Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is one of the most iconic open-world games ever created. Set in the fictional state of San Andreas, the game follows Carl “CJ” Johnson as he returns to Los Santos after the death of his mother and becomes involved in a massive story involving gangs, corruption, family, betrayal and the rise of his criminal empire.

This complete GTA San Andreas guide is designed to help you progress through the entire game and work toward 100% completion.

You will find information about the main story, cities, missions, collectibles, properties, vehicle missions, side activities, important rewards, hidden content and the major requirements for completing the game.

This guide covers the original GTA San Andreas experience and is designed to serve as a long-term reference while playing.

GTA San Andreas Overview

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas takes place in the fictional state of San Andreas during the early 1990s.

The game is divided into three major cities:

• Los Santos
• San Fierro
• Las Venturas

Each city has its own atmosphere, characters, missions and activities.

The game begins in Los Santos before eventually expanding into the other regions of San Andreas.

CJ starts with very little, but throughout the story he gains properties, vehicles, businesses, money and influence.

The main story is only part of the experience. Many activities outside the main missions contribute to your overall completion percentage.

The Main Character

Carl “CJ” Johnson is the protagonist of GTA San Andreas.

After spending several years away from Los Santos, CJ returns following the death of his mother.

He quickly becomes involved with his family and Grove Street while trying to rebuild the gang’s influence.

Throughout the game, CJ travels across San Andreas and becomes involved with many different characters and organizations.

His journey eventually takes him from the streets of Los Santos to San Fierro and Las Venturas before returning to Los Santos for the final part of the story.

GTA San Andreas Story Structure

Los Santos

The game begins in Los Santos, where CJ reconnects with his family and Grove Street.

The early missions introduce CJ, Sweet, Big Smoke, Ryder, Kendl, OG Loc, Grove Street, the Ballas and the Los Santos police.

The early portion of the game focuses heavily on gang conflicts and rebuilding Grove Street.

Eventually, CJ is forced to leave Los Santos and travel to the countryside.

Countryside

After leaving Los Santos, CJ becomes involved with characters such as Catalina, Cesar and The Truth.

This section introduces rural areas and prepares CJ for his journey to San Fierro.

Several missions during this part of the game also introduce important characters who become relevant later.

San Fierro

CJ eventually reaches San Fierro and begins building a new operation.

This section introduces Woozie, the Triads, the Loco Syndicate, Mike Toreno and the garage business.

CJ begins establishing himself in San Fierro while working against several criminal organizations.

The city also introduces several important side activities and properties.

Desert

After the San Fierro storyline, CJ travels into the desert.

The desert section introduces Mike Toreno, military-related missions, the airfield, Flight School, new vehicles and additional countryside areas.

This section is important because it unlocks access to later parts of the game.

Las Venturas

CJ eventually reaches Las Venturas, the largest city in the game.

The Las Venturas storyline focuses heavily on casinos, organized crime and CJ’s growing influence.

Important characters include Woozie, Ken Rosenberg, Kent Paul, Maccer, Salvatore Leone and Mike Toreno.

CJ also becomes involved with a major casino operation.

Return to Los Santos

After completing the major events in Las Venturas, CJ returns to Los Santos.

The final section of the game focuses heavily on reclaiming Grove Street and confronting the people responsible for the betrayal of CJ’s family.

The final missions lead to the game’s conclusion and the final confrontation.

Complete Story Walkthrough

The following sections provide a general progression through the main story.

Los Santos Missions

The opening missions introduce the world and basic mechanics.

CJ returns to Los Santos and immediately becomes involved with Grove Street.

During the early missions, you will learn how to drive, fight, use vehicles, participate in gang activities and work with Grove Street members.

The early missions gradually introduce the major characters and establish the conflict between Grove Street and rival gangs.

Key Early Missions

• Big Smoke
• Ryder
• Tagging Up Turf
• Cleaning the Hood
• Drive-Thru
• Nines and AK’s
• Drive-By
• Sweet’s Girl
• Cesar Vialpando
• Doberman
• Los Sepulcros
• Reuniting the Families
• The Green Sabre

The Green Sabre is one of the most important missions in the early game because it dramatically changes the direction of the story.

Countryside Missions

After the events surrounding Grove Street, CJ is forced away from Los Santos.

The countryside introduces a different environment and several new characters.

Important missions involve Catalina, Cesar, The Truth and various countryside activities.

This section eventually leads CJ toward San Fierro.

San Fierro Missions

After arriving in San Fierro, CJ begins establishing himself in the city.

The garage becomes one of the most important locations during this part of the story.

CJ works with Cesar and the Triads while investigating the Loco Syndicate.

Important characters include Cesar Vialpando, Woozie, Zero, Mike Toreno, Jizzy and T-Bone Mendez.

The San Fierro section eventually leads CJ toward the desert.

Desert Missions

The desert introduces several new gameplay mechanics.

CJ gains access to an airfield, aircraft, Flight School and additional desert locations.

Flight School is particularly important because CJ needs to improve his flying skills for later missions.

Las Venturas Missions

Las Venturas introduces the casino storyline.

CJ becomes involved with Woozie and eventually helps build a major casino operation.

Important characters include Woozie, Ken Rosenberg, Kent Paul, Maccer, Salvatore Leone and Mike Toreno.

The Las Venturas section contains some of the game’s most elaborate missions and prepares CJ for the final part of the story.

Return to Los Santos

Eventually, CJ returns to Los Santos.

The city has changed significantly since the beginning of the game.

Grove Street is in trouble, and CJ must work to restore his family’s influence.

The final storyline leads toward the final confrontation with the main antagonists.

Completing the final missions finishes the main story, but there is still additional content available for players working toward 100% completion.

GTA San Andreas 100% Completion

Completing the story does not automatically mean you have reached 100%.

Several activities throughout San Andreas contribute to overall completion.

• Main story missions
• Vehicle missions
• Collectibles
• Property-related activities
• Side missions
• Racing events
• School activities
• Various optional activities

Collectibles

GTA San Andreas contains several collectible categories.

The major collectible groups include Tags, Snapshots, Horseshoes and Oysters.

Collectibles are spread throughout the world and are often found in difficult-to-reach locations.

Collecting all of them is an important part of completing the game.

Los Santos Tags

Los Santos contains gang tags that CJ can spray over.

There are 100 tags spread throughout Los Santos.

Completing all tags provides rewards and helps toward completion.

The easiest way to approach the tags is to divide Los Santos into neighborhoods and systematically search each area.

San Fierro Snapshots

San Fierro contains 50 hidden photographic snapshots.

These are represented by floating camera icons.

You need to photograph each required location.

Some snapshots can be difficult to see because they may be located above roads, buildings or other structures.

Las Venturas Horseshoes

Las Venturas contains 50 horseshoes.

They are scattered throughout the city and surrounding areas.

Some are located in unusual positions, so exploring the city carefully is important.

Oysters

There are 50 oysters hidden throughout San Andreas.

Many oysters are located underwater.

Collecting them can also improve CJ’s lung capacity, making underwater exploration easier.

Gang Territories

Gang territories are an important part of the Los Santos gameplay.

CJ can capture territory from rival gangs by starting gang wars.

Territory control is not required to complete the entire game in the same way as every collectible, but controlling territory can be useful during the storyline and contributes to the overall gang-management experience.

Vehicle Missions

Several vehicles have their own mission activities.

These missions are important for players working toward 100% completion.

Taxi Missions

Taxi missions require CJ to transport passengers around the city.

The goal is to successfully complete enough fares and reach the required progression.

Completing the taxi challenge provides a permanent benefit to taxis.

Paramedic Missions

Paramedic missions require CJ to transport injured people to hospitals.

These missions become progressively more difficult as the required level increases.

Completing the required level unlocks a permanent health-related reward.

Firefighter Missions

Firefighter missions require CJ to respond to fires.

The difficulty increases as you progress through the levels.

Completing the required progression provides a permanent fire resistance reward.

Vigilante Missions

Vigilante missions involve pursuing criminals while using an appropriate law-enforcement vehicle.

Completing the required progression provides a permanent armor-related reward.

Pimping Missions

Pimping missions involve transporting characters between locations while completing the required objectives.

Completing the required progression unlocks a permanent gameplay benefit.

Burglar Missions

Burglar missions involve breaking into houses during the night.

These missions are optional but provide useful rewards and can contribute to completion.

Trucking Missions

Trucking missions become available through specific trucking locations.

They involve delivering cargo across San Andreas.

Completing the required missions contributes to overall completion.

Quarry Missions

Quarry missions involve completing a series of jobs at the quarry.

These missions include different vehicle and objective challenges.

Completing the quarry storyline also unlocks additional rewards and opportunities.

Courier Missions

Several locations throughout San Andreas provide courier-style missions.

These activities require delivering packages while completing the required route.

They contribute to overall completion.

Schools

GTA San Andreas includes several different schools.

These are important because they improve CJ’s abilities and can contribute toward 100% completion.

Driving School

Driving School is located in San Fierro.

It contains multiple driving challenges.

The tests evaluate different skills such as braking, acceleration, cornering, precision and vehicle control.

Improving your driving skills can make several missions easier.

Bike School

Bike School focuses on motorcycle control.

The challenges test balance, acceleration, braking, precision and motorcycle handling.

Boat School

Boat School focuses on controlling boats.

The tests require accurate steering and careful control of speed.

Flight School

Flight School is one of the most challenging schools in the game for many players.

It teaches takeoff, landing, turning, aircraft control and advanced flying.

Completing the school is important for later missions.

Gym and Stats

CJ has several physical and gameplay-related statistics.

• Muscle
• Fat
• Stamina
• Respect
• Weapon skills
• Driving skills

Different activities affect CJ’s stats.

Training at gyms improves physical abilities, while using weapons and vehicles improves related skills.

Weapons and Weapon Skills

CJ can improve his proficiency with different weapon categories.

As weapon skill increases, CJ becomes more effective with those weapons.

Some weapons can eventually reach higher proficiency levels.

Improving weapon skills can make combat considerably easier throughout the story.

Vehicles

San Andreas contains a huge variety of vehicles.

Vehicles include cars, motorcycles, bicycles, boats, aircraft, emergency vehicles, commercial vehicles and special vehicles.

Different vehicles have different handling characteristics.

Some are better for speed, while others are better for off-road driving or specific missions.

Vehicle Export and Collection

San Fierro contains a vehicle export system.

Players can locate specific vehicles and deliver them to the required location.

Completing the required lists provides money and rewards.

This activity is especially useful for players who want to explore the vehicle variety in San Andreas.

Properties and Safehouses

CJ can obtain various properties throughout the game.

Properties can provide safe locations, vehicle storage, mission opportunities, income and additional gameplay options.

Some properties are required as part of the story, while others are useful for completion.

Businesses

Certain businesses become available during the story.

These can provide additional income and unlock activities.

Owning properties and completing their associated requirements is an important part of building CJ’s empire.

Races

San Andreas contains numerous racing events.

These races take place across different environments and use different types of vehicles.

Race events can be challenging because opponents can have strong vehicles and aggressive driving styles.

Learning the route beforehand can make races considerably easier.

Stadium Events

Several stadium locations contain special events.

These events feature different vehicle-based challenges.

Completing them contributes to overall completion.

Unique Jumps

San Andreas contains many unique stunt jumps.

These jumps reward players for successfully performing specific stunts.

They are also a fun way to explore the game’s physics and vehicle mechanics.

Hidden Areas

San Andreas contains many locations that are not required for the story.

Exploration can reveal hidden interiors, remote locations, collectibles, Easter eggs, unusual NPC behavior, rare vehicles and secret locations.

Exploring outside the main mission path is one of the best ways to discover everything the game has to offer.

Important Characters

Carl Johnson

CJ is the main protagonist.

He returns to Los Santos and gradually rebuilds his life and influence across San Andreas.

Sweet Johnson

Sweet is CJ’s brother and one of the leaders of Grove Street.

His relationship with CJ is one of the most important elements of the story.

Big Smoke

Big Smoke is initially presented as one of CJ’s closest allies.

His role becomes increasingly important as the story progresses.

Ryder

Ryder is another early Grove Street character.

He participates in several early missions alongside CJ.

Cesar Vialpando

Cesar becomes one of CJ’s most important allies.

He also becomes closely connected to CJ’s family.

Kendl Johnson

Kendl is CJ’s sister.

She plays an important role in the story and is closely connected to Cesar.

The Truth

The Truth is one of the game’s most unusual characters.

He introduces CJ to several strange missions and locations.

Woozie

Wu Zi Mu, commonly known as Woozie, becomes one of CJ’s most important allies.

He plays a major role in the San Fierro and Las Venturas sections.

Mike Toreno

Mike Toreno is an important character connected to the later stages of the story.

His missions introduce several unusual objectives and locations.

Catalina

Catalina becomes involved with CJ during the countryside portion of the game.

Her relationship with CJ eventually leads to conflicts and additional missions.

100% Completion Checklist

Use the following checklist when working toward 100%.

Story

• Complete the main storyline
• Complete the final missions

Collectibles

• Collect all Los Santos Tags
• Collect all San Fierro Snapshots
• Collect all Las Venturas Horseshoes
• Collect all Oysters

Vehicle Missions

• Complete Taxi missions
• Complete Paramedic missions
• Complete Firefighter missions
• Complete Vigilante missions
• Complete Pimping missions
• Complete required vehicle-related activities

Schools

• Complete Driving School
• Complete Bike School
• Complete Boat School
• Complete Flight School

Races and Events

• Complete required street races
• Complete stadium events
• Complete required racing challenges

Property

• Obtain required properties
• Complete required property activities
• Complete relevant business missions

Side Activities

• Complete Quarry missions
• Complete Trucking missions
• Complete Courier missions
• Complete required side activities

Collection

• Complete vehicle export requirements
• Complete required unique challenges
• Complete other activities contributing to completion

Tips for New Players

Save Your Game Regularly

GTA San Andreas can contain difficult missions where failing at the wrong moment can cost significant progress.

Having multiple save files can also help if you want to return to an earlier point in the story.

Explore Between Missions

Do not rush directly from one mission to another.

San Andreas is designed around exploration.

You can discover collectibles, unique vehicles, hidden locations and side activities simply by exploring the map.

Improve CJ’s Skills

CJ becomes more capable as you play.

Using vehicles regularly improves driving-related abilities.

Training and physical activities can improve CJ’s physical statistics.

Weapon proficiency can also improve with continued use.

Keep Useful Vehicles

Some vehicles are particularly useful for specific situations.

Keeping reliable transportation near your safehouses can save time when starting missions.

Learn the Map

Knowing the map makes almost everything easier.

Learn the locations of hospitals, police stations, stores, gyms, safehouses, garages, airports, schools and major highways.

Fast travel is not available in the same way as modern open-world games, so map knowledge is extremely useful.

Use the Map Frequently

The map is one of your most valuable tools.

Use it to identify mission locations, safehouses, collectibles, shops, important destinations and race locations.

Planning routes before starting missions can save a lot of time.

GTA San Andreas Secrets and Easter Eggs

San Andreas is filled with strange discoveries and hidden details.

Players have found strange NPC behavior, hidden interiors, unusual locations, developer jokes, mysterious objects, rare vehicles and hidden messages.

Some of these discoveries became famous within the GTA community.

GTA San Andreas and Its Legacy

GTA San Andreas became one of the most influential open-world games of its generation.

Its combination of open-world exploration, character customization, gang mechanics, vehicle variety, RPG-style statistics, side activities and story missions helped make it one of Rockstar’s most recognizable games.

Many mechanics introduced or expanded in San Andreas influenced later open-world games.

GTA San Andreas vs. Modern GTA Games

Modern GTA games feature more advanced graphics, physics and technology.

However, San Andreas remains unique because of its large collection of gameplay systems.

CJ can change physical statistics, improve skills, customize vehicles, buy properties, control territories, participate in many different side activities and explore three major cities.

This level of variety helped give San Andreas its distinctive identity.

Final Strategy for Completing GTA San Andreas

If your goal is simply to finish the story, focus on the main missions and follow the natural progression from Los Santos to San Fierro, the desert, Las Venturas and finally back to Los Santos.

If your goal is 100% completion, do not wait until the end to start everything.

Collectibles, schools, races and side activities can be completed throughout the game.

A good strategy is to complete activities whenever they become available instead of leaving everything for the final stage.

Quick Reference

• Main Character: Carl Johnson
• Nickname: CJ
• Main Cities: Los Santos, San Fierro, Las Venturas
• Main Story Focus: Grove Street, gang conflicts, crime organizations, betrayal, CJ’s rise to power and reclaiming Los Santos
• Major Collectibles: Tags, Snapshots, Horseshoes and Oysters
• Major Schools: Driving School, Bike School, Boat School and Flight School
• Major Vehicle Activities: Taxi, Paramedic, Firefighter, Vigilante, Pimping, Burglar, Trucking, Quarry and Courier
• Important Story Locations: Grove Street, Mount Chiliad, San Fierro, the Desert, Las Venturas, The Strip and Los Santos

Final Thoughts

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is much more than a story-driven open-world game.

Its huge map, large cast of characters, extensive side content, collectibles, vehicle variety and countless hidden details make it one of the most replayable games in the Grand Theft Auto series.

Whether you are playing San Andreas for the first time or returning to Los Santos years later, there is always something else to discover.

Use this guide as your main reference while progressing through the game, collecting everything, completing side activities and working toward 100% completion.

Good luck, CJ — and welcome back to San Andreas.