Plan Your Visit to Henry B. González Convention Center
The Henry B. González Convention Center is at 900 E. Market Street, San Antonio, TX 78205, beside the River Walk and Hemisfair. Whether you are attending a trade show, business convention or a performance at Lila Cockrell Theatre, your most useful preparation is choosing parking, confirming your assigned room and finding the correct lobby.
Address, Location and Contact Information
The facility occupies a prominent downtown location near the River Walk, the Tower of the Americas, Hemisfair and several major hotels. The physical visitor entrance address is different from its mailing address.
| Full venue name | Henry B. González Convention Center |
|---|---|
| Visitor address | 900 E. Market Street, San Antonio, TX 78205 |
| Mailing address | PO Box 1809, San Antonio, TX 78296 |
| Main telephone | 210-207-8500 |
| Area | Downtown San Antonio / River Walk / Hemisfair |
| Nearest major airport | San Antonio International Airport (SAT) |
| Official venue site | sahbgcc.com |
Henry B. González Convention Center Parking and Prices
The convention center’s official visitor FAQ says there is no dedicated official HBGCC parking facility. The venue instead lists nearby paid public garages and parking areas. These reference prices are displayed on its parking page; event-day pricing and posted operator conditions may vary.
| Parking location | Published price | Visitor advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Convention Center Garage 850 E. Commerce St. | $10 daily flat $15 weekend | Across the street from the convention center and Lila Cockrell Theatre. |
| Grand Hyatt Garage 600 E. Market St. | 0–1 hr: $23 1–2 hr: $28 2–3 hr: $33 4–24 hr: $45 Plus tax | Closest listed parking; convenient when minimizing the walk is important. |
| Convention Center South Parking | 5–12 hr: $20 12–24 hr: $25 Lost ticket: $30 | Alternative south-side parking for longer visits. |
For Convention Center South Parking inquiries, the venue lists 210-225-3973.
How to choose the right parking garage
- Check your event’s lobby. Find out whether registration uses the Main Lobby or West Lobby.
- Compare walking convenience. The Grand Hyatt is close, but its published rates are higher.
- Choose a budget option. The Convention Center Garage is a useful starting comparison for all-day parking.
- Save a second option. Downtown garages can fill during conventions, sports events and festivals.
- Pay attention to signs. Posted prices, special-event rules and exit restrictions take precedence over older online information.
Convention Center Map and Driving Directions
The venue is on East Market Street. Its entrance is close to the River Walk and downtown hotel district, while nearby parking garages have separate access points.
Driving from San Antonio International Airport
- Take Highway 281 South. Follow signs from the airport toward downtown San Antonio.
- Use the East César E. Chávez Boulevard exit. Follow the current exit and traffic signage.
- Continue west toward Alamo Street. Turn right onto Alamo Street.
- Turn right onto Market Street. Continue toward the convention center complex.
- Choose your garage. Follow the correct entrance signs for the Convention Center Garage or Grand Hyatt Garage.
These steps summarize the official published airport approach. Roadworks, traffic patterns and event closures can change the final route.
Main Lobby or West Lobby: Which Entrance Should You Use?
The building is large enough that the correct lobby can make a significant difference to your walking distance and registration time.
Main Lobby
The main entrance is a useful starting point for exhibit halls and routes toward meeting and ballroom levels.
- Access to the exhibit-hall areas.
- Connection to meeting-room and ballroom levels.
- Market Café in the Main Lobby.
- Hallway toward Lila Cockrell Theatre.
West Lobby
The venue identifies this lobby as the convenient approach for several west-side spaces.
- Lila Cockrell Theatre.
- Exhibit Hall 4B.
- Bridge Hall.
- Meeting rooms near Hemisfair Park.
- River Level rooms and spaces.
Exhibit Halls, Ballrooms and Floor Plans
The facility includes large exhibition areas, divisible ballrooms and meeting rooms on multiple levels. The official venue describes about 514,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, with the exhibit halls accommodating more than 2,900 standard booths.
| Major space | Floor area | Useful planning detail |
|---|---|---|
| Exhibit Hall 1 | 86,878 sq ft | Column-free exhibit space |
| Exhibit Hall 2 | 183,712 sq ft | Largest exhibit hall |
| Exhibit Hall 3 | 95,930 sq ft | Street-level exhibit hall |
| Exhibit Hall 4A | 65,768 sq ft | Part of divisible Hall 4 |
| Exhibit Hall 4B | 65,028 sq ft | West Lobby is often convenient |
| Bridge Hall | 16,628 sq ft | West-side event space |
| Stars at Night Ballroom | 54,717 sq ft | Up to 5,662 theater-style seats in published configuration |
Room sizes are not the same as guaranteed attendance capacities. Stage placement, seating layout, aisles, production equipment and safety rules all affect the usable configuration.
How to find your room from the venue floor plan
- Find the full room identifier. Check your ticket, event schedule or badge confirmation.
- Match the correct level. The venue publishes River, Street, Meeting and Ballroom Level plans.
- Check the nearest lobby. Use the Main or West Lobby guidance above.
- Look for restrooms and accessible routes. The official plans indicate elevators, escalators and exits.
- Confirm onsite. Follow any newer event-specific signs or organizer floor plans.
Events, Tickets and Convention Registration
Henry B. González Convention Center hosts conferences, exhibitions, trade shows, meetings and ticketed public events. An event appearing on a venue calendar does not automatically mean general public admission is available.
Public ticketed event
- Find the event on the venue calendar.
- Open its organizer information.
- Confirm the event date and door-opening time.
- Follow the organizer’s approved ticket link.
- Save entry, bag and re-entry rules.
Conference or trade show
- Check whether registration is required.
- Confirm badge pickup times.
- Save the correct room, hall and lobby.
- Read your event’s exhibit or attendee rules.
- Carry identification if requested.
Airport, Transportation and Walkable Hotels
From San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
The convention center’s official FAQ places the airport approximately eight miles from downtown and gives a typical 15–20 minute drive as a general reference. Congestion and event traffic can make the trip longer.
- Taxi or rideshare: Practical for direct travel with luggage and event materials.
- Rental car: Useful when visiting locations outside downtown; remember to budget for paid parking.
- VIA Metropolitan Transit: Check the current route and transfer information rather than relying on an outdated printed schedule.
- Walking: Many River Walk and downtown hotels are within walking distance of the venue.
Nearby hotels to compare
| Hotel | Why visitors consider it |
|---|---|
| Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk | Very close to the convention center and Lila Cockrell Theatre. |
| San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk | Adjacent downtown hotel option. |
| Hilton Palacio del Rio | Nearby River Walk accommodation. |
| San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter | Downtown hotel near shopping and convention activities. |
| Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk | Walkable downtown alternative. |
When comparing hotels, calculate the full stay cost: room price, taxes, parking, cancellation policy and walking distance to your specific event entrance.
Venue Rules and Services That Matter
Event organizers can have additional security requirements, so separate general venue rules from event-specific restrictions.
General restrictions
- No helium-filled balloons; air-filled alternatives may be allowed.
- No outside food and beverages under the venue’s standard policy.
- No confetti eggs or glitter.
- Additional event bag screening or prohibited items may apply.
Visitor services
- Guest Services in Main and West Lobby.
- Onsite food and beverage services.
- Printing and shipping services through the onsite UPS Store.
- Accessible facilities and assistance resources.
- Event and exhibitor services for organizers.
Accessibility and Visitor Assistance
The convention center states that it operates under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Accessible routes, appropriate meeting arrangements and accessible theatre seating are part of its visitor considerations.
- Confirm your parking and arrival point before traveling.
- Use official floor plans to identify levels, lifts and accessible circulation routes.
- Ask the organizer about hearing assistance or accessible seating if needed.
- Contact the venue for the exact entrance and route to your room.
- For Lila Cockrell Theatre, request event-specific seating details.
For accessibility assistance, call 210-207-8500 and identify your event, room and needs.
Exhibitor and Event Planner Essentials
Exhibitors should not treat public visitor entrances as freight access points. Loading, setup and service orders are controlled separately from attendee arrival.
- Read your exhibitor manual. Confirm move-in times, booth number, delivery procedures and contractor contact.
- Arrange freight correctly. Use the event’s authorized shipping destination and required labels.
- Reserve services. Determine electrical, internet, audiovisual, catering and rigging needs.
- Confirm the assigned hall. Each major exhibit space has designated service and loading arrangements.
- Check move-out restrictions. Avoid assuming freight can be collected at public doors.
For planners, compare floor-plan capacity and configuration before requesting a proposal. Do not rely on old indexed rental-rate tables for current booking prices.
Before You Leave: Simple Event-Day Checklist
Attendee checklist
- Correct event date and registration time.
- Ticket, QR code or badge instructions.
- Assigned room and best lobby.
- Parking garage and alternate garage.
- Organizer’s bag and entry policies.
- Travel and downtown walking allowance.
Exhibitor checklist
- Approved move-in and move-out times.
- Freight/shipping paperwork.
- Hall and booth assignment.
- Contractor and show-services contact.
- Electricity, internet and audiovisual orders.
- Loading instructions and crew credentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is Henry B. González Convention Center located?
The venue is at 900 E. Market Street, San Antonio, TX 78205, in downtown San Antonio near the River Walk and Hemisfair.
2. What is the convention center phone number?
The main number is 210-207-8500.
3. Is there parking at Henry B. González Convention Center?
Nearby public paid garages are available, but the venue’s FAQ says there is no dedicated official convention center parking facility. The Convention Center Garage at 850 E. Commerce Street is one nearby option.
4. How much does convention center parking cost?
The official venue page lists Convention Center Garage at $10 daily flat and $15 on weekends. Grand Hyatt and other parking options have different rates. Event-day posted prices may vary.
5. Which entrance should I use?
Main Lobby is useful for exhibit halls and access to meeting and ballroom levels. West Lobby is more convenient for Lila Cockrell Theatre, Hall 4B, Bridge Hall and some River Level spaces.
6. How big is the convention center?
The official venue describes approximately 514,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, with more than 2,900 standard exhibit booths accommodated across its halls.
7. Where can I find official floor plans?
The venue publishes River, Street, Meeting and Ballroom Level floor plans and specifications at sahbgcc.com under Facilities and Floor Plans.
8. How far is the airport from the convention center?
San Antonio International Airport is about eight miles from downtown. The venue gives a general 15–20 minute travel estimate, which can increase with traffic.
9. Is the convention center wheelchair accessible?
The convention center operates under Title II ADA requirements. Contact the venue to confirm accessible routes, seating and other arrangements for your specific event.
10. Can anyone attend events at the convention center?
Not necessarily. Some events are open to the public, while others require registration, trade credentials or invitations. Always check the event organizer’s admission requirements.
Official Resources for Your Final Step
Use these sources to complete a live action, such as verifying an event, checking the latest room layout or planning an exhibition.
Official venue information reviewed October 2026. Parking prices, public events, policies and room configurations can change. This independent visitor guide is not affiliated with the convention center or the City of San Antonio.