The Hot List

Dallas-Fort Worth no longer a top 10 U.S. summer travel destination

Cool Thursdays Concert Series at Dallas Arboretum

Who wouldn't love going to a lakeside concert at the Dallas Arboretum in summer?

Photo courtesy of Dallas Arboretum

Nearly three quarters of Americans are planning on going on vacation this summer, and it appears three other Texas metros are higher up on the wishlist of must-see summer travel destinations than Dallas-Fort Worth.

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked as the No. 21 best summer travel destination in WalletHub's annual study, which compared 100 of the largest U.S. metro areas across 41 metrics based on travel costs and hassles, local costs, attractions, weather, and activities and safety.

The U.S. metros that scored the top three spots are Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia (No. 1); Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida (No. 2); and Texas neighbor Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos (No. 3).

Dallas-Fort Worth's 2026 ranking is down 11 spots from last year's report when the city was the 10th best summer travel destination.

Here's how DFW stacked up in the six main categories:

No. 21 – Attractions
No. 26 – Activities
No. 41 – Weather
No. 43 – Safety
No. 49 – Local costs
No. 68 – Travel costs and hassles

Summer activities may draw in more tourists, but that shouldn't stop Dallasites from exploring their own city. From flashy FIFA World Cup parties to more casual hangs at a local bookstore, there are plenty of things to do to keep occupied and beat the summer heat. And a trip to Reunion Tower, The Dallas World Aquarium, or the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden are always options for locals that want to pretend to be tourists for the day.

Other top Texas summer travel destinations
The Austin metro ranked as the third-best summer travel destination in the U.S., and it's the most conveniently located neighbor from Dallas that's less than three hours away.

The study found air travel to Austin — though not entirely cheap — has plenty of short nonstop flights from other major cities, making it an easily reachable destination compared to most other U.S. cities. Austin's reputation as foodie city and its outdoor recreational activities also bring in a lot of summer tourism.

"One reason why Austin is a great destination is that it’s really easy to find affordable restaurants that are rated at least 4.5 stars out of 5 on Yelp," the report's author wrote. "Austin offers a mix of culture and outdoor fun, boasting a high number of attractions including the Bullock Texas State History Museum as well as shopping centers, music venues, food festivals and hiking trails."

The suburbs also attract tourists looking for fun things to do that aren't just in central or downtown Austin, like checking out new restaurants in Round Rock and Georgetown.

Visitors taking an extended trip to Texas can also visit San Antonio-New Braunfels and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, which also ranked among the top 25 and landed in the No. 11 and No. 20 spots, respectively.

The top 10 best summer travel destinations in 2026 are:

No. 1 – Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia
No. 2 – Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida
No. 3 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
No. 4 – Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia
No. 5 – Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
No. 6 – Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida
No. 7 – Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware-Maryland
No. 8 – Salt Lake City, Utah
No. 9 – Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana
No. 10 – Richmond, Virginia

wallethub reports summer vacation travel

Hotel News

Iconic Arlington motel from the ’60s returns in time for World Cup

Courtesy rendering

Caravan Court Hotel is opening June 1 in Arlington, in time to welcome World Cup fans.

An iconic mid-century motel from the '60s is reopening in Arlington: Caravan Court, a hotel that first opened as a classic motor court in 1961, will come back to life following an upscale, modern reinvention inspired by 1960s art, architecture, and automotive design.

According to a release, the hotel will open at 205 N. Collins St., around the corner from its original site on Division Street, on June 1. It's debuting in the city's Entertainment District just in time to welcome fans of FIFA World Cup, taking place at nearby AT&T Stadium from June 14-July 14; reservations are now available.

Developed in partnership with Division Hotel Management, the Caravan is part of the Valencia Hotel Collection, the Houston-based boutique hotel company whose portfolio includes the similarly-thoughtful Texican Court in Irving.

Caravan Court will open with 143 rooms and three food & beverage entities, including The Vandy, a restaurant named for former Arlington Mayor Tom Vandergriff; plus a martini bar and a rooftop lounge.

Retro style
The design approach blends the charm of a bygone era with 21st-century luxury — including retaining historical features while making additions that feel period-appropriate.

A key piece is their preservation of the iconic Caravan Motor Hotel sign, whose distinctive tiki-inspired design — with palm trees and the word "caravan" rendered in a font that looks like it's been carved — has earned status as a beloved local landmark over the years.

The rooms feature retro-inspired SMEG refrigerators and Nespresso machines, alongside 50-inch Smart TVs and wireless charging pads.

Caravan Court Hotel roomCourtesy rendering

Other stylish accommodations include:

143 rooms, which includes 7 King Suites, 48 Double Queens, and 88 Kings
Resort-style pool with four cabanas
24-Hour fitness center
outdoor seating with firepits
2,532-square-foot turf courtyard with lounge seating
coffee bar window

There are also three ballrooms, ranging from 1,213 square feet to 3,633 square feet — perfect for that tiki-style wedding.

Food & beverage
The in-house eateries will comprise a main restaurant, plus martini bar and rooftop lounge overlooking downtown Arlington and the Entertainment District, as follows:

The Vandy: Named for visionary former Arlington Mayor Tom Vandergriff, The Vandy is the hotel's main restaurant, serving Americana classics in a space that captures the spirit of the mid-century era.
Elora Sky Club: Sophisticated rooftop lounge will serve craft cocktails, tapas-style bites, and views of the Arlington skyline and the surrounding Entertainment District.
Caravan Swim Club: Seasonal, resort-style poolside experience features private cabanas, bar, and eatery.
Idle Hour Social Club: A versatile day-to-night hub, serving coffee in the morning and martinis at night.

History
As a release notes, a key part of the hotel's backstory is its celebration of the Bankhead Highway, founded 1916 as one of America’s first coast-to-coast automobile routes, connecting Washington, D.C. to San Diego.

In Arlington, the Bankhead Highway evolved into Division Street, with auto-oriented businesses including gas stations, diners, dealerships, and roadside lodging.

Caravan Motor Hotel sign Iconic sign at iconic Caravan Motor Hotel. jasonssullivan.com

Caravan Motor Hotel opened in 1961 as a classic mid-century motor-court style with drive-up convenience, pool, and modern amenities — part of a renaissance led by Mayor Tom Vandergriff, who was elected in 1951 and oversaw a 26-year tenure focused on growth, infrastructure, and economic development.

That included attracting the General Motors Arlington Assembly Plant; helping transition Arlington State College into the University of Texas at Arlington; and drawing attractions such as Six Flags Over Texas, which opened in 1961, the same year as the Caravan.

Alas, when major highways came along in the '70s and '80s, motor courts along the Bankhead Highway, including the Caravan, closed.

In 2024, as part of a program of preservation and adaptive reuse, the City of Arlington, in a partnership with local developers and the Valencia Hotel Group, initiated its plan to redevelop and reopen the historic Caravan Motel, positioning it as a catalyst for Division Street revitalization, bridging downtown Arlington and the Entertainment District.

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