Move over, Austin or Dallas. An unexpected Texas city ranked among the top travel destinations for next year: El Paso. The West Texas city stepped into the national spotlight after being named a rising travel destination for 2026, driven by growing interest in Western-style getaways.
HomeToGo, a global metasearch engine and marketplace for vacation rentals, released its 2026 Travel Trends Forecast and listed the 30 emerging rising star destinations based on search and traveler survey data. The report finds that 76% of U.S. travelers plan to take a trip in 2026, with many willing to spend more than in 2025. However, there’s a growing interest in off-the-beaten-path locations that are affordable and less crowded.
El Paso is part of the “Neo-Western Revival” trend, which groups smaller Southwestern and Mountain West towns with desert landscapes and frontier-style appeal that are gaining attention from travelers seeking affordable, under-the-radar spots. Search interest in El Paso skyrocketed about 191% year-over-year, making it one of the six cities highlighted in this category.
The median nightly cost for vacation accommodations in El Paso is roughly $62.21, making it more budget-friendly than larger Texas cities such as Dallas or Houston, according to HomeToGo.
Other cities in the category included Yucca Valley, California, Cañon City, Colorado and three cities in Arizona (Bisbee, Queen Creek and Marana).
In the ranking, all 30 destinations saw similar trends with search increasing more than 100% and median nightly prices of under $100 per person for vacation accommodation.
This article originally published at Texas city you wouldn’t expect makes top travel destinations list for 2026.