Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown ranks fourth for warm winter travel

Travelers seeking a mild climate this winter can reach Austin by plane from major U.S. cities for as little as $200 to $300 without connections. The Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown metro area has secured the fourth spot in a national ranking for warm-weather holiday destinations.

WalletHub released the findings in a new study titled Best Winter Holiday Destinations. The report analyzed 69 U.S. metropolitan areas. It measured travel costs, convenience, and the affordability of local attractions. The methodology broke results into six dimensions: travel costs and hassles, local costs, attractions, weather, warm-weather activities, and safety.

Austin posted strong scores in financial categories. The metro ranked fourth nationwide for travel costs and hassles. Its winter weather conditions ranked sixth in the country. The area also achieved the seventh-lowest score for local costs. That metric includes the price of a three-star hotel room, a two-person meal, taxi fares, and general cost of living.

Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, noted that affordable top-tier cities offer attractions suited to their weather patterns. He stated these destinations also feature high-quality restaurants and relatively low crime rates. The study identified Las Vegas, Nevada, as the top warm-weather destination. Atlanta, Georgia, led the list for cold-weather options.

Texas holds four of the top ten spots for warm-weather travel in 2026. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington sits in third place. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ranks sixth. San Antonio-New Braunfels places ninth. Austin completes the Texas representation in the top tier at number four.

In the final three categories, Austin ranked ninth nationally for attractions. It placed 15th for warm-weather activities and overall safety. Local businesses and resorts are currently promoting holiday events alongside Halloween decorations. The full top 10 list includes San Diego, Phoenix, Tampa, Orlando, and San Francisco.

Four additional Texas cities appear lower on the ranking. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission ranks 26th. Brownsville-Harlingen is 31st. Corpus Christi holds the 33rd position. Beaumont-Port Arthur lands at 35th.