After the name marché aux puces, French for the flea market was given to a Parisian shop with an abundance of second-hand goods, the term flea market began to be used around 1922.
Since then, the popularity of flea markets has increased dramatically. If you’re reading this, then you might be wondering about the flea market in San Antonio.
You’d be delighted to know that San Antonio has many flea markets. If you’re looking for a bargain sale, a variety of new and used goods, or simply aiming for a nice day with tasty food, then San Antonio has you covered.
The Flea Markets of San Antonio
There are many popular flea markets in San Antonio. In this article, we’ve selected 10 of the most popular ones. For each market, we’ll give you the exact location, the opening times, the admission fees if present, and what you should expect to find there.
1. Bussey’s Flea Market
Bussey’s flea market is arguably the most popular in San Antonio. It’s located around 20 miles northeast of the city, and it’s characterized by its iconic armadillo logo that you’ll find on its front billboard.
Bussey’s Flea Market first opened in 1978. Since then, this family-owned market has been gradually getting bigger and bigger. Today, over 500 vendors display their goods when the market opens every week.
You can find a wide variety of antiques, home decoration items, jewelry, and clothing. If you’re a food lover, the snack bar there has some of the best burgers you can taste in the state.
- Open Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 7 am until 5 pm
- Location: 18738 Interstate 35 N., Schertz, TX 78154
- Admission: Admission is free, but the parking ticket costs $2
2. The Mission
Also known as the King of Bargains, the Mission is a gigantic open-air market with more than 2000 vendors displaying their goods. It’s 10 minutes away to the south of downtown San Antonio.
Sometimes called the mall without walls, the Mission’s flea market takes acres of space, making it one of the biggest flea markets in the city. You can find a wide selection of home furniture, power tools, electronics, vinyl, clothes, and jewelry.
The shopping carts are free, and there’s a large shade area to cover you from the sun. Make sure to grab a few snacks while resting, as you’ll end up spending hours there.
- Open Hours: Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6 am to 5 pm
- Location: 707 Moursund Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78221
- Admission: Parking is free, but admission costs $2 per person
3. Mi Mercado Flea Market
“Mi Mercado” means my market in the Spanish language, and the name doesn’t disappoint. This flea market is for everything Latino. It’s a perfect gathering spot for the Latino community of San Antonio.
There’s a large outdoor flea market area where you can find great deals on key chains, birdhouses, toys, new and used electronics, clothes, DVDs, and much much more. There are also snack vendors and bars, and an indoor event hall where they host their famous quinceaneras.
Here’s a quick tip, there are outdoor and indoor vendors in Mi Mercado, but if you want a great bargain, go for the outdoor ones.
- Open Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 7 am to 4 pm
- Location: 227 New Laredo Highway, San Antonio, TX 78211
- Admission: Both admission and parking are free
4. Trader’s Village
With over 1000 vendors displaying their goods in an area that exceeds 100 acres, the Trader’s Village flea market is an engaging festival of outdoor shopping. Would you like an antique radio? You’ll find it there. Some Turkey legs? Also there.
The Trader’s village can be the most entertaining flea market in Texas if you hit it at the right time. And by the right time, we mean around lunchtime, as it can be quite empty if you visit it too early.
Besides the enormous collection of stuff you can buy, there are various food vendors and carnival rides that you can ride to your heart’s content. We recommend getting the Trader’s Village’s Ride Pass, as it’s much cheaper than paying for singular rides.
- Open Hours: Sunday and Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm
- Location: 9333 Southwest Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78242
- Admission: The admission is free, but the parking costs $5
5. Eisenhauer Market
Eisenhauer is one of the largest indoor flea markets in San Antonio. It has 3 large buildings where over 200 vendors come every Saturday and Sunday.
Because it’s mostly an indoor flea market, the number of vendors is notably fewer than in other flea markets. The decoration of the building is also fairly outdated, and you’ll find quite a few cracks and dents in the place.
However, the vast collection of perfumes, jewelry, furniture, collectibles, and even plants will more than makeup for that. Many of the booths are also run by families which can provide you with some wholesome experiences. It’s definitely worth your time.
- Open Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 3 pm to 7 pm
- Location: 3903 Eisenhauer Rd, San Antonio, TX 78218
- Admission: Both the admission and the parking are free
6. Las Esperanza
Las Esperanza, or “hope” in Spanish, is a little more unique than most other San Antonio flea markets. Why is that? It’s mostly situated around animals!
Because of that, it’s very natural to see a person going in barehanded and coming out with a chicken and a couple of parrots. In Las Esperanza, you can buy puppies, cats, peacocks, small birds, and even goats!
Don’t worry, there are still some vendors who sell your typical flea market merchandise, not to mention the homemade tortillas that could be the sole reason for you coming back.
- Open Hours: Sunday from 6 am to 5 pm
- Location: 18600 Pleasanton Rd, San Antonio, TX 78221
- Admission: Parking is free, but admission is $2 per person
7. Alamo Ranch Pop-Up Market
Alamo Ranch Pop-Up market takes over 80,000 square feet and offers space for over 300 vendors, making it arguably the largest flea market in San Antonio.
The air-conditioned building indoor experience gives you a mall-like experience with a taste of outdoor shopping.
Since the booths are bigger, you can expect to find large items on display like kayaks and household goods. You can also find just about anything you can find in other flea markets, in addition to some computer and jewelry repair services.
- Open Hours: Friday from 11 am to 6 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
- Location: 7171 Highway 90 West, San Antonio, TX 78227
- Admission: Both the admission and the parking are free
8. Austin Country Flea Market
Austin market is one of the larger flea markets in the state, featuring over 300 vendors. This gold mine of a market is your best bet if you want an old-school, authentic Texan experience.
If you’re into tasty food, then Austin flea market has you covered. From hot roasted corn to turkey legs, your food craving will be met.
Additionally, you can find many of the accessories you’d want, like collectibles, jewelry, garage sale items, clothing, and electronics.
- Open Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm
- Location: 9500 US-290, Austin, TX 78724
- Admission: The admission is free, but the parking costs $2
9. Kyle Flea Market
You’ll find Kyle flea market around 65 miles to the north of San Antonio. This flea market may not be as popular as other flea markets, but it’s still worth visiting, especially if you like garage sale vibes.
You can find a good range of home accessories, furniture, jewelry, new and used electronics, and trinkets that you’d find in any other flea market.
However, if you’re after a good bargain, we recommend going on Sunday when there’s a richer variety of vendors.
- Open Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm
- Location: 1119 N. Old Hwy 81, Kyle, TX 78640
- Admission: Both the admission and the parking are free
10. 812 Outdoor Flea Market
Situated further to the north beyond Kyle and Austin county markets, the 812 flea market lies around 90 miles to the north of San Antonio.
This flea market has so many trees around it that an unknowing visitor might mistake it for a forest hub. There are hundreds of outdoor vendors selling thousands of different items. You can buy gifts, home accessories, electronics, and many more things.
If you crave some food in the middle of these woods, then the variety of Mexican beverages you can find there will come to the rescue. You won’t regret it.
- Open Hours: Saturday from 7 am to 5:30 pm and Sunday from 7 am to 7:30 pm
- Location: 8714 FM812, Austin, TX 78719
- Admission: Parking is free, but admission is $2 per person
References
- The Mission Flea Market: missionopenairmarket.com
- A Walk in the Mission Flea Market youtube.com
- Bussey’s Flea Market: busseysfm.com
- Eisenhauer Flea Market: eisenhauerfleamarketsa.net
- Trader’s Village Flea Market tradersvillage.com
Christian Linden is a seasoned writer and contributor at Texas View, specializing in topics that resonate with the Texan community. With over a decade of experience in journalism, Christian brings a wealth of knowledge in local politics, culture, and lifestyle. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Texas. When he's not writing, Christian enjoys spending weekends traveling across Texas with his family, exploring everything from bustling cities to serene landscapes.
