The Best Places to Visit in Texas: Big Cities, National Parks, and Lots of Land in Between
All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The old adage is true—everything is bigger in Texas. From the 10-gallon hats to the fork-tender racks of ribs, the steepled rock formations of Palo Duro Canyon to the impressive longhorns crowning the state's famed steers, Texas is cowboy maximalism highlighted and underlined. But while the itineraries can practically write themselves in a place as all-out as the Lone Star State, you may be wondering if there can be such a thing as too many options. After all, with 261,194 square miles—second only to Alaska's 586,412 square-mile land area—deciding where to go first can feel paralyzing. But the good news is—the best places to visit in Texas are as varied as they are packed with devil-may-care personality, so trust that the state has a spot for whatever you've been itching to do. Whether you're flying to Austin in October to belt your heart out to Chappell Roan at Austin City Limits, throwing on a fringe suede jacket to play pioneer at the Alamo, or unplugging with gentle giants at the Fredericksburg Elephant Preserve, you won't be wanting for a good time.
Below, in no particular order, we've gathered some our favorite places to visit in Texas to help you make your decision, a sort of ‘greatest hits’ list that shows off the state's wealth of natural beauty, mythic status in American history, and slate of restaurants that will have you asking for seconds and sending you home food-drunk with thirds and fourths.
Nathaniel Noir/AlamyHouston
Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country—you’re likely to hear a dozen languages as you stroll through world-class institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts or the Menil Collection. Visitors to this buzzing metropolis should carve out time to absorb the city's incredible arts scene, which continues in its outdoor spaces, by way of James Turrell’s free "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace or the public works that dot the city's downtown. But the culture here hits on all the must-do beats, from pro sports to only-in-Texas experiences like eating barbecue and watching calf-roping at the world’s largest rodeo, to getting fitted for bespoke cowboy boots.
Where to stay: The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa has amenities on amenities, from it's three pools to its 175,000-square-foot health and fitness club.
Hôtel SwexanDallas
It's easy to see why Dallas is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US, already boasting the largest urban Arts District in the country, and the second-busiest airport in the nation, servicing over 39 million passengers every calendar year. With more than 20,000 hotel rooms in the pipeline, and preparations well underway for its upcoming spotlight as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city, there’s never been a better time to experience the Big D. For lunch, don't be afraid to go whole hog at the Pecan Lodge. You can always walk it off by smelling the roses at the Dallas Arboretum. For dinner, wine and dine yourself over some of the best views in town at Crown Block, and keep the drinks flowing at Upstairs Circus where you get to take home a keepsake you craft yourself.
Where to stay: This 2024 Readers' Choice Awards winner is a sexy stunner in the Harwood District that hosts a can't-miss weekend tea.
Henry B Creative/PexelsSan Antonio
There’s more to San Antonio than the Alamo. In fact, the Alamo is just one of five preserved Franciscan missions that altogether make up a National Historical Park and the state’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. And for local flavor, head to the Pearl, a bustling dining and entertainment district that was once home to the Pearl Brewery. The district also plays host to seasonal happenings, like a colorful Dia de Los Muertos celebration in November and pop-up events for the weeks-long Fiesta carnival in April. One of the complex’s best hidden gems is Jazz, TX, an underground jazz bar that features all kinds of music from Latin jazz to Texas swing.
Where to stay: The elegant, Spanish-style Hotel Valencia Riverwalk sits at a prime location on San Antonio's River Walk.
GettySouth Padre Island
This year, our reader's named South Padre Island one of their favorite islands in the US. From a sandcastle-sculpting class where you can pick up the tips and tricks from the pros, to the adventure park where you can zip-line through the air, welcome to a destination brimming with family fun. But the Texas island is also dedicated to conservation, with sea turtle rehabilitation, birding, and nature centers that welcome visitors to learn more about the unique ecosystems that make up these marshes, meadows, and shores.
Where to stay: Isla Grand Beach Resort is an affordable haven for families looking to soak up the sun and walk to South Padre Island's biggest attractions.
AirbnbBig Bend National Park
At first glance, the hardscrabble terrain of Big Bend National Park, which hugs a bend in the Rio Grande between Texas and Mexico, looks like a moonscape: ultra-quiet with the tinge of something threatening. The sun sizzles from the sky, scorching the bone-white desert. The ground bristles with plants that seem determined to scrape your shins. A cluster of mountains called a sky island rises from the sprawling desert floor. While this isn't an execursion for amateurs, the outdoorsy types among us will be rewarded by dramatically beautiful views like those at Santa Elena Canyon and star-spilled night skies.
Where to stay: If you're looking to fully disappear into the majestic landscape at Big Bend, immerse yourself in this mirror cabin just a minute from the park.
Lisa Romerein/GettyFredericksburg
Stepping foot in downtown Fredericksburg is a bit like taking a step back in time: the first thing that catches your eye is Main Street's historic limestone building, and you'll find kids eating ice cream cones as their parents wander in and out of stylish shops and art galleries, friends catching up at a biergarten, and birds fluttering around the grounds of the Old Tunnel State Park. There's a certain small-town charm to the place, but the town is far from sleepy. From its burgeoning wine scene to a little slice of the African savannah at the elephant preserve, this weekend getaway from San Antonio packs a small but mighty punch.
Where to stay: Opened in 2020, The Trueheart Hotel is the kind of place where you might have to pinch yourself to make sure you're not still dreaming—every morning, breakfast baskets filled with hot buttermilk biscuits are delivered to guests in each of the property's 13 cottages.
GettyAustin
Just like the sets in the Live Music Capital of the World, all the best things to do in Austin make time fly by. Get some work done on a lake-view butterfly terrace at Austin Central Library, or hear a pride of peacocks call to each other by day and watch Austin’s famous bat colony fly by sunset on the Congress Avenue Bridge. And there’s always time to shop at Allens Boots ahead of your two-step lesson, grab a locally-inspired craft drink on a shady patio at Meanwhile Brewing, or dip into one of the city’s refreshingly cool swimming holes.
Where to stay: For a taste of the city's weird and wonderful hospitality, book a cozy room facing Lady Bird Lake at the upscale yet homey Austin Proper Hotel.
Cavan Images/Julia Crim/GettyMustang Island
Once named one of the “prettiest, cleanest swaths of publicly owned land on the Gulf” by Texas Monthly and one of our favorite beaches in Texas, Mustang Island State Park is home to pocket ecosystem tide pools, hiking and mountain bike paths, Texas-sized waves for surfers, white sand, and pedestrian beaches. If you’re up for even more, rent a kayak and head out on the paddling trail, which offers more than 20 miles of wildlife watching and shallow-water fishing. And while the namesake wild horse population no longer roams the shores on Mustang Island, travelers can still tour through the beach on horseback in nearby Corpus Christi.
Where to stay: This serene townhouse in Corpus Christi is watched over by a resident great blue heron.
John Coletti/GettyFort Worth
Everyone knows Dallas' next-door neighbor is where Texas's real cowboys live. Fort Worth's Historic Stockyards are far more than just a collection of museums and historical markers. Cowtown Coliseum hosts weekly rodeos, sporting events, and concerts, and live music is on the agenda at the legendary Billy Bob’s, the Rodeo Music Stage, and Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall. When you let your hair down, you can feel the wind run through it at the Texas Motor Speedway. You'll find genuine Texan cuisine around these parts—Goldee’s Barbecue was a James Beard semifinalist—and Mexican-inspired meals; Don Artemio also received a nomination for Best New Restaurant in 2023. Old favorites like Joe T. Garcia’s, which has been feeding guests since 1935, and Lonesome Dove are joined by newer destinations like Mule Alley’s Second Rodeo Brewing and Provender Hall.
Where to stay: Hotel Drover is a family-friendly pick near the Historic Stockyards that hosts live music sessions in its backyard.
Wend Images/AlamyTexas Hill Country
While just a stone's throw away from downtown Austin, Texas Hill Country feels like a world away. In the plains and valleys between limestone and granite hills, towns like Dripping Springs, Johnson City, and Lockhart lay claim to local breweries, the “Texas White House,” tumbleweed towns with the wafting aroma of smoked brisket, and bright-blue waterways that look more Caribbean than Texan. The landscape is studded with prickly pear cacti, mesquite, pecan trees, and wildflowers in a kaleidoscope of colors. Throw down at Gruene Hall, the oldest honky-tonk in the state, after touring through the region's own ‘White House,’ former president Lyndon B. Johnson's Stonewall ranch. And if you're looking to touch grass, we recommend spending a day out on the banks of the San Marcos River or strolling through the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Where to stay: Located in Dripping Springs, The Alexander at Creek Road is 40-acre Texas Hills escape replete with cozy cottages, a 10-person country house, and four upscale treehouses.
Martina Birnbaum/GettyPalo Duro Canyon State Park
Palo Duro Canyon is a 120-mile gorge that cuts through the panhandle of Texas and is the second-largest canyon in the United States. The craggy red-yellow cliffs at sunset make a breathtaking backdrop for the Texas Outdoor Musical, an outdoor production featuring humans and horses that takes place in the park’s amphitheater each summer. Make the six-mile roundtrip hike to the park’s iconic Lighthouse formation, a 310-foot pinnacle that looks like it should be perched on an oceanfront peninsula. This land is a rugged and scorching sandbox beckoning to all adventurers.
Where to stay: Live out your tiny home fantasy in this cabin on the perimeter of the park.
Alan Majchrowicz/GettyGuadalupe Mountains National Park
Dust off your hiking boots and summit the highest peak in Texas at Guadalupe Mountains National Park. At its daunting 8,751-foot height, Guadalupe Peak is a satisfying tick off the bucket list with sights of the surrounding mountain range and the desert floor seemingly from the seat of heaven itself. But if you want to work your way up to the hike, try your boots on the park's other trails. The sand dunes of the Salt Basin are nothing short of otherworldly, and come the fall, the remnants of hardwood forests in McKittrick Canyon blaze with color.
Where to stay: Stay a night at one of the park’s developed campgrounds, or if you want to take the scenic drive in, book Hotel Paso Del Norte in El Paso.
Courtesy El CosmicoMarfa
This sun-warmed West Texas town has long been known as a haven for indie art curators and artisanal gin distillers ready to get away from city life. With a sub-2,000 population, you're sure to find your own reprieve and rejuvenated creative spirit here too. Pay a visit to Donald Judd's Chinati Foundation which houses one of the best contemporary art collections in the Southwest. If the parched Chihuahuan Desert ever gets too dizzying, take a dip at the Chinati Hot Springs where the restorative pools will melt your stressors away.
Where to stay: With trailers to yurts to teepees and tents, El Cosmico is for the intrepid traveler who can't get enough of Marfa's whimsy.
