Austin ranks 3rd for winter travel destination

DALLAS (KDAF) — WalletHub has released its 2025 Best Winter Holiday Destinations report, highlighting Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown as the third-best destination in the U.S. for winter travel.

The report, which focuses on cost and convenience, compared nearly 70 of the largest U.S. metro areas, grouping them by warm and cold weather. Austin ranked highly due to its low travel costs and hassles, as well as favorable weather conditions.

Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown scored second in travel costs and hassles, indicating it is an affordable and convenient destination for travelers. The area also ranked tenth in local costs, making it a budget-friendly option for holidaymakers.

In terms of attractions, Austin was ranked ninth, offering a variety of activities for visitors. The weather in Austin was rated sixth, suggesting mild and pleasant conditions during the winter months.

Safety was the lowest-ranked metric for Austin, coming in at nineteenth, but the overall ranking of third suggests that other factors outweighed this concern for travelers.

“Whether you love to have a chill in your bones during the winter travel season or prefer to escape to somewhere sunny, the top travel destinations can cost as little as $200-$300 to reach by plane from major U.S. cities, with no connections,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “In addition to being affordable, the top cities also have an abundance of attractions that fit their weather patterns, along with high-quality restaurants and relatively low crime rates.”

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by CW33. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by CW33 staff before being published.