Texas is a popular destination for city breaks, road trips and family holidays, with major cities such as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, a long Gulf coastline, and large areas of open country. It can be an affordable place to travel, but its size and its busy event calendar can catch budget travellers out. This guide covers the main factors that affect what a Texas trip costs.
Distances are bigger than they look
Texas is the largest state in the contiguous United States. Driving between its major cities typically takes several hours, and crossing the state can take more than a full day. When you plan an itinerary, allow realistic travel time and budget for fuel, or for flights or intercity buses between distant regions. Trying to see too many places in a short trip is one of the most common ways to overspend, on both money and time.
Getting around
- Car rental. Outside city centres, public transport is limited, so many visitors rent a car. Compare airport and off-airport rental locations, since airport rentals often include extra fees, and include parking costs at hotels and attractions in your budget.
- City transit. Several Texas cities have bus and light rail systems, which can work well if you stay centrally and plan to spend most of your time in one city.
- Intercity buses and trains. Intercity buses link the major cities and can be the cheapest option for solo travellers. Long-distance passenger rail exists but has limited schedules, so check timetables carefully.
- Toll roads. Some urban highways are tolled and use electronic toll collection. Ask your rental company how tolls are billed, as some charge daily administration fees on top of the tolls themselves.
Choosing when to go
Summers in much of Texas are long and very hot, which can make outdoor sightseeing tiring and increase how much you spend on air-conditioned activities and transport. Spring and autumn are often more comfortable, though spring is also a busy period with higher demand. Winter is generally mild in the south of the state but can bring occasional cold snaps further north. The Gulf coast is in the Atlantic hurricane season from June to November, so travel insurance and flexible bookings are worth considering for coastal trips in those months.
Watch the event calendar
Accommodation prices in Texas cities can rise sharply during large events, such as major festivals, conferences, sporting events and college football weekends. Before you fix your dates, check the city's event calendar. Moving a trip by a week, or staying outside the city centre during a big event, can make a large difference to accommodation costs.
Accommodation taxes
Texas applies a state hotel occupancy tax of 6%, and many cities and counties add their own local hotel taxes on top. The combined rate varies by location, so the final price can be noticeably higher than the advertised nightly rate. Always compare total prices including taxes and fees. Short-term rentals may also be subject to hotel occupancy taxes and cleaning or service fees.
Free and low-cost things to do
Many of the state's best experiences cost little or nothing. Historic districts, riverside walks, public parks and many museums with free or reduced-price days make good low-cost options. State parks charge modest entry fees and offer hiking, swimming and camping. Look for official city visitor websites, which often list free events and discount passes.
Food costs
Texas has a strong tradition of casual, inexpensive food, from taquerias to barbecue joints and food trucks. Eating where locals eat, and making lunch your main meal out, is usually cheaper than dining in tourist areas in the evening. If your accommodation has a kitchen, grocery shopping for breakfasts and snacks can stretch the budget further.
Putting a budget together
- Choose one or two regions rather than trying to cover the whole state.
- Price transport first, as it shapes everything else: car rental, fuel and parking, or flights and transit.
- Check event calendars before booking, then compare total accommodation prices including taxes.
- Estimate daily food and activity costs, and add a reserve for unexpected expenses.
Our trip budget calculator can help you combine these categories into a daily and total budget, and our guide to building a realistic travel budget walks through each step in more detail.