In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
San Augustine
Spend a half‑day to a full day exploring downtown and Mission Dolores; stay if you need a budget base for East Texas lake trips.
San Augustine is a small historic town in Deep East Texas with a 1721 Spanish mission, a compact downtown, and two nearby large lakes. A car is essential; most visitors spend a day visiting the mission, strolling the square, and using the town as a launch point for Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend Reservoir.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (milder temps)
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, limited shade)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $45–$65 excl. bed · Mid $65–$95 excl. bed · High $95+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police/Fire/Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a local café | $2–$3 |
| Burger at Heart of Texas Grill | $10–$20 per person |
| Beer (six‑pack at convenience store) | $6–$9 |
| Gasoline (per gallon) | $3.30–$3.80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SHV · Shreveport Regional Airport
- 79 mi via US‑96, TX‑7, LA‑5, US‑171; airlines: Allegiant, American, Delta, United
- GGG · Longview – East Texas Regional Airport
- 79 mi via US‑96, US‑59, TX‑149; American only
- IAH · Houston George Bush Intercontinental
- 138 mi via TX‑147, TX‑103, US‑59; major hub
Typical fares
- Shreveport (SHV) → San Augustine, rental car
- ≈ $45–$55 for a compact car, 2 h drive (check)
- San Augustine Inn → Heart of Texas Grill
- ≈ 5 min walk (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car is the only practical mode; downtown is walkable (courthouse square). No public transport or taxis.
See and do
Known for
- Mission Dolores State Historic Site
- Historic downtown Main Street
- Proximity to Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend reservoirs
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Rayburn Reservoir | Drive US‑96 north 30 mi | ≈45 min each way |
| Toledo Bend Reservoir | Drive TX‑21 east 35 mi | ≈50 min each way |
| Nacogdoches | Drive TX‑21 west 30 mi | ≈40 min |
Sleep
- San Augustine Inn
- Basic motor‑inn near US‑96 & TX‑21; $60–$80 per night
- Budget Inn by Oyo
- Motor‑inn on US‑96; $60–$80 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis‑kul‑pe |
| Thank you | Graciasgra‑see‑as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwan‑to kwes‑ta |
| Where is the restroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?don‑de es‑ta el ba‑nyo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat can exceed 35 °C; carry water.
- Sidewalks in downtown are uneven; watch for potholes.
- No public taxi service; arrange rides in advance if arriving by plane.
San Augustine is low‑crime; main risk is heat and uneven sidewalks. Keep water, wear sun protection, and drive safely on rural roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for San Augustine yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mission Dolores State Historic Site
- Historic downtown Main Street
- Proximity to Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend reservoirs
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – San Augustine: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28153633
- Wikivoyage: San Augustine, revision 5218344 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5218344
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
San Augustine
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police/Fire/Ambulance911
US consulates are in Houston and Dallas; nearest foreign embassies are in Washington, DC.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/san-augustine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.