Texas is a big state with lots to explore and discover! From the sprawling cities of Austin and Houston to the beautiful beaches of South Padre Island and Galveston, you will surely find something that piques your interest in the “Lone Star State.”In this Texas travel guide, I’ll give you an overview of the best places to visit in Texas, as well as some tips on getting around and what to do while you’re traveling. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a long road trip, use this Texas travel guide to make your adventure a success.
The destination guide
Texas
State in United States, North AmericaUpdated
- Overall9/10
- Best forBudget travelers, Adventure seekers
- PeakJan–Apr
- CurrencyUSD
Texas rewards the curious traveler — Big Bend alone is worth the drive, and Austin’s best music is still free on 6th Street.
Travel guides for Texas
Things to do (8)
Where to stay (1)
Food & drink (2)
More guides featuring Texas (33)
At a glance
Currency$ USDCode: USD
Time zoneCentral Time (CT) and Mountain Time (MT)
Languages
- English
Setting
- Gulf Coast
- Desert landscapes
- Hill Country
- Prairie plains
Population31.3M31,290,000 residents
VisaDocuments: For domestic U.S. air travel, travelers age 18 and older must present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another TSA-accepted ID such as a valid passport
How Texas scores
9/10OverallExcellent
Weather8/10
Value for money7/10
Food & cuisine9/10
Culture & arts6/10
Cultural experience8/10
Nature & outdoors6/10
Adventure4/10
Nightlife8/10
Shopping8/10
Family friendly5/10
Romance2/10
Editorial scores on a 10-point scale, weighed against destinations of the same kind.
Travel safety snapshot
Overall65/100Moderate rating
Women travellers60/100
LGBTQ+ travellers65/100
Theft50/100
Medical care70/100
Physical harm55/100
Political freedom68/100
SafePlace indicators use their source 100-point scale; higher is more favourable. Planning context, not a live travel advisory — check official government guidance before you go.
When to go
Best months to visit: February, March, April, May, September, October, November and December.
- January: 2 to 13.9 degrees Celsius, 24 millimetres of rain, best-time score 3 out of 5.
- February: 3.8 to 17 degrees Celsius, 30.5 millimetres of rain, best-time score 4 out of 5.
- March: 9.5 to 22.5 degrees Celsius, 52.3 millimetres of rain, best-time score 5 out of 5.
- April: 12.9 to 25.7 degrees Celsius, 81.7 millimetres of rain, best-time score 5 out of 5.
- May: 17.8 to 29.5 degrees Celsius, 112.4 millimetres of rain, best-time score 5 out of 5.
- June: 22.4 to 34 degrees Celsius, 38.9 millimetres of rain, best-time score 3 out of 5.
- July: 24.2 to 35.3 degrees Celsius, 22.6 millimetres of rain, best-time score 2 out of 5.
- August: 24.4 to 35.3 degrees Celsius, 33.5 millimetres of rain, best-time score 2 out of 5.
- September: 20.5 to 31.2 degrees Celsius, 70.8 millimetres of rain, best-time score 4 out of 5.
- October: 14.5 to 26.5 degrees Celsius, 64.1 millimetres of rain, best-time score 5 out of 5.
- November: 8.3 to 20 degrees Celsius, 33.3 millimetres of rain, best-time score 5 out of 5.
- December: 4.5 to 16.3 degrees Celsius, 33.1 millimetres of rain, best-time score 4 out of 5.
Month-by-month conditions and packing advice
- January
- Cool to mild, mostly dry January in Texas: winter chill or early summer heat narrows comfort in some regions. Crowds: January in Texas is workable with normal seasonal planning; build in layers, weather checks, and a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Pack: Pack warm layers, a coat, and comfortable shoes for cold mornings and evenings.
- February
- Cool to mild, occasional rain February in Texas: season-edge timing can work with cold fronts or lingering heat planned around. Crowds: February in Texas is workable with normal seasonal planning; build in layers, weather checks, and a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Pack: Pack layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
- March
- Mild to warm, occasional rain March in Texas: cities, Hill Country, parks, food, music, beaches, and road trips are most comfortable outside peak heat. Crowds: March in Texas is comfortable for sightseeing, neighborhoods, food stops, day trips, and outdoor time with limited weather friction. Pack: Pack layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
- April
- Mild to warm, some rain April in Texas: cities, Hill Country, parks, food, music, beaches, and road trips are most comfortable outside peak heat. Crowds: April in Texas is workable with normal seasonal planning; build in layers, weather checks, and a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Pack: Pack light clothing, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes. Add a rain jacket or compact umbrella.
- May
- Warm to hot, some rain May in Texas: cities, Hill Country, parks, food, music, beaches, and road trips are most comfortable outside peak heat. Crowds: May in Texas is workable with normal seasonal planning; build in layers, weather checks, and a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Pack: Pack light clothing, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes. Add a rain jacket or compact umbrella.
- June
- Warm to hot, occasional rain June in Texas: winter chill or early summer heat narrows comfort in some regions. Crowds: June in Texas is workable with normal seasonal planning; build in layers, weather checks, and a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Pack: Pack light clothing, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes.
- July
- Very hot, mostly dry July in Texas: peak summer heat makes outdoor-heavy travel less balanced. Crowds: July in Texas can be very hot, so travelers should favor early starts, shaded breaks, indoor attractions, and flexible afternoon pacing. Pack: Pack breathable clothing, strong sun protection, and a refillable water bottle.
- August
- Very hot, occasional rain August in Texas: peak summer heat makes outdoor-heavy travel less balanced. Crowds: August in Texas can be very hot, so travelers should favor early starts, shaded breaks, indoor attractions, and flexible afternoon pacing. Pack: Pack breathable clothing, strong sun protection, and a refillable water bottle.
- September
- Warm to hot, some rain September in Texas: season-edge timing can work with cold fronts or lingering heat planned around. Crowds: September in Texas is workable with normal seasonal planning; build in layers, weather checks, and a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Pack: Pack light clothing, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes. Add a rain jacket or compact umbrella.
- October
- Mild to warm, occasional rain October in Texas: cities, Hill Country, parks, food, music, beaches, and road trips are most comfortable outside peak heat. Crowds: October in Texas is comfortable for sightseeing, neighborhoods, food stops, day trips, and outdoor time with limited weather friction. Pack: Pack light clothing, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes.
- November
- Cool to mild, occasional rain November in Texas: cities, Hill Country, parks, food, music, beaches, and road trips are most comfortable outside peak heat. Crowds: November in Texas is workable with normal seasonal planning; build in layers, weather checks, and a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Pack: Pack layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
- December
- Cool to mild, occasional rain December in Texas: season-edge timing can work with cold fronts or lingering heat planned around. Crowds: December in Texas is workable with normal seasonal planning; build in layers, weather checks, and a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Pack: Pack layered clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
Peak season
- March
- February
- January
- April
Off-peak
- September
- August
- July
- June
Know before you go
Best time to visit
March through May and September-November for comfortable sightseeing. Weather varies by region — Big Bend and West Texas are best in fall/spring. Gulf Coast beaches peak May-September.
Season by season
Summer (June-Aug):
Weather: 35-40°C, blazing
Highlights: Tubing rivers
Best For: AC/Water
Spring (March-May):
Weather: 20-30°C, storms
Highlights: Bluebonnets
Best For: Road Trips
Fall (Sept-Nov):
Weather: 20-30°C, nice
Highlights: State Fair
Best For: Football
Winter (Dec-Feb):
Weather: 10-20°C, mild
Highlights: River Walk lights
Best For: South TX
Crowds
Texas has strong seasonal variation by region: Gulf Coast and cities peak in summer and spring-break periods, Austin and major cities spike for festivals (SXSW in March), while winter can be quieter except during holiday events; overall crowding is high in major metro areas and major events.
Getting there and around
Getting there
Fly into Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Austin (AUS), or San Antonio (SAT) depending on your destination. I-35, I-10, and I-20 are primary interstate routes. Southwest Airlines offers extensive Texas service.
Top experiences in Texas
The Alamo
The shrine of Texas liberty. A Spanish mission where a small band of defenders held out against the Mexican army in 1836. ‘Remember the Alamo!’ It is smaller than you expect, but deeply moved.
San Antonio River Walk
A network of walkways one story below the streets of San Antonio. It is lined with cypress trees, restaurants, and shops. Taking a barge tour is touristy but essential. It is the Venice of Texas.
Big Bend National Park
A vast, remote wilderness in West Texas. It features the Chisos Mountains rising out of the desert and deep canyons carved by the Rio Grande. It is a hiker’s paradise and a dark sky sanctuary.
Space Center Houston
The home of NASA’s Mission Control. You can see the Saturn V rocket, touch a moon rock, and tour the astronaut training facilities. ‘Houston, we have a problem’ was said to here.
Texas State Capitol
Located in Austin, it is taller than the US Capitol in DC! It is made of sunset-red granite. The rotunda and the grounds are impressive. It represents the ‘Everything is Bigger in Texas’ credo.
Editor-curated picks carried over from our original guide. Where a full place guide exists, the card links to it.
Worth booking ahead in Texas
Hand-picked from the operators our guides already send readers to. Prices and availability are live on the partner site.
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Tours and tickets in Texas on Viator (opens Viator in a new tab)
Viator's full list of bookable tours and tickets in Texas.
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Experiences in Texas on GetYourGuide (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)
Everything GetYourGuide sells in Texas, with the cancellation terms on each listing.
Where to stayBooking.com
Stays in Texas (opens Booking.com in a new tab)
Live rates and availability for Texas on Booking.com; filter by neighbourhood once you know where your days start.
We earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you. It is how we keep the guides free and independent.
Where to stay
Hotel Emma (San Antonio)
136 E Grayson St, San Antonio, TX 78215, USA
A boutique hotel housed in a 19th-century brewery (Pearl Brewery). It is industrial-chic, luxurious, and consistently rated one of the best hotels in the US. The lobby bar is spectacular.
The Driskill (Austin)
604 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701, USA
Built in 1886, this Romanesque hotel is an Austin legend. It is historic, grand, and reputedly haunted. It sits right on 6th Street but offers a luxurious escape from the madness outside.
Lajitas Golf Resort (Big Bend)
21701 FM 170, Lajitas, TX 79852, USA
An oasis in the desert near Big Bend National Park. It lies between the mountains and the Rio Grande. It offers golf, horseback riding, and stargazing in the middle of nowhere.
Editor-curated stays carried over from our original guide. Where we have reviewed the hotel, the card links to the review.
Tips from the field
Highlights
- History – The Alamo
- Nature – Big Bend
- Space – NASA Houston
- Music – Austin Live
- Food – BBQ & Tex-Mex
- Culture – Rodeo
- Walk – River Walk
- Icon – State Capitol
Best activities
- Remember the Alamo. Eat brisket at Franklin BBQ in Austin. Float the Guadalupe River. Hike the South Rim in Big Bend. Watch the bats fly from Congress Avenue Bridge. Visit the Fort Worth Stockyards. Tour NASA.
Photography tips
- Golden Hour: Sunset at Santa Elena Canyon (Big Bend). Sunrise at the Alamo (before crowds).
- Iconic Shots:
- The field of Bluebonnets in spring.
- The San Antonio River Walk with colored umbrellas.
- The skyline of Austin from the Congress Avenue Bridge (bats!).
- The Prada Marfa art installation.
- Historic Route 66 in Amarillo.
- Technique: You need a polarizing filter for the harsh Texas sun. Night sky photography in Big Bend is world-class.
Timing
- Peak Season (March-May):
- Bluebonnets, nice weather
- Shoulder Season (Oct-Nov):
- Football season, cooling down
- Low Season (June-Aug):
- Too hot for many
Keeping it authentic
- Texas is vast and diverse. East Texas is Southern/swampy
- West Texas is desert/Southwestern
- Central Texas (Hill Country) is German heritage
- San Antonio is Tejano. BBQ is beef-based (brisket). Tex-Mex is its own food group (queso is life).
Culture, customs and safety
Cultural heritage
Texas boasts a cultural heritage as expansive as its landscape, shaped by Indigenous civilizations, Spanish colonization, Mexican governance, and its brief tenure as an independent republic before joining the United States. Missions like San Antonio de Padua, part of the UNESCO-listed San Antonio Missions, illustrate early Spanish colonial influence and Native American assimilation efforts. The state’s traditions—ranging from Tejano music and cowboy culture to Juneteenth commemorations—reflect a deep blend of Mexican, African American, German, and Czech roots. Architecturally, Texas offers everything from frontier forts and mission churches to Art Deco courthouses and oil boom-era skyscrapers. Its history of independence, frontier resilience, and multicultural fusion continues to define its identity in modern America.
Travel Style
Season
