Why visit
Why Travel to Texas with LABUSA Travel
A State of Distinct Regions
Texas is large enough to hold several journeys in one: the missions and River Walk of San Antonio, the limestone hills and German towns of the Hill Country, the music and politics of Austin, the Western heritage of Fort Worth, and the space program and Gulf Coast of Houston and Galveston.
History You Can Walk Through
From the San Antonio Missions, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the San Jacinto Battleground and the Fort Worth Stockyards, Texas tells the story of Spanish missions, independence, cattle drives and the modern state.
Planned Around Your Group
LABUSA Travel builds custom Texas itineraries for private groups, families, schools, churches and organizations, with the pace, hotels and experiences chosen to fit your group.
Top places to visit
Top Places to Visit
in Texas
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San Antonio
Walk the River Walk, stand before the Alamo, and visit the Spanish colonial missions that together make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Texas Hill Country
Rolling limestone hills, spring wildflowers along country roads, wineries, and historic German towns such as Fredericksburg.
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Austin
The state capital, known for live music, the Texas State Capitol, Lady Bird Lake, and a lively food scene.
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Fort Worth Stockyards
Brick streets, Western outfitters, rodeo, and the longhorn cattle drive in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.
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Houston
Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center, along with the Museum District and a wide range of dining.
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Galveston
A Gulf Coast island city with Victorian buildings on the Strand, beaches, and a long maritime history.
The guide
Explore Texas by Interest
Planning
Food and Culture
Heritage and History
Traveler Resources
Journeys that go there
Before you go
Texas
Travel Guide & Tips
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Best Time to Visit Texas
Spring (March to May) brings mild temperatures and wildflowers across much of the state, and fall (September to November) is comfortable for city sightseeing and outdoor travel.
Summer is hot across most of Texas, and the Atlantic hurricane season, June 1 to November 30, affects the Gulf Coast. Winter is generally mild in the south but can bring freezing weather in the north.
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Experiences & Activities
- Western heritage at the Fort Worth Stockyards and at Texas rodeos
- Live music in Austin and in historic Texas dance halls
- Space Center Houston and the story of human spaceflight
- Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex cooking
- State and national parks, from Enchanted Rock to Big Bend
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Texas Travel Tips
- Distances are long, so plan realistic driving time between cities
- Carry water and sun protection during the summer heat
- Check hurricane forecasts for Gulf Coast trips from June through November
- Bring identification that meets REAL ID requirements for domestic flights
- Book popular events and seasonal attractions early
Signature experiences
Signature Texas
Experiences
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Cowboy & Western Heritage
Explore the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, watch a rodeo, and shop for boots and hats in a city built on the cattle trade.
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Space Exploration in Houston
Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center, tells the story of human spaceflight through spacecraft, exhibits and tours.
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Texas Barbecue & Tex-Mex
Taste slow-smoked brisket, ribs and sausage, and the Tex-Mex cooking that grew from the state’s border and ranching traditions.
Whether your group wants Western heritage, Texas history, live music, space exploration or the Gulf Coast, LABUSA Travel can design a Texas itinerary around your interests and schedule.
Texas covers a great deal of ground, and a well planned route makes the difference between seeing the state and spending the trip on the road. Contact LABUSA Travel to begin planning your Texas journey.
Common questions
Texas Travel FAQs
- When is the best time to visit Texas?
- For a first visit built around cities, history and the Hill Country, the comfortable seasons are March to May and October to November. Spring brings wildflowers and the busiest events calendar, with RodeoHouston in March and Fiesta San Antonio in April, so book rooms and popular state parks early. Fall arrives late, and October and November are the most pleasant months for walking and hiking. Summer is long and hot, which suits a trip built around museums, Space Center Houston, the coast and early morning outings. Winter is quiet and mild most days, with the occasional sharp cold front.
- Do I need a REAL ID to fly to Texas?
- To board a domestic flight you need a license or identification card that meets the REAL ID standard, or another acceptable document such as a passport. The Department of Homeland Security records that enforcement began on May 7, 2025, and travelers without an acceptable ID are now directed to TSA ConfirmID, which carries a fee. A license without the REAL ID marking is still valid for driving. Check your license before you book, and confirm the current list of acceptable documents with DHS if you plan to rely on one you have not used lately.
- How much is sales tax in Texas, and what about hotel tax?
- The Texas Comptroller sets a 6.25 percent state sales tax, and cities, counties and some districts may add up to 2 percent more, for a maximum combined rate of 8.25 percent. It is added at the register rather than shown on the shelf or the menu. Hotel rooms carry a separate state hotel occupancy tax of 6 percent of the cost of the room, and many cities and counties add a local hotel tax on top of it, so compare the total price of a stay with taxes and fees rather than the advertised nightly rate.
- What time zone is Texas in?
- Most of Texas, including Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio, is on Central Time. The El Paso area in the far west keeps Mountain Time, an hour behind the rest of the state. It matters if your trip takes in Big Bend or El Paso, where tour start times, park programs and flight times are all quoted in local time.
- When is hurricane season on the Texas coast?
- The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and the National Hurricane Center puts its statistical peak at September 10. It matters most for Galveston, Corpus Christi and the rest of the Gulf Coast. A coastal trip in those months is still a reasonable plan: book flexible rates, watch the forecast in the week before you go, and if a storm is forecast while you are there, follow local officials and leave when told to.
- Do I need a reservation for Texas state parks?
- At popular parks on busy days, it is the safest plan. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sells day passes that guarantee entry when reserved, while the annual Texas State Parks Pass gives its holder free entry to 88 state parks but does not guarantee a place once a park has reached capacity. Enchanted Rock in the Hill Country is one to reserve ahead, especially on spring and holiday weekends, and its Summit Trail may close in wet weather.
- Is the Alamo a World Heritage Site?
- The Alamo is one of the five frontier mission complexes inscribed together on the World Heritage List in 2015 as the San Antonio Missions. The National Park Service protects the other four missions as San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, where Mission Concepción is described as the nation's oldest unrestored stone church. Seeing all five makes a rewarding day along the San Antonio River.
- Where did Juneteenth begin?
- In Galveston. The Texas State Historical Association records that on June 19, 1865, Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and General Order Number 3 announced that the enslaved people of Texas were free. Texas made Juneteenth a state holiday in 1979, with the first state celebration in 1980, and Juneteenth National Independence Day was signed into law on June 17, 2021. Galveston and Houston hold large celebrations each June, and in Houston the deed for the land that freed people bought for their celebrations, Emancipation Park, was signed in 1872.