The best time to visit Texas

Considering the wide geography of the Lone Star State, there’s really no such thing as a bad time to visit Texas. Planning when you go to Texas, depends on what you want to and what part of the state you're visiting. While you may want to skip the soaring temperatures of the Santa Elena Canyon in summer months, winter in Amarillo is not the best time to visit the Great Plains.

These tips serve as a seasonal guide to help you perfectly time your Texas trip.

High season: March and October

Best for music festivals, football games and fall activities

Weather in high season in Texas: March temps remain in the 60-70°F range, with mostly sunny, pleasant days. Occasionally, high winds and storms can hit, too, since March is a transitional month. October in Texas brings cooler autumn temperatures, though the state isn’t known for fall foliage. The more comfortable weather, however, ushers in high season, leading to an influx of tourists. Expect large crowds and some traffic jams on game days. Book rental cars and hard-to-get reservations early.

High season comes and goes in Texas, with multiple peak tourist seasons occurring between March and October. Music lovers flock to Austin in October and March for two of the state’s biggest festivals, Austin City Limits (two weekends in October) and South by Southwest (nearly two weeks in March). Both festivals attract musicians and music lovers from all over the world, while the SXSW festival has grown to include programming in technology, politics, entertainment and entrepreneurship. In general, these are the two months that attract the most visitors to all cities in Texas with milder temps and plenty of outdoor fun.

Football season is also in full swing by October: catch the Friday night lights at a local high school, cheer on a college football team, gather pumpkins at a harvest festival or brave the crowds at Austin City Limits music festival.

Shoulder season: February, April, September and November

Best for wildflowers and outdoor recreation

Weather in shoulder season in Texas: Overall, temperatures during these stretches usually range around 60-80°F, with a chance of rain in the spring and drier days in the fall. Expect cool and dry weather in Texas in February. Brace for possible freezes, like the February 2021 Great Texas Freeze. Spring rains and warmer temperatures in April transform the landscape, bringing vibrant blooms like the bluebonnet, the state’s official flower. In September, temperatures remain high and hurricane season concerns stay active until November, when temperatures cool off and hurricane season officially ends. Toward the end of the month, though, watch the weather, as this is often when Texas experiences its first winter freezes.

Fewer tourists flock to Texas in April and September, but with slightly cooler temps than summer, these are both great months to make the most of outdoor activities. Regardless of your destination and due to the heat, it’s generally a safer bet to plan a hike outside the months of May to August.

Though they often blossom toward the end of March, the peak season for spying Texas wildflowers is in April. Before embarking on a walk among the fresh blooms, check the weather. Texas’ rainy season comes in spring and fall.

For the best weather, visit Texas in late autumn, when the rain has passed and temperatures are lower. While you’ll miss out on spring wildflowers, clear skies and milder temperatures will make outdoor recreation more comfortable.

Low season: May-August and December-January

Best for summer festivals or winter hikes

Weather in low season in Texas: January ushers in the coldest temps of the year for Texas. By May, you'll experience the start of scorching summer temperatures. Hurricane season starts in June, and the intense heat continues, with temperatures often soaring into the 100s °F. While temperatures stay high in Texas through July, the height of summer also brings tons of activity to the state. Families can cool off at water parks like Schlitterbahn or beaches like Padre Island National Seashore during the day, then watch fireworks at night during Fourth of July celebrations. December has the best conditions for visitors who want to try Texas hikes without fear of impending heat. While not known for snow, Texas has a few spots where travelers can find winter weather. For frosty conditions, head to cities like Amarillo or parks like Palo Duro Canyon State Park. If you’re fine with artificial snow, the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine hosts indoor snow tubing for the holidays.

While there’s really no such thing as a low season in Texas, tourists often avoid the hotter months (May to August) when average temps across the state range from 90°F to 113°F (32°C to 45°C). That said, The Lone Star State offers plenty of museums and galleries for indoor fun, while locals beat the heat by taking a dip in the state's many rivers, lakes, and beaches.

Travelers can also build a trip around summer festivals like the Texas Crab Festival in Crystal City in May, and Juneteenth parades in Austin, Houston and other centres. Or head to the Fredericksburg Peach Festival in July, peak peach season.

Cooler winter temperatures are here to stay by December, making a trip out to West Texas ideal: hike Big Bend National Park, browse the art galleries in Alpine or slow down in Marfa. Texas weather can be unpredictable over winter: one day could be 70°F (21°C) and ideal for a hike, the next could be cold and blustery and ideal for browsing museums or aquariums.

Texans also love their holiday lights, and you can find extravagant displays in neighborhoods, parks and on courthouses across the state for the whole month of December.