at the gate.
Which guided tour with a cruise is best for kids?
The premium city tour for younger children, since a van does the walking. Older kids who like history enjoy the Ultimate walk.
The premium city tour picks you up at your hotel and drives between Mission San José, the Alamo, the Tower and the river, with a child rate from 5 to 12. On the walking tours, expect two miles or more on foot. A guest on the small-group walk in February 2026 found "a lot of walking and stairs so probably not great for younger kids". For the full comparison, read the best tour with a cruise.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the River Walk boat ride for kids?
At the GO RIO booth, $9.50 for ages 1 to 5, or $10.28 with tax. From age 6 children pay the adult rate.
Is the San Antonio River safe for children on the boat?
Yes. The river is about three feet deep and slow, the barges are wide and stable, and children stay seated for the 35-minute ride.
Are strollers allowed on the River Walk boats?
The barges are ADA-accessible, so a stroller can come aboard. On a full boat, be ready to fold it.
Does the CityPASS include the River Walk cruise?
Yes. The CityPASS ($63) includes the GO RIO cruise, the zoo, the Alamo exhibit and church, and one more attraction.
Ready to book
Choose your River Walk tour
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
San Antonio CityPASS with the GO RIO Cruise
Families doing the zoo and museums too
Premium City Tour with the Alamo and River Walk Cruise
- About four hours with pickup and drop-off in downtown San Antonio
- Narrated GO RIO river cruise and the Tower of the Americas deck, both included
- Stops at Mission San José and the Alamo with a local guide
Small-Group Walking Tour with the Alamo and River Cruise
An hour at the Alamo, then the cruise, on foot
