Looking for a weekend getaway that won’t break the bank? Look no further than the Rio Grande Valley.
Turns out, the southernmost tip of Texas is home to three of the most budget-friendly places in the country to take a vacation, according to a new ranking by GOBankingRates, a consumer finance advice website. Nine Texas cities made the cut as “America’s Most Budget-Friendly Tourist Destinations” for 2025, including the Valley cities of Brownsville, McAllen and Harlingen.
“Each destination is so affordable that the total vacation cost does not exceed $1,600,” GOBankingRates reported of the 30 cities that made its list.
GOBankingRates analyzed data from a variety of sources, including Travel + Leisure magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Hotels.com, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics and more to determine which tourist hotspots offer the most bang for your buck on meals, drinks, hotel and airfare costs for two adults during a three-night stay.
Folkloric dancers perform during MXLAN, the city of McAllen’s annual festival celebrating Latino culture. (Courtesy City of McAllen)
The Valley’s largest and oldest city – Brownsville – was ranked the city with the best budget-friendly value with total vacation costs coming in at $1,336. The city “on the border, by the sea” came in at No. 5 overall. McAllen, meanwhile, came in not far behind at No. 9, with a total vacation cost of $1,405, while Harlingen ranked right in the middle of the 30 cities at No. 15. But at $1,454, it’s not that much more expensive to spend a few days wandering the “capital city of the Valley” rather than the “city of palms.”
Other affordable spots to vacation in Texas include Pearland (No. 8), McKinney (No. 12), League City (No. 13), Sugarland (No. 14), Dallas (18) and Grand Prairie (20). However, San Antonio landed on a very different list – one highlighting it as one of the most expensive tourist destinations to vacation in. According to GOBankingRates, a three-night stay for two adults will cost an average of $1,917, making the Alamo City the 13th most expensive place for a weekend jaunt.
This article originally published at Historic Texas city is tops in the state for a budget-friendly vacation.