Natassia Paloma, USA TODAY NETWORK
Mon, June 8, 2026 at 2:01 PM UTC
A Texas destination is being recognized as one of the best places to visit this summer.
The Austin metro area ranked No 3 on WalletHub’s Best Summer Travel Destinations in 2026, due to short flights (with no connections), affordable prices and highly rated restaurants and things to do.
Instead of focusing on each destination’s scenic quality, the report primarily examines the cost, convenience and affordability of traveling to each location.
Best Summer Travel Destinations
Source: WalletHub
“Austin offers a mix of culture and outdoor fun, boasting a high number of attractions including the Bullock Texas State History Museum as well as shopping centers, music venues, food festivals and hiking trails. With a cost of living lower than many other major U.S. cities, it’s a destination that’s both exciting to explore and easy on the wallet,” the report states.
Other top spots include San Antonio (No. 11), Houston (No. 20) and Dallas (No. 21).
Best things to do in Austin![Tourists and local residents gather on the Congress Avenue Bridge]in Austin, Texas to watch a colony of approximately 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats swoop into the skies in search of their evening meal from their home at the largest urban bat colony in North America.](https://www.newsbeep.com/us-tx/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_usatoday_us_articles_590/19040eccad86694f8d88aadfe641a09b.jpeg)
Tourists and local residents gather on the Congress Avenue Bridge]in Austin, Texas to watch a colony of approximately 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats swoop into the skies in search of their evening meal from their home at the largest urban bat colony in North America.
Here are some of the top things to do in Austin, courtesy of Trip Advisor:
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas city is a top summer destination, according to 2026 report