These 2 Texas metros are among the best, cheapest summer destinations in the US. See which
In case this week's record heat hasn't made it obvious, we'll just tell you: Summer is well on its way.
Around 82% of Americans plan to travel this summer, and 42% say they'll go on more than one trip, according to a 2025 survey by The Vacationer. With inflation raising gas prices and airline tickets, however, this may be a season for more budget-friendly getaways.
To determine the best summer travel destinations at the cheapest prices, WalletHub analyzed 100 of the largest metro areas across 41 key factors — from the cheapest flights to the number of attractions to the average cost of a two-person meal.
"When picking a summer travel destination, it's easy to focus just on the types of activities you want to do or certain cities you've always wanted to see," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. "However, choosing a destination that's not only entertaining but also affordable is important when travel, dining and activity costs have surged so much in recent years. It can also allow you to have a longer, more relaxing trip."
Where is the most affordable yet exciting place for a summer trip in Texas? Here's what the data shows.
When do Austin pools, splash pads open? Here's a 2025 summer swim season guide.
The Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro areas both ranked in the top 10 in WalletHub's list for summer travel.
With an overall rank of five, the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metro area did well in the "attractions" category as No. 5. Its lowest rank listed was in the "travel costs and hassles" category, where it ranked No. 65.
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area ranked 10th overall and 13th in the "local costs" category. Like the Central Texas metro area, it performed poorest in the "travel costs and hassles" category, at No. 50.
A total of seven Texas metro areas were included in the analysis, and five managed to rank in the top 35 overall rankings.
The McAllen metro area ranked second for highest costs and the most hassles, only ranking higher than Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It also had the third-fewest attractions. However, it outranked all other Texas metro areas in the "local costs" category, at No. 12.
With an overall rank of 31, the El Paso metro area scored relatively high in weather (No. 10) and safety (No. 20). The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro area ranked seventh in attractions despite its overall ranking at No. 35. The San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area came in at No. 20 for both local costs and attractions.
Here's how the Lone Star State's metro areas measured up:
Metro area (overall rank)
Travel costs & hassles rank
Local costs rank
Attractions rank
Weather rank
Activities rank
Safety Rank
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown (5)
65
21
10
21
25
44
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (10)
50
13
21
41
29
43
San Antonio-New Braunfels (18)
29
20
20
38
40
91
El Paso (31)
57
37
82
10
69
20
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land (35)
89
16
7
50
26
88
Corpus Christi (80)
67
41
78
34
79
92
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission (97)
99
12
98
58
91
25
Source: WalletHub
Here's which areas made the top 10 of WalletHub's 2025 list:
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Urban Honolulu, HI
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Salt Lake City, UT
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
Three California metro areas fell into the bottom three spots, followed by the McAllen Metro Area. The ten most poorly ranked were as follows:
Bakersfield, CA
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Baton Rouge, LA
Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 2 Texas metro areas among top 10 best summer destinations in the US
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