San Angelo visitor FAQ

Yes. Goodfellow says all visitors 16 and older need a visitor's pass to get on the installation, and visitors 10 and older get a background (NCIC) check. Start early: your graduate or their unit can tell you what is required for your ceremony. Some large events use an entry list arranged by the unit.

Next to the base's South Gate. The base lists the Visitor Center phone as (325) 654-4125.

Bring a valid photo ID. If you are driving onto the base, bring your vehicle registration and proof of insurance too. Goodfellow posts the current list of accepted documents on its Visitor Control Center page, so check it before you travel.

When we last checked, the base said the North Gate is open 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the South Gate is open 24 hours. Hours can change, so confirm with the base before your trip.

Goodfellow trains intelligence and other specialists, and courses graduate on different schedules all year. Your graduate's unit sets the exact date, time and location. We post graduation weekends on this page as they are confirmed.

Goodfellow is home to the Air Force's 17th Training Wing and also trains members of other services, including Army, Navy and Marine Corps units based on the installation.

Goodfellow is on the southeast side of San Angelo, a short drive from downtown. Staying near the base keeps graduation morning simple; staying downtown puts you by the River Walk and restaurants. Either way, book as early as you can.

As soon as you know the date. Graduation weekends bring in families from all over the country and the closest hotels can fill up, especially when a graduation lands on the same weekend as another big event.

Fort Concho, one of the best-preserved frontier forts in the West; the Concho River Walk; a big arts scene (the city was named the Visual Arts Capital of Texas); its ranching heritage; Goodfellow Air Force Base; and the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo.

Walk the Concho River Walk, look for the painted sheep statues around town, see the International Waterlily Collection in the warm months, and catch a sunset at Lake Nasworthy.

The PRCA rodeo is held in April. For 2027 the rodeo is scheduled for April 2-18 at the Tom Green County Fairgrounds, with the livestock show earlier, in February. Check sanangelorodeo.com for tickets and the latest schedule.

It is held the first full weekend of December. In 2026 it runs December 4-6: Friday 3-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., according to the City of San Angelo.

Spring and fall are the most comfortable. Summers are hot, so plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings. Early December is great for Christmas at Old Fort Concho and the river lights.

Most visitors drive. San Angelo Regional Airport (Mathis Field) also has commercial flights; check current routes with the airlines. Plan on a car for getting around town.

Yes. The fort, the River Walk, the state park and the lake are all easy family stops, and our itineraries give you a ready-made plan.

Pick your dates and area and we send you to a hotel booking site with those dates filled in. You book directly with them. Some of these are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Downtown is best for walking to the River Walk and restaurants. Stay near Goodfellow for graduation, near the fairgrounds on the north side for the rodeo, or near Lake Nasworthy for water and sunsets.

Graduation weekends, rodeo season in April, Christmas at Old Fort Concho in December and big tournaments can all fill hotels. Book early for those dates.

No. VisitSanAngelo.com is an independent guide made by Mediajaw, a San Angelo web design company. The official tourism bureau is Discover San Angelo (discoversanangelo.com). We are not affiliated with the City of San Angelo or Goodfellow AFB.

Local businesses can pay to be featured, and some hotel links are affiliate links. Featured listings are always labeled. We never charge visitors anything.

Hotels, restaurants, attractions and shops can get a featured listing, sponsor a graduation weekend or sponsor a stop on one of our itineraries. See the Advertise page to get in touch.

Use the form on the Advertise page (pick "Report a correction") and we will fix it.