beachin' on a budget

Texas hot spot surfs onto America's most affordable beach destinations

Rockport is the only Texas beach on the list.

Photo courtesy of Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce

The beach is the quintessential summer vacation destination, and Dallasites are just a six-hour drive from one America's most affordable beach destinations of 2026.

The charming Texas coastal town of Rockport has been named to Airbnb's inaugural "Coast More, Pay Less" list that highlights the most family-friendly, affordable beach destinations in the U.S. right now.

Airbnb said each location was chosen based on where vacation rentals offer "room for the whole family to spread out, proximity to the water, and a price that makes the trip feasible." Rockport is the only Texas beach town to make the list of 23 total budget-friendly coastal cities.

Rockport has a long-held reputation as one of the most affordable beach getaways, and its Airbnbs provide award-winning hospitality for visitors and families alike. The town is also home to one of only three certified Blue Wave Beaches in Texas, which are responsibly managed, accessible to all, offer public restrooms, and prioritize human health and environmental conservation.

Airbnb describes Rockport as a "peaceful, wave-free alternative to busy commercial ports" whose shallow waters are "perfect for toddlers and great bay fishing."

Beachgoers searching for other popular locales on the Texas Gulf Coast can travel to Galveston Island, where Jamaica Beach and Terramar Beach ranked as the best beach destinations nationwide in a separate report from HomeToGo. And there are plenty of non-beach options for Dallas travelers that want to avoid busy crowds along the coastline.

These are Airbnb's best affordable beach destinations in the U.S. for 2026, in alphabetical order by state:

Gulf Shores, Alabama
Arcata, California
Crescent City, California
Eureka, California
Bethany Beach, Delaware
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Ocean City, Maryland
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Gulfport, Mississippi
Wildwood, New Jersey
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
Florence, Oregon
Seaside, Oregon
Yachats, Oregon
Edisto Beach, South Carolina
Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Rockport, Texas
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Ocean Shores, Washington

travel airbnb reports rockport beach vacation summer vacation

ON THE ROAD

6 must-try restaurants for your next Texas Hill Country getaway

Salt Lick BBQ/ Facebook

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While wine gets the majority of the attention in the Texas Hill Country, something has to soak it all up, and the region is also home to some of the state's best eats.

From legendary barbecue and famous desserts to elegant bistros serving elevated fare, these six Texas Hill Country restaurants are among our favorite detours. Add them to your next weekend getaway itinerary.

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus, Boerne
Named for Cibolo Creek's most famous waddlers, this Boerne gastropub has an international menu that ranges from blistered shishito peppers to fish and chips. But flowing beer calls for a sturdy foundation. Get your ducks in a row with a beer sampler paired with hearty German fare like huge Bavarian-style pretzels or a spicy bratwurst.

Old City Hall Restaurant & Bar, New Braunfels
Housed in a, well, old city hall, this graceful New Braunfels newcomer is now more of a hub of languorous date nights than municipal intrigue. Still, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t inspire a few debates. Should the appetizer be the lighter smoked crab dip with farm-fresh crudité or the indulgent truffle fries paired with a frosty gin martini?

Old City Hall in New Braunfels has our vote. Old City Hall/ Facebook

Salt Lick BBQ, Driftwood
Sure, some Texans obsess about post oak versus mesquite, but this Driftwood barbecue joint is not for barbecue cultists. While the famous circular smoker is mostly just for show, the all-you-can-eat family meal is still a rite of passage. For $33.95, guests can munch on beef brisket, sausage, pork ribs, and all the Texas fixings.

The Blue Bonnet Cafe, Marble Falls
This Marble Falls charmer, open since 1929, is famed for sky-high meringues that tower as high as five inches. Pie, however, is just the start. Almost all of the fare is a little oversized, from a Dagwood club to a hefty Wednesday meatloaf special. The stripped-down interior isn’t much to look at, but that doesn’t mean your eyes won’t be popping.

Vaudeville Fredericksburg At Vaudeville, come for the shopping; stay for the bistro cuisine.Vaudeville/ Facebook

Vaudeville Bistro, Fredericksburg
It’s a boutique. It’s a wine bar. It’s a stylish brasserie. Much like its namesake, Fredericksburg's Main Street stunner likes to lay on the variety. Start with Spanish-style grilled octopus, then head to the showstopping rack of lamb. The curtain call is a chocolate chunk pecan cookie almost richer than the dark chocolate pot de creme.

Calivence, Fredericksburg
This Fredericksburg winery's biggest surprise isn’t the bright Cab Franc. The property also hosts a charming bistro serving French-Californian fare. Housed in an 1869 Sunday house, the quaint spot serves pairing-friendly dishes like crostini, oysters, and a Thai steak salad with a minty chutney. And, of course, there's an absolutely killer crème brûlée for dessert.

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