Texas travel

Texas cruises to No. 1 on new list of top states for summer road trips

Who wants to take a road trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park?

Dallas might not be at the top of the list when it comes to the best summer travel destinations, but the expansive Lone Star State is leading the rest of the nation as the No. 1 state for for summer road trips in 2024.

Texas' superior traveling potential was recognized in WalletHub's annual list of the best and worst states for summer road trips, which ranked all 50 states based on their road trip costs, safety, and activities. Over 32 metrics were considered for the study, including each state's average gas prices, road quality, and variety of attractions.

The top states are the ones that have plenty of fun things to do at relatively low costs, and provide "the best driving experience," according to WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. Texas was also No. 1 in 2023.

Texas earned 58.59 out of 100 total possible points, barely edging ahead of Minnesota (No. 2) and New York (No. 3), which earned 58.48 and 58.44 points, respectively.

Out of the three main categories in the report, Texas performed the best for its numerous attractions, ranking No. 5 nationwide. WalletHub specifically highlights zoos, botanical gardens, and amusement parks, but you can't forget about Texas' beautiful state parks, lakes, family-friendly resorts, or the beaches.

"There are plenty of things to make stops at for a day or even just a few hours while taking a road trip," the report said. "Even in between activities, the act of being on the road in Texas can be very enjoyable, since the state has over 9,500 miles of scenic byways."

Texas ranked just outside the top 10 for its costs of taking a road trip, landing at No. 11 nationally. Planning affordable meals and accommodations is a big factor on travelers' minds this summer, and WalletHub revealed Texas has the second-cheapest three-star hotel prices within a 10-mile radius of city centers during mid-July. The Lone Star State is also leading the U.S. with the highest number of lodging accommodations and restaurants per capita.

Unfortunately, Texas fell far behind other states when it comes to safety, coming in at No. 39. The report doesn't explain why Texas ranked so low, but it examined each state's road quality, car thefts per 1,000 residents, the number of uninsured drivers, and traffic "indiscipline" (also known as the number of accidents due to phone use, speeding, aggressive acceleration, and others). Poor safety rating aside, Texas still came out on top.

"Taking a summer road trip can be a very exciting way to experience a new place, but with the prices of gas, food and accommodations heavily impacted by inflation, you’ll want to be in a state that makes this type of vacation affordable," said Happe. "Safe roads are also key, and so is having plenty of worthwhile attractions to stop at along the road."

The top 10 states for summer road trips in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Texas
No. 2 – Minnesota
No. 3 – New York
No. 4 – Louisiana
No. 5 – Florida
No. 6 – Ohio
No. 7 – North Carolina
No. 8 – Wyoming
No. 9 – Maine
No. 10 – Pennsylvania

texas wallethub rankings reports road trip vacations

Hotel News

Edition boutique hotel and luxury condos to debut in Uptown Dallas

Courtesy rendering

New Chalk Hill mixed-use project will include residences and a hotel.

A new mixed-use project in Dallas with hotel and luxury condos is springing up on the former site of public media station KERA. Located at 3031 N. Harwood St., the Chalk Hill complex will include a 29-story building with hotel-plus-condominiums, and an adjacent 22-story office tower.

The hotel will be a branded Edition property, dubbed "the hottest hotel brand in the world" by Forbes magazine.

According to a release, it's expected to open in 2028.

The complex will occupy a 2.5-acre site where KERA previously resided for 60 years. In 2023, Dallas real estate developer Kaizen Development Partners acquired the property in 2023 with a deal to develop the project and relocate KERA to new smaller headquarters on the northern end of the site. An address for KERA's new HQ has not been identified, but ground was broken on March 3.

Hotel
Edition is part of Marriott International, who created the brand with Ian Schrager, founder of Studio 54 and known in the hotel industry for introducing the concept of the boutique hotel. The first Edition opened in Waikiki in 2010. There are now two dozen locations including New York, Miami, Tampa, and Los Angeles in the U.S., as well as international destinations such as London, Madrid, Tokyo, and Dubai.

The Dallas location will follow Edition's ethos with a hotel and residential designed for those who value "authenticity, architectural integrity, and service delivered with quiet precision."

The hotel will feature a restaurant and bar, ballroom and meeting spaces, pool deck, spa with hydrotherapy, holistic well-being center, and dedicated wellness concierge.

Interiors are conceived by Bonetti/Kozerski Architecture, the design firm behind several Edition properties worldwide.

Architecture is led by Boka Powell, whose previous projects include the Victory Commons office building in Victory Park, the renovation of Two Galleria Tower, and SMU Meadows School of the Arts.

Landscape architecture by SWA in collaboration with SCDA integrates biophilic design principles, drawing nature upward into terraces, gardens, and elevated outdoor spaces.

The condos
Called the Residences at The Dallas Edition, the condos are being framed as "luxury," with two-, three-, and four-bedroom units ranging from from 1,080 to 6,866 square feet, and prices starting at $1.5 million for one-bedroom units. Amenities include private elevator access, private individual terraces, 24-hour valet, resort-style pool, and gym.

The 29th-floor penthouse will span 6,866 square feet with more than 3,300 square feet of private outdoor space — crowning the tower as a glass pavilion in the sky.

"Chalk Hill reflects the remarkable evolution we’re seeing in Dallas residential development,” says Catherine Lee, president of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, in charge of leasing the space.

The offices
The office building will offer its own amenity package with fitness center, nearly an acre of green roof space, conference areas, multiple lounge spaces, and multipurpose executive board/dining room.

“The work we are doing with Edition is a tribute to the city’s evolution and the legacy we are helping shape,” says Kaizen Development Partners Managing Partner and CEO Derrick Evers in a statement. "By bringing Edition to Texas for the first time, we are creating a destination where global sophistication meets Dallas soul.”

hotels uptown openings