Region
Texas
Pick one corner of Texas, not the whole state: it is bigger than France, and Dallas to El Paso is a 9-hour drive.
Key facts · United States
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct
- Currency
- US dollar (USD, $)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- A · B · 120 V
- Time zone
- Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Texas is not one destination. The Gulf Coast, the Hill Country, Big Bend and the big cities sit 3–10 hours apart by car, so a 7-night trip covers one or two clusters, not five. Fly into the airport nearest your cluster, rent a car, and treat the rest as a separate trip.
Sleep
Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- San AntonioCity guide
River Walk and the Alamo; base for Hill Country and South Texas.
Best Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov
JFMAMJJASOND - HoustonPlanned
Museums and food; IAH hub; Gulf Coast day trips.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- Dallas–Fort WorthPlanned
DFW hub; Fort Worth Stockyards for cowboy heritage.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Day trip
- Big BendPlanned
Not a day trip from anywhere: 5+ h from Midland, 8 h from San Antonio.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Night sequences
- 5 nights
- San Antonio 3 + Austin 2, Hill Country as day trips
- 7 nights
- Houston 3 + San Antonio 2 + Austin 2, or Gulf Coast 3 + Hill Country 4
- 10 nights
- Dallas–Fort Worth 3 + Hill Country 4 + Big Bend 3 (long drives)
- Dallas + Austin + San Antonio + Houston + Big Bend in one week is mostly interstate driving.
- Rural speed limits are strictly enforced; fines fund small towns.
- Summer heat: 35 °C+ and high humidity on the coast; do not plan long hikes midday.Summer heat: 95 °F+ and high humidity on the coast; do not plan long hikes midday.
- Do not drive Mexican border roads south of the Rio Grande; cartel violence and roadblocks are reported.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericksburg | Austin | 90 min | unknown | German heritage town; 1 h 20 each way by car, no useful train. |
| Galveston | Houston | 70 min | unknown | Beach and historic district; I-45 south, about 80 km.Beach and historic district; I-45 south, about 50 mi. |
| New Braunfels | San Antonio | 45 min | unknown | River tubing in summer; check water levels before you go. |
| Fort Worth Stockyards | Dallas | 60 min | unknown | Twice-daily cattle drive. TRE links downtowns but Stockyards need a final taxi/bus leg; driving is faster. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding in Texas; you carry bags between bases or leave them in the rental car.
When and how
Months, arrival and passes
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | ok | ok | go | go | ok | × | × | × | ok | go | go | ok |
| Austin | × | × | go | go | go | × | × | × | ok | go | go | × |
| United States (country-wide) | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Coast (Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi)southeast coast | ok | ok | best | best | wet | hot | hot | storm | best | ok | ok | |
| North and Central (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio)interior | cool | cool | ok | best | best | hot | hot | hot | ok | best | ok | cool |
| West Texas and Panhandle (El Paso, Amarillo, Big Bend)west | cold | cool | ok | best | best | hot | hot | hot | best | best | ok | cold |
- Gulf Coast (Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi)
- Humid subtropical; hurricane season June–November, peak August–September.
- North and Central (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio)
- Spring and autumn are the pleasant windows; thunderstorms and hail in spring.
- West Texas and Panhandle (El Paso, Amarillo, Big Bend)
- Dry; cold winters in the Panhandle, blizzards possible in Amarillo; Big Bend is hottest Jun–Aug.
Best months overall are March–May and October–November. Summer is a heat problem, not a crowd problem, except on the coast.
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFW (Dallas–Fort Worth International) | Dallas / Fort Worth | Taxi, rideshare or bus; DART Orange Line goes to Las Colinas only (transfer needed for downtown) | ~45 min by car to downtown Dallas | Main international gateway; American hub. Long-haul flights from Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America. |
| IAH (George Bush Intercontinental) | Houston | Taxi, rideshare or bus | ~35 min to downtown | United hub; second international gateway. Hobby (HOU) is closer to downtown for Southwest and Allegiant. |
| AUS (Austin–Bergstrom) | Austin | Rideshare or bus | ~25 min to downtown | Third-busiest airport in Texas; many nonstop domestic flights. |
| SAT (San Antonio International) | San Antonio | Taxi or rideshare | ~20 min to downtown | Useful for Hill Country and South Texas; some Mexico flights. |
| Chicago | San Antonio / Dallas / Austin | Amtrak Texas Eagle | ~32 h to San Antonio | Daily; slower and often pricier than flying, and delays are common. |
| Los Angeles | El Paso / San Antonio / Houston | Amtrak Sunset Limited | ~14 h to El Paso | Runs only three days a week; the only non-daily long-distance train in the Amtrak system. |
Regional passes
Rental car
buyThe default for Texas. Book early for one-way drops; a one-way fee between cities is common.
Amtrak Texas Eagle / Sunset Limited
skipOnly worth it if the train ride is the point; fares often exceed a comparable flight and delays run to hours.
Texas State Parks Pass
checkPays if you visit three or more state parks in a year; day-use fees are per person, so run the numbers.
National parks (Big Bend, Guadalupe Mountains)
checkSeparate from state parks; the America the Beautiful annual pass pays off at three or more federal sites.
Eat and move on
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Texas barbecue (brisket, ribs, sausage) | Austin, Lockhart, Taylor, Houston | Top pits sell out by early afternoon and queue from 10:00; go on a weekday.Top pits sell out by early afternoon and queue from 10:00 AM; go on a weekday. |
| Tex-Mex (enchiladas, fajitas, breakfast tacos) | San Antonio, El Paso, Rio Grande Valley | Breakfast tacos are the cheap morning move; salsas range from mild to very hot. |
| Chili con carne | statewide | Beans are a long-running argument; ask before you judge. |
| German-Texan food (bratwurst, schnitzel) | Fredericksburg, New Braunfels | Weekend lines in October during Oktoberfest season. |
| Gulf seafood (shrimp, oysters, redfish) | Galveston, Corpus Christi, Padre Island | Oysters are best in months with an R; check local catch boards. |
| Kolaches and Czech pastries | West, Schulenburg, La Grange | Road-trip stop between Austin and Houston; savoury versions sell out early. |
Go next
United States travel guide
Parent country page
Visa, tipping and time-zone basics.
New Orleans
plannedI-10 east from Houston, ~5 h 30 by car
Planned. Natural pairing with the Gulf Coast.
Chicago
Flight ~2 h 30 from DFW or IAH
Amtrak Texas Eagle also runs daily, but takes about 32 h.
Florida
plannedFlight ~2 h 30 from Houston to Miami
Another Gulf state; do not try to drive between them in one day.
California
plannedFlight ~3 h from DFW to Los Angeles
Sunset Limited links the two, but only three days a week.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source